Gaymar Industries, Inc.

John K Whitney

Roland E Flick

Michael P Rechin

Ronald D Wortman

A mattress wherein at least one fabric strip bridges a foam crib for an inflatable cushion to provide lateral stability thereto such as when the mattress is tilted for turning a patient over or otherwise. The fabric strip position is selected so as not to interfere with pressure relief to a portion of the patient's body where pressure ulcers frequently occur. In order to accurately and quickly monitor the tilt of a mattress, transmitting and receiving coils are provided on opposite sides of an assembly of lifting bladders for the side of the mattress being lifted, and the signal strength is measured when a signal is transmitted therebetween, and the angle of tilt is determined therefrom. In order to reduce exposure of lines leading to an inflatable mattress, a notch is provided in a crib for receiving a pump for pressurizing a cushion within the crib so that the pump is positioned to face exteriorly of the crib to allow heat dissipation. In order to extend the life of a cubed foam mattress, the mattress comprises at least two identical interchangeable cubed foam sections. In order to effectively provide pressure relief to a person lying on a mattress while preventing bottoming-out when a person sits on the mattress, the mattress is provided with an upper alternating pressure cushion and a lower cushion which allows the pressure in the upper cushion to be reduced and which is of a non-alternating pressure type. Side-by-side bladders are provided between upper and lower side-by-side cushions respectively for inclining the mattress. Hip bladders are provided to apply pressure to the hip area of a person lying on the mattress on a side opposite to the side of the mattress being inclined in order to maintain body alignment.

Mattress for relieving pressure ulcers

A leg rest for supporting a patient's legs while the patient is lying on a bed and during turning or otherwise managing the patient. The leg rest includes a pair of trough portions for receiving the patient's legs and a raised central portion and a pair of raised side portions for keeping the legs apart and restraining sideways leg movement. The central and side portions extend beyond the trough portions for restraining sideways movement of the patient's feet as the patient's legs rest on the trough portions with the patient's feet projecting beyond the trough portions for pressure relief of the patient's heels. The leg rest may be inflatable so that it may be inexpensively produced and disposable and so that its pressure may be adjusted for patient comfort. The leg rest may be contained within a case which has a bib for underlying the patient's upper legs to prevent slippage of the leg rest out of position.

Growing community of inventors

Dorado, Puerto Rico

John K Whitney