Patent Application
20120022414
This disclosure relates generally to a gas supply system. More particularly, but not exclusively, one illustrative embodiment relates to a gas supply system configured to supply gas to a person-support surface and a pneumatic device.
Caregivers can be required to administer therapies and/or perform procedures on people supported on person-support surfaces. Some of the devices used for therapies and/or procedures can be powered by a gas, such as, for example, air. While various gas supply systems have been developed, there is still room for improvement. Thus a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology.
The present disclosure includes one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter.
One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a gas supply system with a person-support surface having a chamber configured to contain a gas, a garment having a chamber configured to contain a gas, and a gas supply configured to communicate a gas to the garment and the person-support surface. In another illustrative embodiment, the gas supply system can include a gas supply configured to communicate a gas to a first chamber of a garment at a first gas flow rate for a first period of time to maintain the garment at a first pressure, communicate a gas to the garment at a second gas flow rate for a second period of time to maintain the first chamber at a second pressure, sense a gas pressure in a second chamber of a person-support surface, and communicate a gas to the second chamber at a third gas flow rate for a third period of time to maintain the second chamber at a third pressure. In another illustrative embodiment, the gas supply system can include a person-support surface, a microclimate management topper, a pneumatic device, and a gas supply configured to supply a gas to the pneumatic device and at least one of the microclimate management topper and the person-support surface.
Additional features alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims and those described in detail below, can comprise patentable subject matter. Others will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
Referring now to the illustrative examples in the drawings, wherein like numerals represent the same or similar elements throughout:
While the present disclosure can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. No limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Various alterations, further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure, as described herein, are contemplated.
One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a gas supply system with a person-support surface having a chamber configured to contain a gas, a garment having a chamber configured to contain a gas, and a gas supply configured to communicate a gas to the garment and the person-support surface. In another illustrative embodiment, the gas supply system can include a gas supply configured to communicate a gas to a first chamber of a garment at a first gas flow rate for a first period of time to maintain the garment at a first pressure, communicate a gas to the garment at a second gas flow rate for a second period of time to maintain the first chamber at a second pressure, sense a gas pressure in a second chamber of a person-support surface, and communicate a gas to the second chamber at a third gas flow rate for a third period of time to maintain the second chamber at a third pressure. In another illustrative embodiment, the gas supply system can include a person-support surface, a microclimate management topper, a pneumatic device, and a gas supply configured to supply a gas to the pneumatic device and at least one of the microclimate management topper and the person-support surface.
A gas supply system 10 according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. The gas supply system 10 can include a person-support surface 12, a pneumatic device 14 external to the person-support surface 12, and a gas supply assembly 16. The gas supply system 10 can be configured to provide support to a person positioned on the person-support surface 12 and/or power the pneumatic device 14.
The person-support surface 12 or mattress 12 can include an outer mattress cover 18 or mattress ticking 18, a mattress core 20, and an inlet 22 as shown in
The pressure in the gas bladders 26 can be varied by zone to provide support and/or therapy to a person positioned thereon. In one illustrative embodiment, the gas bladders 26 in Zone 1, Zone 2, and/or Zone 3 can be alternately inflated and deflated to create a form of alternating pressure therapy and/or percussion/vibration therapy. In another illustrative embodiment, the gas bladders 26 in Zone 1, Zone 2, and/or Zone 3 can be inflated and/or deflated to provide lateral rotation therapy. It should be appreciated that the gas bladders 26 and/or other components can provide therapy to the person through expansion and/or contraction, changes in pressure, and/or blowing air. It should also be appreciated that the person-support surface 12 can be configured to provide other therapies, including, but not limited to, low air loss therapy, and/or can be configured to boost a person and/or assist a caregiver attempting to turn a person.
The person-support surface 12 can be supported on a person-support apparatus 28 as shown in
The pneumatic device 14 can be a variety of devices configured to be powered by a gas. In one illustrative embodiment, the pneumatic device can be a compression therapy device 14 as shown in
The hose assembly 44 can be configured to provide fluid communication between the gas supply assembly 16 and the garment 46 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-10. In one illustrative embodiment, the hose assembly 44 can be coupled to the gas supply assembly 16 via a therapy connector TC1 and coupled to the garment 46. The hose assembly 44 can be configured to communicate a gas from the gas supply assembly 16 to the garment 46.
