Patent ID: 6868569

Claim:
A person-support apparatus for use with a suction source, the person-support apparatus comprising a core having a first foam element, the first foam element having a vertical thickness, a horizontal length, and a horizontal width, the vertical thickness being smaller than both the horizontal length and the horizontal width when the first foam element is in an uncompressed state, a cover having an interior region in which the core is situated, the first foam element filling at least a majority of the interior region, the cover having an opening in fluid communication with the suction source, the suction source operating to evacuate a portion of air from the interior region so that the first foam element is partially compressed within the interior region of the cover due to the evacuation of the portion of air, the interior region of the cover having a first volume and the first foam element, when in the uncompressed state, occupying a second volume that is larger than the first volume, and a pressure regulator spaced from the cover, the pressure regulator being in fluid communication with the suction source and with the interior region.