Patent Description:
Patients lying on non-powered person support surfaces for extended periods of time can be susceptible to the development of pressure ulcers. While various non-powered person-support surfaces have been developed, there is still room for improvement. Thus, a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology.

<CIT> discloses a control system of a patient support surface which calculates a surface performance index as a function of pressure and shear. The control system also receives information from an electronic medical record (EMR) corresponding to a person's susceptibility of developing at least one of a pressure ulcer and a superficial lesion and adjusts at least one of a component and a characteristic of the person support surface based on the information. <CIT> discloses a person support system comprising an air supply.

One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a person support surface with a non-powered mattress and a coverlet coupled to the non-powered mattress having a vapor permeable and air impermeable person contacting surface and mattress contacting surface configured to exhaust heat and moisture communicated through the person contacting surface out an outlet in the coverlet. Another illustrative embodiment includes a fluid supply assembly with conduit and a fluid supply configured to be activated/deactivated when the conduit is coupled to a person-support surface.

A person-support system <NUM> according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in <FIG>. The person-support system <NUM> includes person-support apparatus <NUM>, a person-support surface <NUM> supported on the person-support apparatus <NUM>, and a fluid supply assembly <NUM> in communication with the person-support surface <NUM>. In one illustrative embodiment, the fluid supply assembly <NUM> and the person-support surface <NUM> are part of a mattress replacement system.

The person-support apparatus <NUM> includes a lower frame <NUM>, supports <NUM> or lift mechanisms <NUM> coupled to the lower frame <NUM>, and an upper frame <NUM> movably supported above the lower frame <NUM> by the supports <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In one illustrative embodiment, the person-support apparatus <NUM> is a hospital bed frame with a first section F1 or head support section F1, where the head of a person (not shown) can be positioned and a second section S1 or a foot support section S1, where the feet of the person (not shown) can be positioned. The person-support apparatus <NUM> can also be a stretcher, an operating room table, a wheel chair, or other person supporting structure.

The person-support surface <NUM> includes a non-powered mattress <NUM> and a coverlet <NUM> positioned on the mattress <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The non-powered mattress <NUM> includes a mattress core <NUM> and a mattress cover <NUM>. In one illustrative embodiment, the non-powered mattress <NUM> is or is similar to at least one of the following mattresses sold by Hill-Rom® at <NUM> State Route <NUM> East in Batesville, Indiana: the NP50 Prevention Surface, the NP100 Prevention Surface, the Tempur-Pedic® Mattress, the AccuMax Quantum™ VPC Therapy Surface, and/or the NP200 Wound Surface. In another illustrative embodiment, the foot section S1 of the non-powered mattress <NUM> includes a slight gradient to help reduce interface pressure on a person's heel. In one example, the foot section S1 of the non-powered mattress <NUM> is negatively sloped with respect to a reference plane RP1 as shown in <FIG>.

The mattress core <NUM> can be composed of a single type of material or a combination of materials and/or devices. In one illustrative embodiment, the mattress core <NUM> is composed of single density foam as shown in <FIG>. In another illustrative embodiment, the mattress core <NUM> includes multiple zones of high-density foam configured to enhance pressure redistribution as a function of a person's body's proportional differences as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In yet another illustrative embodiment, the mattress core <NUM> can include static air bladders and/or static air bladders with foam contained therewithin.

The cover <NUM> can enclose the mattress core <NUM> and includes a fire barrier <NUM>, a bottom ticking <NUM> or durable layer <NUM>, and a top ticking <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In one illustrative embodiment, the fire barrier <NUM> is the innermost layer of the cover <NUM>, the top ticking <NUM> is the outermost layer, and the bottom ticking <NUM> is positioned between the fire barrier <NUM> and the top ticking <NUM> and is not coupled to the top ticking <NUM>. The bottom ticking <NUM> and the top ticking <NUM> are vapor and air impermeable. In one illustrative embodiment, the top ticking <NUM> and the bottom ticking <NUM> are composed of polyurethane coated nylon and the bottom ticking <NUM> is configured to facilitate movement of the top ticking <NUM> with respect to the fire barrier <NUM>.

