Fluidized supporting apparatus

Claim 2

An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising: (a) an open top container means; (b) a mass of granular material received within said container; (c) means for supporting non-fluidized granular material at predetermined varying depths within said container, said support means being porous to fluid passage and impervious to passage of granular material; (d) means for fluidizing said granular material above said material support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said material support means being correlated such that said granular material across said container is fluidized adequately to support all body areas of a patient in a supine position; and (e) flexible means enclosing said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon, said flexible means permitting passage of fluid through at least a portion of same while precluding passage of granular material therethrough.

Claim 3

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is defined by a plurality of separate sheets, at least certain of said sheets exhibiting a different fluid porosity than other of said sheets.

Claim 4

A fluidizable support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is arranged to receive a greater depth of granular material intermediate the length of same in the general area where a patient's buttocks may reside, the depth of granular material thereat being sufficient that the weight of a patient sitting on said structure will not completely defluidize said granular material.

Claim 5

A fluidized patient support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said granular material is glass spheres.

Claim 6

A fluidized patient support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is located within said container, spaced above a bottom of said container, and cooperates with walls of said container below same to define a fluid plenum chamber therebetween.

Claim 7

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 5 further comprising baffle means located beneath said support means, said baffle means cooperating with walls of said container to define a plurality of plenum chambers, each plenum chamber corresponding to a particular segment of said support means, each said baffle means further being adapted to permit predetermined fluid flow only therethrough, whereby fluid parameters in each plenum chamber any be controlled to properly fluidize the granular material thereabove.

Claim 8

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for fluidizing said granular material comprises a fluid blower means in communication with an interior of one of said plenum chambers, and said baffle means define at least one orifice of a predetermined size and configuration to permit passage of fluid therethrough adequate for fluidization of granular material above the plenum chamber therebehind.

Claim 9

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for fluidizing said granular material comprises a fluid blower means in communication with an interior of said plenum chamber.

Claim 10

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 7 wherein means are associated with said fluid blower means to condition a fluid supplied to said plenum chamber thereby.

Claim 11

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for enclosing said open top of said container comprises a flexible sheet of material that is received on said container such that said material remains loose beneath a patient received thereon.

Claim 12

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said sheet is fluid permeable while being impermeable to passage of granular material.

Claim 13

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the porosity of said support means varies directly with the depth of granular material to be fluidized thereover.

Claim 14

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 12 wherein a greater depth fluidizable granular material is located intermediate the structure with at least one lesser depth of fluidizable granular material located adjacent thereto.

Claim 15

An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising: (a) an open top container defined by a bottom wall and side walls; (b) a frame received in said container, spaced above said bottom wall; (c) a support means received on said frame, said support means being porous to the passage of a fluid therethrough and impervious to the passage of granular material to be received thereover, said support means having a predetermined contour; (d) a mass of granular material received within said container atop said support means, the depth of granular material above said support means varying with the contour of said support means; (e) flexible cover means for said container; and (f) means to fluidize said granular material above said support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said support means being correlated to fluidize said granular material above said porous support means adequately to support a patient in a supine position thereon and the depth of granular material and porosity of the support means at areas where a patient would normally sit on the structure being such that the patient will also be supported in a sitting position without sinking through the granular material into contact with said support means.

Claim 16

An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising: (a) an open top container defined by a bottom wall and side walls; (b) a frame received in said container, spaced above said bottom wall; (c) a support means received on said frame, said support means being porous to the passage of a fluid therethrough and impervious to the passage of granular material to be received thereover, said support means having a predetermined contour; (d) a mass of granular material received within said container atop said support means, the depth of granular material above said support means varying with the contour of said support means; (e) flexible cover means for said container; and (f) means to fluidize said granular material above said support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said support means being correlated to fluidize said granular material above said porous support means adequately to support a patient in a supine position thereon and the depth of granular material and porosity of the support means at areas where a patient would normally sit on the structure being such that the patient will also be supported in a sitting position without sinking through the granular material into contact with said support means.

Claim 17

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 14 comprising further, baffle means located below said support means, said baffle means cooperating with walls of said container to define a plurality of plenum chambers coincident with the contour of said support means, said baffle means further being adapted to permit predetermined fluid flow only therethrough, whereby varied, controlled fluid flow and pressure may be produced in each plenum chamber to properly fluidize the granular material thereabove.

Claim 18

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 15 wherein at least certain of said baffle means define an orifice therein.

Claim 19

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 16 wherein said orifice has adjustment means associated therewith.

Claim 20

A fluidizable patient support structure as defined in claim 17 wherein said adjustment means are operable from outside said container.