Patient support

Abstract

This disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments of a patient support having a plurality of vertically-oriented on substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a plurality of pressure sensors positioned underneath the bladders. In another embodiment, the patient support includes a support layer positioned above the vertical bladders. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes one or more filler portions that are selectable so that the patient support may conform to bed frames having different deck configurations.

1 . A patient support, comprising: 
 a cover defining an interior region,    a base positioned in the interior region,    a plurality of inflatable bladders, each bladder extending upwardly from the base along a vertical axis, the vertical axis being substantially perpendicular to the base, and    a plurality of spaced-apart pressure sensors positioned underneath the base, each pressure sensor being aligned with a bladder.    
     
     
         2 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first base portion and a second base portion, the second base portion is positioned above the first base portion, and the second base portion is coupled to the first base portion to define a plurality of fluid channels interconnecting the bladders.  
     
     
         3 . The patient support of  claim 2 , wherein the second base portion includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture defines a coupling region, and each upwardly extending bladder is coupled to the second base portion at one of the coupling regions.  
     
     
         4 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein each pressure sensor is located beneath at least one bladder.  
     
     
         5 . The patient support of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor enclosure, wherein the pressure sensors are located within the pressure sensor enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The patient support of  claim 5 , wherein the enclosure is located within the interior region of the cover.  
     
     
         7 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein each pressure sensor includes at least one light transmitter.  
     
     
         8 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein each pressure sensor measures pressure applied to one or more of the bladders.  
     
     
         9 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein each pressure sensor measures changes in intensity of light energy diffused in the pressure sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The patient support of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pressure transducer coupled to the bladders, wherein the pressure transducer measures internal pressure of fluid in the bladders.  
     
     
         11 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of base sections, a plurality of bladders are located in each of the base sections, and the bladders in each of the base sections are separately inflatable.  
     
     
         12 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first base section and a second base section, the first base section bladders have a first height extending from the base to a top portion of the first base section bladders, the second base section bladders have a second height extending from the base to a top portion of the second base section bladders, and the first height is greater than the second height.  
     
     
         13 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein each bladder has a top portion and a vertical portion extending between the top portion and the base, and a beveled portion located in between the top portion and the vertical portion.  
     
     
         14 . A patient support, comprising: 
 a cover defining an interior region,    a base located in the interior region, the base having a first end and a second end longitudinally spaced apart from the first end,    a plurality of substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders coupled to the base, and    a support layer positioned above the substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders.    
     
     
         15 . The patient support of  claim 14 , wherein the support layer includes a breathable material.  
     
     
         16 . The patient support of  claim 14 , wherein the support layer includes a plurality of resilient portions.  
     
     
         17 . The patient support of  claim 14 , wherein the support layer includes a plurality of projections and depressions.  
     
     
         18 . The patient support of  claim 14 , wherein the inflatable bladders have a first support characteristic, the support layer has a second support characteristic, and the first support characteristic is different than the second support characteristic.  
     
     
         19 . The patient support of  claim 14 , further comprising a support layer enclosure, wherein the support layer is located within the support layer enclosure.  
     
     
         20 . A patient support, comprising: 
 a cover defining an interior region,    a first support layer located in the interior region, the first support layer having a first support characteristic,    a second support layer positioned underneath the first layer, the second support layer having a second support characteristic, and    a plurality of removable filler portions selectable to conform the patient support to one of a first deck configuration and a second deck configuration.    
     
     
         21 . The patient support of  claim 20 , wherein the first deck configuration includes a step deck and the second deck configuration includes a flat deck.