The top ticking <NUM> includes a person-support apparatus engaging surface <NUM> with a person-support apparatus coupler (not shown), and a coverlet contacting surface <NUM> with a coverlet coupler <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In one illustrative embodiment, the coverlet coupler <NUM> is a zipper and the person-support apparatus coupler is a hook and loop fastener with one portion coupled to the person-support apparatus <NUM> and the other coupled to the coverlet <NUM>. In other embodiments, the coverlet coupler <NUM> can be a hook and loop fastener, snaps, and/or buttons. In still other embodiments, the coverlet coupler <NUM> can be elastic loops configured to engage the corners of the mattress <NUM>.

The coverlet <NUM> is configured to regulate the amount of heat and moisture present on the surface of the coverlet <NUM> by flowing a fluid through the coverlet. The coverlet includes a top layer <NUM>, a bottom layer <NUM>, an inlet <NUM>, an outlet <NUM>, and a <NUM>-dimensionally engineered spacer <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The top layer <NUM> and the bottom layer <NUM> are coupled together along their edges to form an inner chamber <NUM> therebetween. In one illustrative embodiment, the edges of the top layer <NUM> and the bottom layer <NUM> are coupled together using RF welding technology. The top layer <NUM> and the bottom layer <NUM> are both configured to be vapor permeable and air impermeable. This configuration prevents air passing through the coverlet from impinging on the skin of a person positioned on the coverlet <NUM> while allowing the moisture produced by the person to pass through the top layer <NUM> and be exhausted with the air passing through the coverlet out the outlet <NUM>.

The <NUM>-dimensionally engineered spacer <NUM> is positioned in the inner chamber <NUM> and is configured to be air and moisture permeable as shown in <FIG>. The <NUM>-dimensionally engineered spacer <NUM> is configured to maintain a path for the air to flow through when a person is supported on the coverlet <NUM>. In one illustrative embodiment, the <NUM>-dimensionally engineered spacer <NUM> is Spacenet®.

The inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> are generally located on opposite ends of the coverlet <NUM> and allow a fluid, such as, air, to be communicated into the inner chamber <NUM> of the coverlet <NUM>, and to be exhausted from the coverlet <NUM>, respectively, as shown in <FIG>. In one illustrative embodiment, the inlet <NUM> is located along the second section S1 of the coverlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> is located along the first section F1 of the coverlet <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> includes an inlet connector <NUM> configured to couple to and receive fluid from the fluid supply assembly <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The fluid supply assembly <NUM> is configured to cooperate with the coverlet <NUM> to regulate the amount of heat and moisture on at least a portion of the top layer <NUM> in contact, directly or indirectly, with the skin of a person supported on the person-support surface <NUM>. Regulation of the heat and moisture levels can help prevent and/or heal undesirable skin conditions, such as, pressure ulcers. In one illustrative embodiment, the fluid supply <NUM> and coverlet <NUM> can cooperate to maintain at least one of a surface temperature, a relative surface humidity, and a heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the surface which is in contact, directly or indirectly, with the person within a predefined range, for example, between about <NUM>ºF and about <NUM>ºF; between about <NUM>% relative humidity and about <NUM>% relative humidity; and/or between about <NUM> W/m<NUM> and about <NUM> W/m<NUM>, as disclosed in, <CIT>.

The fluid supply assembly <NUM> includes a fluid supply <NUM> enclosed within a housing <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a conduit <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In one illustrative embodiment, the fluid supply <NUM> is an air blower and the housing <NUM> is coupled to the underside of the second section S1 of the upper frame <NUM>. In another illustrative embodiment, the housing <NUM> is integrated into a footboard (not shown) coupled to the person-support apparatus <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the fluid supply <NUM>. In one illustrative embodiment, the controller <NUM> activates and/or deactivates the fluid supply <NUM> when the conduit <NUM> is coupled/uncoupled to/from the coverlet <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can also cause the fluid supply <NUM> to supply fluid at a predetermined rate and/or adjust the temperature and humidity of the fluid supplied by the fluid supply <NUM>. In other illustrative embodiments, the controller <NUM> can activate/deactivate the fluid supply <NUM> when the conduit <NUM> is coupled/uncoupled to/from a therapy device, powered mattress, or other pneumatic device or instrument.

