Therapeutic mattress assembly

Abstract

A therapeutic mattress assembly comprising a mattress having a substrate assembly that includes a plurality of cylinders positioned side by side over the length of the mattress. Each cylinder is configured as a low air loss system to allow air to flow into the cylinder from a source and out of the cylinder through small holes located on the top of each cylinder. An overlay assembly provides a foam cushion that provides a supporting surface above the substrate assembly for the patient. A calf lift bladder operates to effectively raise or lower the patient's feet to prevent pressure related injuries. A lateral rotation assembly selectively raises and lowers a selected half of the mattress to turn patients in a lateral direction. A bolster inflates in response to the lateral rotation assembly to secure the patient within the mattress.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A mattress assembly for supporting a body, the mattress assembly comprising:
 a low air loss mattress including   a first low air loss cylinder having a first cylinder wall defining a plurality of holes allowing air to flow from the first low air loss cylinder; and   a second low air loss cylinder having a second cylinder wall defining a plurality of holes allowing air to flow from the second low air loss cylinder;   a blower connected to the first and second low air loss cylinders;   a controller connected to the blower and operable to control air supply to inflate the first and second low air loss cylinders in an alternating manner, wherein in one state, air is supplied to expand the first low air loss cylinder while the second low air loss cylinder deflates, and wherein in another state, air is supplied to expand the second low air loss cylinder while the first low air loss cylinder deflates;   a first layer of viscoelastic foam atop the first and second low air loss cylinders and through which air escaping from the first and second low air loss cylinders passes toward the body; and   a second layer of foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the low air loss mattress has a length and a width and includes:
 a plurality of first low air loss cylinders, each of the plurality of first low air loss cylinders extending parallel to the width of the low air loss mattress; and   a plurality of second low air loss cylinders, each of the plurality of second low air loss cylinders extending parallel to the width of the low air loss mattress, wherein the plurality of first low air loss cylinders and the plurality of second low air loss cylinders are positioned in an alternating arrangement along the length of the low air loss mattress such that each of the plurality of first low air loss cylinders is adjacent at least one of the plurality of second low air loss cylinders wherein in the one state, air is supplied to expand the plurality of first low air loss cylinders while the plurality of second low air loss cylinders deflates, and wherein in the other state, an is supplied to expand the plurality of second low air loss cylinders while the plurality of first air loss cylinders deflates.   
     
     
         3 . The mattress assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer of foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders is viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first cylinder wall of each first low air loss cylinder is supported upon the second layer of viscoelastic foam therein when said first low air loss cylinder is deflated, and wherein the first cylinder wall of each first low air loss cylinder is elevated above the second layer of viscoelastic foam therein when said first low air loss cylinder is inflated. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a third layer of foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders, the third layer of foam being a different type of foam than the second layer of viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second layer of viscoelastic foam is stacked atop the third layer of foam. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of reticulated foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of holes defined through the layer of viscoelastic foam atop the first and second low air loss cylinders and through which air escaping from the first and second low air loss cylinders passes. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes defined through the layer of viscoelastic foam are substantially aligned with the plurality of holes in the first cylinder wall of the first low air loss cylinder and with the plurality of holes in the second cylinder wall of the second low air loss cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . mattress assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable bolster embedded within the layer of viscoelastic foam atop the first and second low air loss cylinders. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inflatable bolster is located atop the first and second low air loss cylinders. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover in which the first and second low air loss cylinders are received, wherein each of the first and second low air loss cylinders is detachably connected to the cover by at least one fastener. 
     
     
         13 . A mattress assembly for supporting a body, the mattress assembly comprising:
 a mattress including   a first side edge;   a second side edge opposite the first side edge;   a foam layer; and   a selectively inflatable bladder fully encased within the foam layer.   
     
     
         14 . The mattress assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foam layer includes a viscoelastic foam. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foam layer is located in a top layer of the mattress assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the bladder is a first bladder, and wherein the mattress further comprises a second bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second bladders has an elongated shape extending in a length dimension of the mattress. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first bladder is located proximate the first side edge of the mattress, and wherein the second bladder is located proximate the second side edge of the mattress. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a lateral rotation assembly supporting the mattress and having a first lateral rotation wedge for raising the first side edge of the mattress and a second lateral rotation wedge for raising the second side edge of the mattress. 
     
     
         20 . The mattress assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first bladder is inflated to secure the body on the mattress assembly when the second side edge of the mattress is raised, and
 wherein the second bladder is inflated to secure the body on the mattress assembly when the first side edge of the mattress is raised.   
     
     
         21 . The mattress assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a blower assembly for controllably supplying air to the bladder. 
     
     
         22 . The mattress assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the bladder includes an outer periphery, and wherein the foam layer extends around the outer periphery of the bladder.