Sleep surface insert system and method thereof

Abstract

A sleep surface insert system and method for positioning under, for example, an infant on a sleep surface. The sleep surface insert system includes an insert and a blower system. The insert includes a top liner and a bottom liner. The top liner and bottom liner define first and a second hollow spaces therebetween. Further, the top liner includes first and second pores such that the first pores extend through the top liner from the first hollow space and the second pores extend through the top liner from the second hollow space. In addition, the blower system is configured to provide air flow into the first and second hollow spaces defined in the insert such that the air flow is configured to flow into the insert and out of at least one of the first pores and the second pores.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleep surface insert system for positioning under a person on a sleep surface, the sleep surface insert system comprising:
 a removable insert configured to be removably positioned over the sleep surface, the removable insert having a substantially flat configuration with a top liner having an exterior surface and a bottom liner, the top liner and bottom liner defining at least one hollow space therebetween, the top liner defining multiple pores extending between the at least one hollow space and the exterior surface;   a blower configured to provide air flow into the at least one hollow space defined in the removable insert, the air flow configured to continuously flow into the removable insert and out of the multiple pores; and   a sensor, a controller and a thermal element each operatively coupled to the blower and configured to control a temperature of the air being blown through the removable insert.   
     
     
         2 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring system coupled to the removable insert and configured to monitor at least one of heart rate and respiration of the person. 
     
     
         3 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring system coupled to the removable insert and configured to monitor physiological parameters of the person. 
     
     
         4 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter configured to filter the air being blown through the removable insert. 
     
     
         5 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring system comprises at least one of a piezoelectric member, a conductive polymer, a pressure sensor, and spaced conductors. 
     
     
         6 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow space comprises a first hollow space and a second hollow space defined between the top liner and the bottom liner. 
     
     
         7 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 6 , further comprising an actuator positioned between the blower and the removable insert configured to direct the air flow between the first hollow space and the second hollow space in an alternating manner. 
     
     
         8 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple pores comprises first multiple pores and second multiple pores corresponding with the first hollow space and the second hollow space, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable insert is sized and configured to be positioned over a bed mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The sleep surface insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable insert is sized and configured to be associated with a head pillow. 
     
     
         11 . An air flow insert system for positioning over or adjacent a sleep surface of an infant, the air flow insert system comprising:
 a removable insert configured to at least partially surround a periphery of the sleep surface of an infant and be removable from the sleep surface, the removable insert including an elongated dimension and a height dimension such that the elongated dimension is configured to extend along the sleep surface and the height dimension is configured to extend upward from and above the sleep surface, the removable insert having an inner liner and an outer liner, the inner liner and the outer liner configured to extend upward between a bottom end and a top end of the removable insert to define the height dimension, the inner liner and the outer liner defining at least one chamber therebetween and the inner liner defining multiple apertures extending therethrough; and   a blower configured to provide air flow into the at least one chamber defined in the removable insert, the air flow configured to flow into the removable insert and out of the removable insert from the multiple apertures defined in the upwardly extending inner liner so that the air flow from the apertures flows in a generally horizontal direction.   
     
     
         12 . The air flow insert system of  claim 11 , further comprising a sensor, a controller and a thermal element configured to control a temperature of the air flow moving into the removable insert. 
     
     
         13 . The air flow insert system of  claim 11 , further comprising a filter configured to filter the air flow moving into the removable insert. 
     
     
         14 . The air flow insert system of  claim 11 , further comprising a monitoring system coupled to the removable insert and configured to monitor at least one of heart rate and respiration of the infant. 
     
     
         15 . The air flow insert system of  claim 14 , wherein the monitoring system comprises at least one of a piezoelectric member, a conductive polymer, a pressure sensor, and spaced conductors. 
     
     
         16 . The air flow insert system of  claim 11 , further comprising a monitoring system coupled to the removable insert and configured to monitor physiological parameters of the infant. 
     
     
         17 . The air flow insert system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber defined between the inner liner and the outer liner. 
     
     
         18 . The air flow insert system of  claim 17 , further comprising an actuator positioned between the blower and the removable insert configured to direct the air flow between the first chamber and the second chamber in an alternating manner.