Patent ID: 8852131

Claim:
A support surface system comprising: a plurality of cells, each cell comprising: an outer casing; a lower chamber defined in part by the outer casing, a support material being provided within the lower chamber; an upper chamber having an upper surface having a plurality of perforations therein, the perforations permitting fluid communication between the upper chamber and an exterior of the cell; a partition separating the lower chamber and the upper chamber, the partition defining a portion of the lower chamber and a portion of the upper chamber; a valve operatively positioned between the lower and upper chambers for restricting or permitting fluid communication therebetween, the valve being configured so as to be in a normally closed position so as to restrict fluid communication between the lower and upper chambers, and the valve further being configured to open upon the pressure in the lower chamber being at or above a predetermined threshold pressure so as to permit fluid communication between the lower and upper chambers; and a first port operatively connected to the cell to permit fluid communication with the lower chamber, whereby pressurized air can be supplied to the lower chamber through the first port, the plurality of cells including a first subset and a second subset, the plurality of cells being arranged so that the cells of the first subset alternate with the cells of the second subset, whereby pressurized air is alternatingly supplied to the first subset of cells and the second subset of cells to provide alternating pressure therapy.