Pulmonary Mattress

Abstract

A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A patient support surface, comprising:
 a cover defining an enclosed interior region, the enclosed interior region comprising:   a support layer; and   an elevation device, the elevation device comprising a plurality of inflatable compartments, the compartments having first and second sides spaced by a length of the elevation device, the first side having a first width and the second side having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width.   
     
     
         22 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the elevation device comprises a plurality of hinge points positioned to alternatingly elevate the lateral sides of the patient support surface. 
     
     
         23 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of inflatable compartments comprises a bellows-type construction. 
     
     
         24 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second widths are configured to cause the device to, when inflated, have a first height on the side of the compartments having the first width and a second height on the side of the compartments having the second width, wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 
     
     
         25 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , comprising a reinforcer around the plurality of inflatable compartments. 
     
     
         26 . The patient support surface of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of inflatable compartments define an interior region and the reinforcer comprises an internal air flow barrier extending into the interior region. 
     
     
         27 . The patient support surface of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of inflatable compartments comprise a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, and the internal air flow barrier controls air flow between the first and second portions of the plurality of inflatable compartments. 
     
     
         28 . The patient support surface of  claim 27 , wherein the internal air flow barrier selectively retains air in either the first portion or the second portion. 
     
     
         29 . The patient support surface of  claim 27 , wherein the internal air flow barrier allows air to be alternatingly exchanged between the first and second portions to provide rotational therapy. 
     
     
         30 . The patient support surface of  claim 27 , wherein the elevation device is hinged at a first hinge point when the first portion is inflated, and the elevation device is hinged at a second hinge point when the second portion is inflated. 
     
     
         31 . The patient support surface of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second portions or independently inflatable and deflatable. 
     
     
         32 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , comprising a substantially rigid support supported by the plurality of inflatable compartments. 
     
     
         33 . The patient support surface of  claim 32 , comprising a plurality of straps coupled to the substantially rigid support. 
     
     
         34 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the elevation device provides an elevation in the range of about thirty to about forty-five degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         35 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the elevation angle provided by the elevation device is adjustable by inflating a subset of the inflatable compartments. 
     
     
         36 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , comprising a plurality of the elevation devices arranged to provide elevation or rotation of one or more of a head portion, a torso portion, a leg portion, a calf portion, or a foot portion of the patient support surface. 
     
     
         37 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , wherein the support layer comprises an inflatable bladder positioned underneath the elevation device, and the inflatable bladder is selectively deflatable while the inflatable compartments of the elevation device are inflated. 
     
     
         38 . The patient support surface of  claim 21 , comprising a measuring device coupled to the patient support surface to measure the degree of rotation provided by the elevation device. 
     
     
         39 . The patient support surface of  claim 38 , comprising a control unit coupled to the measuring device to monitor the degree of rotation provided by the elevation device. 
     
     
         40 . An elevation and rotation device for use with a patient support surface, the elevation and rotation device comprising:
 a plurality of bellows-type inflatable compartments, each of the compartments having first and second sides spaced by a length of the elevation device, the first side having a first width and the second side having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width to elevate the first side to a greater height than the second side when the inflatable compartments are inflated.