Patent EP0194868A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0194868A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Improved fluidized patient support apparatus
Assignee: Support Systems International Inc
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Filing: 1986-03-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A patient support structure employs fluid pressure to fluidize granular material (40) to provide for patient support, the fluidizable granular material being received within a container (15) atop a fluid diffuser surface (28). Separate plenum chambers (25A - 25G) are located below the diffuser surface (28) with each plenum chamber being connected to a compressor (50) via associated valve-controlled fluid manifolds (26A - 26G). Valve operators (32A - 32G) and a control system provide for phased, e.g. sequential, opening and closing of the valves to permit controlled fluidization of the granular material over a selected portion of the diffuser surface according to a predetermined arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon L. Goodwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05738; A61G7/05746
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An improved patient support structure comprising: a) an open top container means (15); b) a mass of granular material (40), for example ceramic spheres, received within said container means; c) means (21) for supporting said granular material (40) within said container means (15), said support means being porous to fluid pressure and impervious to passage of granular material; I d) means (50) for generating fluid paressure for use in fluidizing said granular material (40) above said support means (21); e) means (25A etc.) for directing at least a portion of said fluid under pressure beneath predetermined portions only of said support means (21) for fluidizing granular material thereabove; and f) flexible means (30) atop said granular material (40) for receipt of a patient thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An improved patient support structure comprising: a) an open top container means (15); b) a mass of granular material (40), for example ceramic spheres, received within said container means; c) means (21) for supporting said granular material (40) within said container means (15), said support means being porous to fluid pressure and impervious to passage of granular material; I d) means (50) for generating fluid paressure for use in fluidizing said granular material (40) above said support means (21); e) means (25A etc.) for directing at least a portion of said fluid under pressure beneath predetermined portions only of said support means (21) for fluidizing granular material thereabove; and f) flexible means (30) atop said granular material (40) for receipt of a patient thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A patient support structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing said fluid under pressure comprises a plurality of separate compartments (25A ... 25G) located beneath said support means (21), each said compartment having valve means (27A - 27G) associated therewith for communication with said fluid pressure generating means when open, and valve operator means (32A - 32G) for opening and closing the valve means according to a predetermined arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A patient support structure according to claim 2, wherein said valve operator means comprise a solenoid (170) operatively associated with each valve means, and control means (60) operatively associated with the solenoids for selectively actuating and deactuating them according to said predetermined arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A patient support structure according to claim 3 wherein said control means comprises cam means (260) having solenoid actuator means located thereon so that said solenoids (170) are sequentially actuated and deactuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A patient support structure according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said fluid pressure generating means comprises an air compressor (50), and a fluid manifold (29) is connected between said compressor and said separate compartments (25A - 25G).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A patient support structure according to claim 5 further comprising a by-pass fluid manifold means (35) to permit fluid escape at predetermined fluid pressure levels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
An improved patient support structure comprising: a) an open top container means (15); b) a support means (21) located within said container means and defining a plurality of separate plenum chambers (25A - 25G) therealong; c) fluid diffuser means (28) located atop said support means; d) a mass of granular material (40) received within said container means (15) atop said diffuser means (28); e) means (50, 29 for pressurizing fluid and introducing said fluid under pressure into the separate plenum chambers (25A - 25G) according to a predetermined arrangement; and f) flexible sheet means (30) located above said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
An improved patient support structure comprising: a) an open top container means (15); b) a support means (21) located within said container means and defining a plurality of separate plenum chambers (25A - 25G) therealong; c) fluid diffuser means (28) located atop said support means; d) a mass of granular material (40) received within said container means (15) atop said diffuser means (28); e) means (50, 29 for pressurizing fluid and introducing said fluid under pressure into the separate plenum chambers (25A - 25G) according to a predetermined arrangement; and f) flexible sheet means (30) located above said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A patient support structure according to claim 7 wherein said container means (15) includes a bottom wall (16), side walls (12) and an end wall (14).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A patient support structure according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said support means (21) comprises a skeletal top surface with said plenum chambers (25A - 25G) being located below said skeletal surface and said fluid diffuser means (28) being located atop said skeletal surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A patient support surface according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said means for pressurizing and introducing a fluid to said plenum chambers comprises a compressor (50), a main fluid manifold (29) in operative association with said compressor and individual conduits (26A - 26G) connected between said main manifold and each plenum chamber (25A - 25G), said individual conduits having valves (27A - 27G) therein operable between open and closed positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A patient support structure according to claim 10 further comprising valve operator means (32A - 32G) associated with said valves and control means (60) operatively associated with said valve operator means to actuate and deactivate said operator means according to said predetermined arrangement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A patient support structure according to claim 11 wherein said operator means are electrical solenoids (170).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patient support structure according to claim 12 wherein said control means (60) for said solenoids (170) comprises timing means having at least one electrical contact that is movable into and out of actuating contact with said solenoids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A patient support structure according to claim 13 wherein said control means for said solenoids (170) is a cam (260).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A patient support structure according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein said valve means (27A - 27G) are normally biased towards either an open or a closed position and said solenoids (170) when actuated overcome said bias and move said valve means to the opposite position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
A patient support structure according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the support means (21) located within said container defines a plurality of separate, open-top plenum chambers (25A - 25G) therealong, each plenum chamber having a fluid manifold (26A - 26G) in communication therewith and each manifold having valve means (27A - 27G) associated therewith; the means for pressurising and introducing said fluid is in communication with the said manifolds (26A - 26G) for introducing fluid under pressure thereto; and means (60) is provided for operating the said valve means (27A - 27G) according to a predetermined arrangement so that fluid under pressure is supplied to each plenum chamber (25A - 25G), when the valve means (27A - 27G) therefor is open for fluidizing granular material (40) thereabove, and is precluded from entering each plenum chamber when the valve means therefor is closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patient support structure according to claim 16, wherein said fluid pressurizing means comprises a compressor (50) coupled to a main fluid manifold (29) which is connected between said compressor and said plenum chamber manifolds (26A - 26G).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A patient support structure as defined in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the valve operating means comprises an operator (32A - 32G) for each valve and operator control means (60), the operators for example being electrical solenoids (170) and the control means being adapted electrically to activate and deactuate said solenoids according to the predetermined arrangement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A patient support structure according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the valve means are arranged to be sequentially opened and closed along said structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A patient support structure according to claim 18, wherein said control means is a timing means, rotatable into and out of actuating contact with electrical contacts for said operators comprising e.g. solenoids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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