Importance

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Abstract

A low air loss patient support system includes a plurality of identical multi-chambered inflatable sacks. A restrictive flow hole connects two adjacent chambers disposed predominately to one side of the centerline of the sack, and each side is separately pressurizable under the control of a microprocessor and a plurality of pressure control valves with pressure transducers and a plurality of flow diverter valves for switching between different modes of configuring the manner in which the sacks are pressurized. The system includes a modular manifold for mounting the pressure control valves, and a modular support member for mounting the sacks via quick-disconnect couplings and having air flow channels defined therethrough. The support system effects a method of rotating or tilting the patient that depressurizes one side of the sacks while increasing the pressurization of the opposite side of the sacks. The end chamber of the depressurizing side of the sacks remains inflated while the intermediate chamber of the depressurizing side of the sacks becomes progressively deflated during depressurization to permit the end chamber to restrain the patient from sliding off the sacks during tilting. The support system permits practicing the method of relieving pressure points between the patient and the sacks while elevating the head and chest of the patient by reconfiguring the diverter valves to connect alternating sacks at the same pressure and periodically decreasing the pressure in one group of sacks while increasing the pressure in the other group of sacks to alternately relieve the pressure of the weight of the patient between the two different groups of sacks depending upon which group is depressurizing and which group is being increased in pressure.

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First Claim