The conduit <NUM> is configured to facilitate communication of fluid between the fluid supply <NUM> and the coverlet <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The conduit <NUM> is configured to be coupled to an outlet (not shown) of the fluid supply <NUM> and configured to be removably coupled to the inlet connector <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> includes a conduit connector <NUM> with a fluid outlet port <NUM> and a connection sensor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The connection sensor <NUM> is configured to sense when the conduit connector <NUM> is coupled to the inlet connector <NUM>. In one illustrative embodiment, the connection sensor <NUM> is a pair of conductive strips configured to engage a conductive strip (not shown) on the inlet connector <NUM> that electrically connects the pair conductive strips to complete the circuit. This embodiment would not necessarily require a controller to activate/deactivate the fluid supply <NUM>. In another illustrative embodiment, the sensor <NUM> is a switch (not shown).

In operation, the conduit connector <NUM> is not connected from the inlet connector <NUM>. When a user desires for the temperature and moisture on the coverlet to be regulated, the user connects the conduit connector <NUM> to the inlet connector <NUM>. The connection sensor <NUM> senses when the conduit connector <NUM> and the inlet connector <NUM> are connected and the controller <NUM> activates the fluid supply <NUM>. The fluid supply <NUM> communicates fluid through the conduit <NUM> to the inlet <NUM> of the coverlet <NUM>. The fluid flows from the inlet <NUM> through the inner chamber <NUM> of the coverlet <NUM> and is exhausted out the outlet <NUM>. As the fluid passes through the coverlet <NUM>, heat and moisture communicated through the upper layer <NUM> and/or bottom layer <NUM> is absorbed by the fluid flow and exhausted with the fluid out the outlet <NUM>.

Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a person-support surface comprises a non powered mattress and a coverlet positionable on the non powered mattress. The coverlet includes an entry positioned at a first end of the coverlet, an exit positioned at a second end of the coverlet, an upper air impermeable layer, and a lower air impermeable layer coupled to the upper air impermeable layer to form an air flow path along the coverlet between the entry and the exit. The upper air impermeable layer is a vapor permeable and water resistant fabric and the lower air impermeable layer is a vapor permeable and water resistant fabric.

In another example not forming part of the invention, a person-support surface comprises a non powered mattress, a topper, and an air supply. The non powered mattress includes a mattress core substantially enclosed within an air and vapor impermeable mattress cover. The topper is removably coupled to the non-powered mattress and includes an occupant interfacing surface and a non-powered mattress interfacing surface coupled together to define a chamber therebetween. The occupant interfacing surface and the non-powered mattress interfacing surface are vapor permeable and air impermeable. The topper has a first opening into the chamber along a first side and a second opening into the chamber along a second side. The air supply is in fluid communication with the topper through a conduit. The air enters the chamber through the first opening in the topper, flows through the chamber, and exits the chamber through the second opening. The air flow though the topper is configured to exhaust heat and moisture communicated into the chamber through the occupant interfacing surface out through the second opening.

In another example, a fluid supply system comprises a gas blower and a conduit coupled to the gas blower and configured to communicate gas therethrough. The conduit includes a connector configured to be removably coupled to a medical device. The gas blower is configured to be activated when the conduit is coupled to the medical device.

Claim 1:
A person-support system comprising:
a non powered mattress (<NUM>);
a coverlet (<NUM>) positionable on the non powered mattress (<NUM>) and including
an entry (<NUM>) positioned at a first end of the coverlet, the entry (<NUM>) including an inlet connector (<NUM>),
an exit (<NUM>) positioned at a second end of the coverlet,
an upper air impermeable layer (<NUM>), and
a lower air impermeable layer (<NUM>) coupled to the upper air impermeable layer (<NUM>) to form an air flow path along the coverlet (<NUM>) between the entry and the exit, wherein the upper air impermeable layer (<NUM>) is vapor permeable and the lower air impermeable layer (<NUM>) is vapor permeable,
a conduit (<NUM>) having a conduit connector (<NUM>), and
and air supply (<NUM>) configured to provide air to the coverlet (<NUM>) through the conduit (<NUM>),
characterized in that the system further comprises a connection sensor (<NUM>), the air supply (<NUM>) being configured to be activated when the connection sensor (<NUM>) senses that the conduit connector (<NUM>) is connected to the air supply (<NUM>) and the inlet connector (<NUM>).