A patient support system to control support of a patient, comprising: a mattress having a number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42), wherein the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42) includes a head section having a first inflatable chamber, a body section having a second inflatable chamber interleaved with a third inflatable chamber and a foot section having a fourth inflatable chamber interleaved with a fifth inflatable chamber, wherein each of the head, body and foot sections have at least one control valve (26, 28, 34, 38, 40) coupled thereto; a number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) positioned proximal to a surface of one or more of the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42); a number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124) positioned proximal to a surface of one or more of the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42), the one or more number inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42) having an upper planar surface, whereby modifications of said upper planar surface of the inflatable chamber will result in a decrease in the level of illumination received at the infrared receiver; a signal network having a number of nodes (106, 108, 110, 112) in communication with each other and to the number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) and the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), whereby IR transmitter windows positioned to receive placement of the infrared transmitters and IR sensor windows (115, 117, 119, 121, 132, 125) receiving placement of the infrared receivers are positioned at an underside of the one or more inflatable chambers, the IR sensor windows being positioned in association with their respective foot, body and head section, said one or more inflatable chambers integrates IR reflective interior surfaces, and a source of pressurized fluid in communication with one or more of the inflatable chambers of the mattress and the signal network, wherein a pressure of at least one of the number of inflatable chambers is adjustable based on data received by at least one of the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), wherein at least one of the number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) is paired with at least one of the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), each pair associated with at least one inflatable chamber (30, 36, 42), each pair preferably configured to transmit infrared light into its inflatable chamber and receive the transmitted infrared light from its inflatable chamber (30, 36, 42). a mattress having a number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42), wherein the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42) includes a head section having a first inflatable chamber, a body section having a second inflatable chamber interleaved with a third inflatable chamber and a foot section having a fourth inflatable chamber interleaved with a fifth inflatable chamber, wherein each of the head, body and foot sections have at least one control valve (26, 28, 34, 38, 40) coupled thereto; a number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) positioned proximal to a surface of one or more of the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42); a number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124) positioned proximal to a surface of one or more of the number of inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42), the one or more number inflatable chambers (30, 36, 42) having an upper planar surface, whereby modifications of said upper planar surface of the inflatable chamber will result in a decrease in the level of illumination received at the infrared receiver; a signal network having a number of nodes (106, 108, 110, 112) in communication with each other and to the number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) and the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), whereby IR transmitter windows positioned to receive placement of the infrared transmitters and IR sensor windows (115, 117, 119, 121, 132, 125) receiving placement of the infrared receivers are positioned at an underside of the one or more inflatable chambers, the IR sensor windows being positioned in association with their respective foot, body and head section, said one or more inflatable chambers integrates IR reflective interior surfaces, and a source of pressurized fluid in communication with one or more of the inflatable chambers of the mattress and the signal network, wherein a pressure of at least one of the number of inflatable chambers is adjustable based on data received by at least one of the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), wherein at least one of the number of infrared transmitters (130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) is paired with at least one of the number of infrared receivers (114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124), each pair associated with at least one inflatable chamber (30, 36, 42), each pair preferably configured to transmit infrared light into its inflatable chamber and receive the transmitted infrared light from its inflatable chamber (30, 36, 42).