Patient support with welded materials

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods to support a patient or other person include a first material that is substantially air impermeable welded to a second material that is substantially air permeable and liquid impermeable. The first material may also be liquid and vapor impermeable and the second material may be vapor permeable. Exemplary embodiments may include an inflatable enclosure formed from a sheet of the first material with an aperture, and the second material may cover a portion of the aperture.

1 . A support member comprising:
 an inflatable enclosure comprising a first material and a second material, wherein:
 the first material is substantially air impermeable; 
 the second material is air permeable and substantially liquid impermeable; and 
 the second material is welded to the first material. 
   
   
   
       2 . The support member of  claim 1  wherein the first material comprises an aperture and the second material covers a portion of the aperture. 
   
   
       3 . The support member of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is high frequency (HF) welded to the first material. 
   
   
       4 . The support member of  claim 1  wherein the second material is vapor permeable. 
   
   
       5 . The support member of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal baffle. 
   
   
       6 . The support member of  claim 1  wherein the first material comprises urethane and the second material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
   
   
       7 . The support member of  claim 1  further comprising an opening configured to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for supporting a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet comprising a first material, wherein the first material is substantially air impermeable;   an aperture in the sheet;   a second material covering the aperture, wherein the second material is air permeable and substantially liquid impermeable and the second material is welded to the first material.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 the sheet comprises a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side;   the first side is coupled to the second side;   the first end is sealed; and   the second end is sealed, so that the sheet is configured to form an elongated inflatable enclosure.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sheet is configured to form a generally cylindrical enclosure when inflated. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising an internal baffle, wherein the elongated inflatable enclosure has a cross-section having a height and a width, wherein the height is greater than the width. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second material is high frequency (HF) welded to the first material. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second material is vapor permeable. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first material comprises urethane and the second material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the sheet comprises an opening configured to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid. 
   
   
       16 . A support system comprising:
 a plurality of first support members, wherein:
 the first support members comprise a first material that is substantially air impermeable; and 
 the first support members are a first height; and 
   a plurality of second support members, wherein:
 the second support members comprise a second material that is air permeable and liquid impermeable; 
 the second support members are a second height; 
 the first height is greater than the second height; and 
 a second support member is located between two first support members. 
   
   
   
       17 . The support system of  claim 16  wherein the second material is vapor permeable. 
   
   
       18 . The support system of  claim 16 , wherein the first support members comprise a third material and the third material is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable. 
   
   
       19 . The support system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first source of pressurized fluid coupled to the first support member and coupled to the second support member. 
   
   
       20 . The support system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first source of pressurized fluid coupled to the first support member and a second source of pressurized fluid coupled to the second support member. 
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a support member, the method comprising:
 providing a sheet of first material, wherein the first material is air impermeable;   creating an aperture in the sheet;   covering a portion of the aperture with a second material, wherein the second material is air permeable and liquid impermeable;   welding the second material to the first material; and   configuring the sheet to form an inflatable enclosure.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the second material is high frequency welded to the first material.