Patent ID: 8745788

Claim:
A patient support comprising: a source of pressurized air; a first bladder; a valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air and with the first bladder and configured to control the flow of air between the source of pressurized air and the first bladder; a first pressure sensor in direct contact with the air in the first bladder and producing a first pressure signal corresponding to the air pressure within the first bladder; and a controller in electrical communication with the source of pressurized air, the valve, and the first pressure sensor, the controller comprising (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: operate the source of pressurized air and the valve to inflate the first bladder, monitor the first pressure signal during the inflation to determine a time rate of change of pressure in the first bladder, and determine whether the patient is supported on the first bladder based on the time rate of change of pressure in the first bladder.