The garment 46 can be configured to include at least one gas bladder AB 1. In one illustrative embodiment, the pneumatic device 14 can include a first surface 48a and a second surface 48b that can be selectively attached to one another along at least one seam SM1 to form convolutions CV1 in the garment 46 as shown in
The gas supply assembly 16 can be configured to supply fluid to the person-support surface 12 and the pneumatic device 14. In one illustrative embodiment, the gas supply assembly 16 can include a gas supply 50, a controller 52, a manifold assembly 54, a plurality of conduits 56, and a connector 58 as shown in
The connector 58 can be configured to removably couple the pneumatic device 14 to the gas supply assembly 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. In one illustrative embodiment, the connector 58 can be a receptacle that can be configured to removably retain the therapy connector TC1 therein and can be in fluid communication with the manifold assembly 54 via one of the plurality of conduits 56. It should be appreciated that the connector 58 can be received by the therapy connector TC1. It should also be appreciated that the connector 58 can include a valve (not shown) configured to prevent fluid from escaping from the connector 58 when the therapy connector 58 is not coupled to the connector 58. In one illustrative embodiment, the connector 58 can be positioned on the person-support surface 12 as shown in
The components of the gas supply assembly 16 can be co-located or separated depending on the configuration of the gas supply system 10. In one illustrative embodiment, the components of the gas supply assembly 16 can be coupled to the lower frame 30 and the upper frame 32 as shown in
The gas supply 50 can be in fluid communication with the manifold assembly 54 via at least one of the plurality of conduits 56 as show in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. The gas supply 50 can be configured to communicate a gas at various pressures and rates depending on the pneumatic device 14. For example, if the pneumatic device 14 is the chest-wall oscillation device 14, the gas supply 50 can be a gas blower configured to communicate a gas at a relatively low pressure and a relatively high flow rate. In another example, if the pneumatic device 14 is a compression therapy garment, the gas supply 50 can be a gas compressor configured to communicate gas at a relatively low flow rate and a relatively high pressure. It should also be appreciated that the gas supply 50 can be configured to communicate a gas to, for example, at least two of the compression therapy garment 14 and the chest wall oscillation device 14, and/or another pneumatic device 14. It should also be appreciated that the gas supply 50 can be configured to modify the temperature and/or humidity of the gas being supplied.
The manifold assembly 54 can be in fluid communication with the gas supply 50, the person-support surface 12, and the connector 58 via the plurality of conduits 56. In one illustrative embodiment, the manifold assembly 54 can include a housing 62 with an inlet 64 and a plurality of outlets 66 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. The housing 62 can include a first portion P1, a second portion P2, and a partition P3 configured to regulate communication of fluid between the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8-10. The first portion P1 can be configured to contain a gas at a first pressure that can be communicated to the person-support surface 12. The second portion P2 can be configured to contain a gas at a second pressure that can be communicated to the pneumatic device 14. It should be appreciated that the first pressure and the second pressure can be substantially equal.
In another illustrative embodiment, the manifold assembly 54 can include a housing 62a with an inlet 64a and a plurality of outlets 66a that can be dedicated to the person-support surface 12 and a housing 62b with an inlet 64b and a plurality of outlets 66b that can be dedicated to the pneumatic device 14 as shown in
The outlets 66 can be in fluid communication with the person-support surface 12 and/or the connector 58 via one of the plurality of conduits 56 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. The outlets 66 can include a valve 68 therein configured to regulate the flow of gas from the housing 62 to the person-support surface 12 and/or the connector 58. The valves 68 can be configured to be actuated by the controller 52. It should be appreciated that the valves 68 can be actuated individually and/or in groups simultaneously and/or sequentially. It should also be appreciated that the valves 68 can be partially actuated by the controller 52 to vary the gas flow rate.
