Importance

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Abstract

A low air loss patient support system includes a plurality of identical multi-chambered inflatable sacks. Two adjacent chambers, one disposed predominately to one side of the centerline of the sack and the other predominately to the opposite side of the centerline of the sack, are 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 support system effects a method for relieving the pressure points between a patient and the sacks initially maintained at a first pressure profile. The method includes elevating at least a portion of the patient from zero to 30 degrees above the horizontal. The method further includes supplying air pressure to the sacks in a manner so that both sides of a first group of sacks can be maintained at a separate pressure profile from both sides of a second group of sacks. The first group of sacks is depressurized, and the second group of sacks is pressurized. Then the second group of sacks is depressurized, and the first group of sacks is pressurized. The first group of sacks can include every odd-sequenced sack, and the second group of sacks can include every even-sequenced sack. The patient experiences intermittent pressure from each group of sacks, almost as if being massaged intermittently in discrete regions of the patient's body.

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First Claim