A patient support apparatus includes an air supply and an air fluidization therapy bed including a fluidization space and a fluidizable medium positioned in the fluidization space. The air fluidization therapy bed receives a flow of pressurized air from the air supply. The flow of pressurized air operable to fluidize the fluidizable medium. The patient support apparatus is configured to provide other therapies, such as pulmonary therapies, in addition to the air fluidization therapy.

A system includes a patient support apparatus that has one or more therapies. The therapies are optionally available depending on the acuity of the patient. A request for enablement of a therapy is transferred to a service provider for approval and, when approved, the therapy is enabled by the service provider. The patient support apparatus may be in communication with a server that is in communication with multiple patient support apparatuses so that the server is operable to selectively enable therapies on various patient support apparatuses.

A microclimate management system 10 comprises a mattress 16, a topper 18, and a control system 14. The topper 18 is coupled to the mattress 16 and is supported thereon. The topper 18 defines an interior region 42 and a person contacting surface 52. The control system 14 is configured to maintain at least one of a surface temperature, a relative surface humidity, and a heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface 52 within a predetermined operating range.

This disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments of a parent support (10) having a plurality of vertically-oriented on substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders (50). In one embodiment, the patient support includes a plurality of pressure sensors (136) positioned underneath the bladders. In another embodiment, the patient support includes a support layer (20) positioned above the vertical bladders. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes one or more filler portions (80, 84, 86, 90) that are selectable so that the patient support may conform to bed frames having different deck configurations.

In certain embodiments, a patient support having real time pressure control is provided. The patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a bladder including a plurality of upright cylindrical elements. The pressure within the bladder is controlled based on the pressure or force sensed by the plurality of sensors.

In certain embodiments, a lack of patient movement monitor and method is provided. The monitor and method patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a patient support to determine movement of a patient. An alarm is activated when patient movement over time is determined to be lacking.

The present invention also includes a pressure relief patient support (1010) for use in combination with a bed frame. The pressure relief support surface includes a plurality of layers of a three-dimensional fiber material (1302) positioned above a plurality of vertical air cells (50).

This disclosure describes a patient support (10, 900) having an air permeable layer (20, 91, 91', 920), a plurality of inflatable bladders (50, 60, 62, 64, 66, 72, 74, 74a, 74b, 76, 78, 80, 84, 86, 90, 140, 142, 960, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 974, 974a, 974b, 980, 984, 990, 992, 994, 996), a pressure sensing assembly (68, 70, 328, 968, 970, 1048), and a controller (42,58,958,1542). In one embodiment, a combination of transverse bladders (960, 962, 963) and vertically oriented can-shaped bladders (964, 965) is provided. In one embodiment, one or more angle sensors (502, 1502, 1262) are provided in articulatable sections (32, 34, 932, 934) of the patient support (10, 900).

Provided is temperature-controlled air circulation type bedding which introduces the blowoff air generated by a temperature control unit into an air flow passage provided around a bedding body so as to cool or warm the body of a person in the bedding, controls the blowoff air temperature to form a comfortable sleeping environment irrespective of an external atmosphere temperature, suppresses discharge of carbon dioxide gas, etc. with a compact configuration, and has low power consumption. The temperature-controlled air circulation type bedding includes a temperature control unit 2 which controls the blowoff air temperature by a cooling or heating action, and a bedding body 3 which provides an air flow passage 27 which allows the blowoff air from the temperature control unit to be introduced and circulated therethrough, and cools or warms the inside thereof. The temperature of air which circulates through the bedding is detected so that the temperature of the blowoff air is controlled by the temperature control unit.

Embodiments include a modular support pad having a support cushion, a fluid-filled bladder coupled to an electronic pressure sensor for sensing a fluid pressure within the fluid-filled bladder, and a ticking surrounding the support cushion and the fluid-filled bladder and providing a person support surface between the fluid-filled bladder and a person. Other embodiments include a modular support pad having a support cushion, a bladder coupled to an electronic pump for circulating a cooling fluid within the bladder, and a ticking surrounding the support cushion and the bladder and providing a person support surface between the bladder and a person. Methods of sensing pressure applied by a support pad are also described.