The controller 52 can be configured to actuate the valves 68 to control the timing and/or the amount of gas communicated to the person-support surface 12 and/or the pneumatic device 14. It should be appreciated that there can be two controllers 52a and 52b with controller 52a being configured to control the timing and/or the amount of gas communicated to the person-support surface 12, and controller 52b being configured to control the timing and/or the amount of gas communicated to the pneumatic device 14 as shown in
The controller 52 can include a processor 70 and memory 72 electrically coupled to the processor 70 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-10. The memory 72 can be configured to store instructions 74 that can be executed by the processor 70. The instructions 74 can cause the controller 52 to actuate at least one of the valves 68 to allow a gas to be communicated to at least one of the person-support surface 12 and the pneumatic device 14. The instructions 74 can vary depending on the number of manifold assemblies 54, the size of the gas supply 50, whether there are multiple fluid supplies 50, or other variables. In one illustrative embodiment, there is only one gas supply 50 and the instructions 74 can be configured to prioritize which of the person-support surface 12 and the pneumatic device 14 has a gas communicated to it. In one example, prioritization can occur when a compression therapy cycle is in progress. In this example, the instructions 74 can include operations/conditionals 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, and 88 in
In operation 78, the controller 52 can inflate Zone B by actuating a valve 68b and allow a gas to be communicated to Zone B until the pressure in Zone B has reached a pressure Pb. The controller 52 can maintain the pressure within Zone B for a predetermined time, such as, 10 seconds. It should be appreciated that the actuation of valve 68b and valve 68a can overlap so that a gas can be simultaneously communicated to Zone B and Zone A, respectively.
In operation 80, the controller 52 can inflate Zone C by actuating a valve 68c to allow a gas to be communicated to Zone C until the pressure in Zone C has reached a pressure Pc. The controller 52 can maintain the pressure within Zone C for a predetermined time, such as, 10 seconds.
In operation 82, the controller 52 can actuate the valves 68a-68c. to deflate Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C. Once Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C are deflated, the controller 52 can maintain Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C in the deflated state for a predetermined rest time, such as, for example, 20 seconds.
During the predetermined rest time, the controller can proceed to operation 84 where the controller 52 can receive input signals from the sensors S1 corresponding to the gas pressure in Zone X, Zone Y, and Zone Z.
In conditional 86, the controller 52 can compare the pressure in Zone X, Zone Y, and Zone Z to predetermined pressure thresholds Px, Py, and Pz. If the gas pressure in Zone X, Zone Y, and Zone Z are below the predetermined thresholds Px, Py, and Pz, the controller 52 can proceed to operation 88 where the controller 52 can actuate the surface valves 68 to allow a gas to be communicated to the zone(s) below the predetermined thresholds until the gas pressure in the zones meets the predetermined pressure threshold. If the gas pressure in Zone X, Zone Y, and Zone Z are at or above the predetermined thresholds Px, Py, and Pz, the controller 52 can proceed to operation 76. It should be appreciated that if the gas pressure in Zone X, Zone Y, and/or Zone Z is above the predetermined thresholds Px, Py, and Pz, a relief valve (not shown) can be actuated to reduce the pressure to the predetermined threshold.
In operation 88, the controller 52 can determine if the predetermined rest time has lapsed. If the predetermined rest time has lapsed, the controller 52 can return to operation 76. If the predetermined rest time has not lapsed, then the controller 52 can continue to maintain Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C in the deflated state until the predetermined rest time has lapsed.
A gas supply system 110 according to another illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in
The gas supply assembly 116 can include a gas supply 150, a controller 52, a conduit 154, and a connector 156. The gas supply 150 can be coupled to the connector 156 by the conduit 154 as shown in
The connector 156 can be coupled to the person-support apparatus 28 and can be configured to removably couple with the pneumatic device 14. In one illustrative embodiment, the connector 156 can include a housing 168, an inlet 170, a first outlet 172a, and a second outlet 172b as shown in
The valve mechanism 178 can be configured to selectively allow gas to be communicated through the connector 158 when the pneumatic device 14 is coupled thereto. The valve mechanism 178 can include a valve cylinder 180, a plurality of links 182, and a plunger assembly 184 as shown in
The links 182 can be movably coupled to the valve cylinder 180 and the plunger assembly 184 and can be positioned outside the housing 168 as shown in
The plunger assembly 184 can be positioned within the outlet 174 and can be configured to engage the therapy connector TC1 and move within the outlet 174 to actuate the valve mechanism 178 when the therapy connector TC1 is coupled to the connector 158. The plunger assembly 184 can include a plurality of plungers 194 and a plurality of link ends 196 as shown in
In operation, the valve 156 can be initially configured to communicate a gas from the pneumatic supply 150 to the person-support surface 12 when the pneumatic device 14 is not coupled to the connector 158. When the therapy connector TC1 of the pneumatic device 14 is inserted into the first outlet bore 176a and the second outlet bore 176b of the connector 158, the therapy connector TC1 can engage the plungers 194 and move the plungers 194 in the first outlet bore 176a and the second outlet bore 176b from the first plunger position to the second plunger position. As the plungers 194 are moved the links 182 cause the valve cylinder 180 to rotate about the rotational axis R1 and cause the flow of gas to be directed to the pneumatic device 14. When the therapy connector TC1 is disconnected from the connector 158, the return spring 190 causes the valve cylinder 180 to rotate about the rotational axis R1. The rotation of the valve cylinder 180 causes the links 182 to move the plungers 194 to the second plunger position to the first plunger position and causes the flow of gas to be directed to the person-support surface 12.
A gas supply system 210 according to another illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in
The gas supply assembly 116 can include a first gas supply 250a, a second gas supply 250b, a controller 252, a first connector 258a, a second connector 258b, and a plurality of conduits 56 as shown in
The controller 252 can be configured to control the gas supply assembly 216 in various ways depending on whether the first pneumatic device 214a and/or the second pneumatic device 214b is coupled to the first connector 256a and/or the second connector 256b, respectively, as shown in
In another illustrative embodiment, when the second pneumatic device 214b is coupled to the second connector 256b, the controller 252 can actuate the second valve 260b to direct the flow of gas from the gas bladders 26 in the person-support surface 212 to the second pneumatic device 214b. It should be appreciated that if the first gas supply 250a is not active when the second pneumatic device 214b is coupled to the second connector 256b, the controller 252 will activate it. It should also be appreciated that gas can be supplied to both the gas bladders 26 and the second pneumatic device 214b depending on the capacity of the fluid supply 256b.
Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a gas supply system comprises a person-support surface, a garment, and a gas supply. The person-support surface includes a chamber configured to contain a gas therein. The garment includes a chamber configured to contain a gas therein. The gas supply is configured to supply a gas to both the garment and the person-support surface.
In another example, a method comprises: actuating a valve assembly to communicate a gas from a gas supply to a garment at a first gas flow rate to maintain a first chamber of the garment configured to contain a gas therein at a first pressure for a first period of time; actuating the valve assembly to communicate a gas from the gas supply to the garment at a second gas flow rate to maintain the first chamber at a second pressure for a second period of time, the first gas flow rate being greater than the second gas flow rate; sensing a gas pressure in a second chamber of a person-support surface configured to contain a gas therein; and actuating the valve assembly to communicate a gas from the gas supply to the second chamber at a third gas flow rate to maintain the pressure within the second chamber at a third pressure.
In yet another example, a gas supply system comprises a person-support surface, a microclimate management topper, a pneumatic device, and a gas supply. The person-support surface includes a chamber configured to contain a gas. The microclimate management topper is configured to be positioned on the person-support surface. The gas supply is configured to supply a gas to the pneumatic device and at least one of the person-support surface and the microclimate management topper.
Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to make the present disclosure in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, illustrative embodiment, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described can be more desirable, it nonetheless can not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same can be contemplated as within the scope of the disclosure, that scope being defined by the claims that follow.
In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
It should be understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all possible alternatives, modifications, aspects, combinations, principles, variations, and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected. While embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Additional alternatives, modifications and variations can be apparent to those skilled in the art. Also, while multiple inventive aspects and principles can have been presented, they need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects and principles are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above.
