Huntleigh Technology Limited

Anthony George Smith

Paul William Chapman

Daniel Kemp

Jane Harbige

A connector () connects an air-inflatable mattress () which alternately inflatable cells () to a pump. Air-supply lines () from the pump are attached to male parts () of connector (). Air-supply lines () from mattress () connect to passages () of female parts () of the connector (). When the male parts () and the female parts () are engaged, supply lines () are in fluid communication with fluid lines () via passages () in the female part (). When the male parts () are removed from the connector () to disconnect the air supply, one-way valves () seal the air-supply lines () and expose a cross-connect port () in interconnecting the female part passages (). Thus cells () are interconnected and the pressure is equalized throughout the mattress (). The invention provides a self-sealing automatic transport mode connection system upon disengagement of the male parts () from the mattress (), thus eliminating user error.

Connector

A pressure pad has two sets of cells with a sensor pad positioned under the pad. During inflation, part of the flow goes to the sensor pad to exhaust and the rest fills the cells. Any change in patient position/weight causing a change in airflow in tube will alter the differential pressure measured at a pressure transducer. Based on this feedback a microprocessor directly controls the power level to the pump, thus adjusting the airflow to the cells to prevent bottoming or to rung at a minimum pressure. The pressure pad is segmented into a heel section, upper leg section, torso section, and a head section. The heel, head, and upper leg sections are maintained at a lower pressure, and the torso section at a higher pressure. A control module to control the flow in the segments is provided inside the pressure pad. The pressure pad can be an alternating or static pad.

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Borehamwood, United Kingdom

Anthony George Smith