US5036559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of dual mode patient support
Assignee: SSI Medical Services Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-06
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2009-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A patient's head, chest and upper torso are supported on a first surface formed by a plurality of inflatable sacks disposed on an articulatable member. The patient's lower torso, buttocks, legs and feet are supported on a second surface formed by air fluidizing a mass of fluidizable material. A blower inflates the sacks and the fluidizable material via a network including manifolds, valves, and flexible tubing. A microprocessor controls actuation of the articulatable member, the various valves, and the blower, according to signals inputted by operating personnel or supplied by various monitoring sensors. The flow of air to the fluidizable material beneath the buttocks of the patient is reduced when the articulatable member is raised, thus increasing the density of support beneath the patient's buttocks and counteracting the tendency of the shifting weight of the patient's upper body to slide the patient toward the foot of the bed. Once the patient's upper body has reached the desired inclined position, the fluidizable material is briefly refluidized to contour the mass of material that is disposed for supporting the patient's buttocks sitting in the mass of fluidizable material.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas S. Hargest
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05738; A61G7/05746; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/30; A61G2203/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a second portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; and (c) containing the fluidizable mass of material with an elastic interface member supporting the portion of the patient between said first portion and said second portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a second portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; and (c) containing the fluidizable mass of material with an elastic interface member supporting the portion of the patient between said first portion and said second portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein: said first surface includes said elastic interface member and is adjacent said second surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein: one end of said first surface includes said elastic interface member and is coterminous with one end of said second surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein: said surfaces are non-overlapping with respect to each other.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; (c) inclining the first portion of the patient by elevating one end of the first surface; and (d) reducing the level of fluidization of the mass of material forming the second surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; (c) inclining the first portion of the patient by elevating one end of the first surface; and (d) reducing the level of fluidization of the mass of material forming the second surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein: the level of fluidization is reduced until the mass of material is completely defluidized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 5, further comprising: after ceasing to elevate said one end of the first surface, increasing the level of fluidization of the mass of material to a selected level of fluidization.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 5, further comprising: after ceasing to elevate the end of the first surface, increasing the level of fluidization of the mass of material for at least a brief period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein: the duration of said brief period is no longer than is required to contour the mass of material for the support of the buttocks in the sitting position of the patient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein: the duration of said brief period is in the range of 1/2 to 11/2 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 5, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the first surface so as to restrain the buttocks of the patient from moving in a direction toward the feet of the patient as weight is transferred against the buttocks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 5, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the first surface so as to restrain slipping or sliding of the buttocks that causes tissue damage to existing sacral skin grafts on the patient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein: the mass of material is completely defluidized when the first surface begins elevating.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; and (c) wherein: the first surface is formed by at least one air-inflated sack and pressurized air is used to support the upper torso, chest and head of the patient above the first surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on a first surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient on a second surface formed by an air fluidizable mass of material; and (c) wherein: the first surface is formed by at least one air-inflated sack and pressurized air is used to support the upper torso, chest and head of the patient above the first surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient by an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the first portion of the patient by elevating one end of the articulatable surface; and (d) reducing the level of fluidization of the mass of material.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting a first portion of the patient on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting a different portion of the patient by an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the first portion of the patient by elevating one end of the articulatable surface; and (d) reducing the level of fluidization of the mass of material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein: the level of fluidization is reduced until the mass of material is completely defluidized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 16, further comprising: after ceasing to elevate the articulatable surface, increasing the level of fluidization of the mass of material for a period of time that is no longer than is required to contour the mass of material for the support of the buttocks in the sitting position of the patient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 17, wherein: the duration of said period of time is from 1/2 to 11/2 seconds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 15, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the articulatable surface so as to restrain the buttocks of the patient from moving in a direction toward the feet of the patient as weight is transferred against the buttocks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 15, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the articulatable surface so as to restrain slipping or sliding of the buttocks that causes tissue damage to existing sacral skin grafts on the patient.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein: the mass of material is completely defluidized as soon as the articulatable surface begins elevating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 15, further comprising: using pressurized air to support the upper torso, chest and head of the patient above the articulatable surface.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting the patient above the waist on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting the buttocks of the patient in an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the head and chest of the patient by elevating the end of the surface closest to the head of the patient; and (d) defluidizing the mass of material at least partially during elevation of the surface.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting the patient above the waist on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting the buttocks of the patient in an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the head and chest of the patient by elevating the end of the surface closest to the head of the patient; and (d) defluidizing the mass of material at least partially during elevation of the surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 23, further comprising: after ceasing to elevate the surface, fluidizing the mass of material for a brief period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 24, wherein: the duration of said brief period is no longer than is required to contour the mass of material for the support of the buttocks in the sitting position of the patient.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 23, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the surface so as to restrain the buttocks of the patient from moving in a direction toward the feet of the patient as weight is transferred against the buttocks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 23, further comprising: regulating the rate of defluidization during elevation of the surface so as to restrain slipping or sliding of the buttocks that causes tissue damage to existing sacral skin grafts on the patient.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 23, further comprising: using pressurized air to support the upper torso, chest and head of the patient above the flat surface.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting the patient above the waist on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting the buttocks of the patient in an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the head and chest of the patient by elevating the end of the surface closest to the head of the patient; and (d) completely defluidizing the mass of material at least beneath the buttocks of the patient before elevating the surface.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of providing support to a patient, comprising: (a) supporting the patient above the waist on an articulatable surface; (b) supporting the buttocks of the patient in an air fluidized mass of material; (c) inclining the head and chest of the patient by elevating the end of the surface closest to the head of the patient; and (d) completely defluidizing the mass of material at least beneath the buttocks of the patient before elevating the surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 29, further comprising: after ceasing to elevate the surface, fluidizing the mass of material for a brief period.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 30, wherein: the duration of said brief period is no longer than is required to contour the mass of material for the support of the buttocks in the sitting position of the patient.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 29, wherein: pressurized air is used to support the upper torso, chest and head of the patient above the surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |