Modular bed system

Abstract

A patient support including a deck having a moveable head section and one or more inflatable mattresses. The inflatable mattresses can position a patient in a Trendelenburg position, a reverse Trendelenburg position, or a knee gatch position.

1 . A patient support configured to support a patient comprising: 
 a frame;    a deck supported by the frame; and    a mattress supported by the deck, the mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladders, the bladders configured to support the patient in one of a horizontal position and a Trendelenburg position.    
   
   
       2 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the deck includes a head section moveable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the frame.  
   
   
       3 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bladders are further configured to support the patient in one of a Reverse-Trendelenburg position, the Trendelenburg position, and the horizontal position.  
   
   
       4 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress is a modular design.  
   
   
       5 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bladders are further configured to raise a leg section of the patient.  
   
   
       6 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is moveable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the floor.  
   
   
       7 . A patient support comprising: 
 a frame;    a deck supported by the frame;    a mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladders;    an inflator configured to selectively inflate at least one of the plurality of inflatable bladders; and    a controller configured to control the inflator to inflate at least one of the plurality of inflatable bladders to configure the mattress in one of a Trendelenburg position, a Reverse-Trendelenburg position, a flat position, and a knee gatch position.    
   
   
       8 . An inflatable mattress configured to support a patient comprising: 
 at least one inflatable cell configured to support the patient in one of a horizontal position and a Trendelenburg position; and    a controller coupled to an inflator and at least one control valve, the controller configured to receive input from a user and control the inflator and the control valve to inflate or deflate the inflatable cell to position the patient in one of the horizontal position and the Trendelenburg position.    
   
   
       9 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the inflatable cell is further configured to support the patient in the Reverse Trendelenburg position.  
   
   
       10 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the inflatable cell is further configured to raise a patient's knees upon inflation.  
   
   
       11 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the mattress is further configured to provide at least one of heel pressure relief, rotation therapy, vibration therapy, percussion therapy, and turn assist.  
   
   
       12 . A modular patient support system configured to support a patient in various acuity environments, the system comprising: 
 a frame;    a deck supported by the frame, the only movable deck section being a head section moveable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the remainder of the deck; and    a plurality of mattresses, one mattress being selected for use on the deck depending on an acuity level of the patient, the mattress being selected from a group of mattresses including a first static mattress and a second mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladders, the bladders being configured to provide selective elevation of part of the patient.    
   
   
       13 . The modular patient support of  claim 12 , further comprising a hi/lo mechanism coupled to the frame to move the frame between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the floor.  
   
   
       14 . The modular patient support of  claim 12 , wherein the bladders are configured to provide selective elevation of the patient's thigh.  
   
   
       15 . The modular patient support of  claim 12 , wherein the bladders are configured to provide selective elevation of the patient's knee.  
   
   
       16 . The modular patient support system of  claim 12 , further comprising a third mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladders, the bladders being configured to provide selective elevation of part of the patient and to selectively position the patient in a Trendelenburg position.  
   
   
       17 . The modular patient support system of  claim 16 , wherein the bladders are configured to provide selective elevation of the patient's thigh.  
   
   
       18 . The modular patient support system of  claim 16 , wherein the bladders are configured to provide selective elevation of the patient's knee.  
   
   
       19 . The modular patient support system of  claim 16 , further comprising a fourth mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladders, the bladders configured to provide selective elevation of part of the patient and to selectively position the patient in a Trendelenburg position and a reverse Trendelenburg position.  
   
   
       20 . The modular patient support system of  claim 19 , wherein the bladders are configured to provide selective elevation of the patient's thigh.  
   
   
       21 . The modular patient support of  claim 19 , further comprising an inflator configured to selectively inflate at least one of the plurality of inflatable bladders, and a controller configured to control the inflator to inflate at least one of the plurality of inflatable bladders to configure the mattress in one of a Trendelenburg position, a reverse Trendelenburg position, a flat position, and an elevated thigh position.