Pneumatic chair jack

Abstract

A multi-cell inflatable jack includes a plurality of jack elements. Each of the plurality of jack elements includes a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber. A valve is coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to one of the perimeter chamber or the central chamber. A plurality of flow control stringers are located between the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion and are configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber. At least one fastener is formed on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element in a multi-cell stack.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A jack element, comprising
 a body defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber;   a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the plurality of lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber, and wherein at least one of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit; and   a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber, and wherein the perimeter chamber is coupled to the central chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The jack element of  claim 21 , comprising at least one handle coupled to the body. 
     
     
         23 . The jack element of  claim 21 , wherein the perimeter stringer defines a shape substantially similar to a perimeter shape of the body. 
     
     
         24 . The jack element of  claim 23 , wherein the perimeter stringer defines one or more openings therethrough, and wherein the openings are sized and configured to provide a predetermined rate of air flow from the perimeter chamber to the central chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The jack element of  claim 23 , wherein the perimeter shape of the body is selected from the group consisting of a diamond shape, a saddle shape, and a seat shape. 
     
     
         26 . The jack element of  claim 21 , at least one fastener formed on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element in a multi-cell stack. 
     
     
         27 . The jack element of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a first fastener positioned on an upper surface of the body and a second fastener positioned on a lower surface of the body. 
     
     
         28 . The jack element of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one fastener is a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         29 . A system, comprising:
 a first jack element; and   a second jack element, wherein each of the first and second jack elements comprise:
 a body defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber; 
 a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the plurality of lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber, and wherein at least one of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit; and 
 a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber, and wherein the perimeter chamber is coupled to the central chamber, 
   wherein the first jack element is configured to be attached to the second jack element.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , comprising a third jack element, wherein the third jack element is configured to be located between the first jack element and the second jack element. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , comprising an inflatable back rest configured to be attached to one of the first jack element or the second jack element. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the perimeter stringer defines a shape substantially similar to a perimeter shape of the body, and wherein the perimeter chamber is defined between the perimeter stringer and the body and the central chamber is defined by the internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the predetermined perimeter shape of each of the bodies is selected from the group consisting of a diamond shape, a saddle shape, and a seat shape. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the perimeter stringer defines a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein the openings are sized and configured to provide a predetermined rate of air flow from the perimeter chamber to the central chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first jack element comprises at least one first fastener formed on the body and configured to attach the first jack element to the second jack element. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first jack element is releasably attached to the second jack element by the at least one fastener. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first jack element is fixedly attached to the second jack element by the at least one fastener. 
     
     
         38 . A method of raising a patient, comprising:
 positioning a multi-cell inflatable jack under a patient, wherein the multi-cell inflatable jack comprises a plurality of inflatable jack elements, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable jack elements comprises:
 a body defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber; 
 a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the plurality of lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber, and wherein at least one of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit; and 
 a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber, and wherein the perimeter chamber is coupled to the central chamber; 
   inflating a first of the plurality of inflatable jack elements to raise a patient from a seated position to a first height; and   inflating a second of the plurality of inflatable jack elements to raise a patient from the first height to a second height, wherein the second height is configured to position the patient in a standing position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of claim  18 , comprising inflating an inflatable back rest attached to the first of the plurality of inflatable jack elements prior to inflation of the first of the plurality of inflatable jack elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  18 , comprising attaching a third jack element to one of the first jack element or the second jack element.