Patent ID: 7536739

Claim:
A therapeutic mattress for supporting an entire body of a user in a prone position, comprising: a base layer; a first generally firm and longitudinally extending foam sidewall extending upwards from one side of the base layer, and a second generally firm and longitudinally extending foam sidewall extending upwards from an opposing side of the base layer, the first and second longitudinally extending sidewalls and the base layer defining a well; a patient support layer positioned on the base layer and between the foam sidewalls in the well, the patient support layer having a plurality of separately zoned air cell sections extending from generally the first sidewall to the second sidewall, including a head zone adjacent a head end of the mattress, a foot zone adjacent a foot end of the mattress, and a seat zone between the head zone and the foot zone, wherein the patient support layer in the head zone comprises a first separate and independent non-powered air cell section extending generally from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, wherein the patient support layer in the seat zone comprises a second separate and independent non-powered air cell section extending generally from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, and wherein the patient support layer in the foot zone comprises a third separate and independent non-powered air cell section, wherein each air cell section has a bottom wall adjacent the base layer, wherein each air cell section is independently inflatable and deflatable to independently set and adjust an air pressure of each air cell section, and wherein each air cell section comprises a plurality of individual air cell members fluidly interconnected to be self-equalizing, each of the air cell members having a sidewall extending vertically from a bottom of the air cell member and terminating in a top wall of each air cell member, each air cell having a height extending from the bottom of the air cell member to the top wall of the air cell member, each air cell member of the air cell sections also being independently moveable in a plurality of directions, including the x, y and z directions, and the air cell members in the head, foot and seat zones being separate from the longitudinally extending sidewalls such that the air cell members are free from connection to the longitudinally extending sidewalls to allow the air cell members of the air cell sections in the head zone, foot zone and seat zone to move independently from the longitudinal extending sidewalls; and, a cover having an interior region covering the patient support layer.