Interface pressure sensing mattress

Abstract

A patient support surface or mattress has a coverlet defining an interior region and a core situated in the interior region. An interface pressure sensing sheet assembly is provided in the interior region. Above the core and beneath the coverlet, the sheet assembly has a lattice of longitudinally extending straps and laterally extending straps that are made of an interface pressure sensing material. The lattice has gaps through which the coverlet presses against the core. The laterally extending straps are provided over relatively high pressure zones of the core, such as a heel, sacral and/or occiput zone, and are not provided over other zones of the core.

1 . A mattress comprising
 a coverlet defining an interior region,   a core situated in the interior region, the core having at least one person support element, the core having an upper surface, a pair of side surfaces, and a pair of end surfaces, and   a sheet assembly situated inside the coverlet and over the core, the sheet assembly having side portions that fit closely against the pair of side surfaces of the core and end portions that fit closely against the pair of end surfaces of the core within the interior region of the coverlet, the sheet assembly having a plurality of longitudinally extending straps that extend between the end portions and a plurality of laterally extending straps that extend between the side portions, the longitudinally extending straps and laterally extending straps forming a lattice having a plurality of gaps that are devoid of any sheet assembly material and through which the coverlet is able to press against the core, the longitudinally extending straps and laterally extending straps being made of an interface pressure sensing material.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the interface pressure sensing material comprises a highly stretchable, electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the interface pressure sensing material comprises a breathable, piezoresistive material. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet assembly further comprises a pair of side flaps that extend atop the upper surface of the core adjacent the pair of side surfaces of the core and a pair of end flaps that extend atop the upper surface of the core adjacent the pair of end surfaces of the core, wherein end regions of the longitudinally extending straps are fastened to the end flaps, and wherein end regions of the laterally extending straps are fastened to the side flaps. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 4 , further comprising wiring coupled to at least some of the end regions of the longitudinally extending straps and at least some of the end regions of the laterally extending straps. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 5 , wherein the wiring terminates at a connector that is accessible outside the coverlet. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a lower leg zone, an upper leg zone, a lower torso zone, and an upper torso zone, wherein a first group of the laterally extending straps are situated atop the lower leg zone and a second group of the laterally extending straps are situated atop the lower torso zone, and wherein at least one of the upper leg zone and the upper torso zone are devoid of any of the laterally extending straps thereabove. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein the upper leg zone and the upper torso zone are both devoid of any of the laterally extending straps. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one person support element comprises at least one foam element. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one person support element comprises a plurality of foam elements. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 10 , wherein a first foam element of the plurality of foam elements has a laterally extending slit and the plurality of longitudinally extending straps bridge across the slit. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 10 , wherein a first foam element of the plurality of foam elements has a plurality of holes extending vertically therethrough and wherein at least some of the plurality of longitudinally extending straps bridge across at least some of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein areas of overlap between the plurality of longitudinally extending straps and the plurality of laterally extending straps form junctions. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending straps and the plurality of laterally extending straps each have substantially the same width such that the junctions are square shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending straps and the plurality of laterally extending straps are electrically coupled at the junctions. 
     
     
         16 . A mattress comprising
 a coverlet defining an interior region,   a core situated in the interior region, the core having at least one person support element, the core having an upper surface, a pair of substantially vertical side surfaces, and a pair of substantially vertical end surfaces, and   a sheet assembly situated inside the interior region and over the core, the sheet assembly having substantially vertically oriented side portions that fit closely against the pair of side surfaces of the core and substantially vertically oriented end portions that fit closely against the pair of end surfaces of the core within the interior region of the coverlet, the sheet assembly having a plurality of longitudinally extending straps that extend between upper regions of the end portions and a plurality of laterally extending straps that extend between upper regions of the side portions, the longitudinally extending straps and laterally extending straps being made of an interface pressure sensing material, wherein the core has a first zone to support a first portion of a person and a second zone to support a second portion of the person, at least some of the plurality of laterally extending straps being situated atop the first zone and the second zone being devoid of any of the laterally extending straps thereabove.   
     
     
         17 . The mattress of  claim 16 , wherein the first zone comprises at least one of a heel support zone, a sacral support zone, and a head support zone. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress of  claim 17 , wherein the second zone comprises at least one of a thigh support zone and a lower abdomen support zone. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress of  claim 16 , wherein the longitudinally extending straps are situated atop both the first and second zones. 
     
     
         20 . The mattress of  claim 16 , wherein the longitudinally extending straps and the laterally extending straps each have end regions and further comprising wiring coupled to at least some of the end regions of the longitudinally extending straps and at least some of the end regions of the laterally extending straps, the wiring terminating at a connector that is accessible outside the coverlet.