Hill-rom Services, Inc.

Kristopher Klink

Frank E Sauser

Charles A Lachenbruch

Irvin John Vanderpohl, Iii

Christopher Ryan O'Keefe

John Murphy

A system for fluidizing a fluidizable medium includes a person support structure, fluid supply, sensor, and controller. The person support structure includes a chamber containing a fluidizable medium and a plenum in fluid communication with the chamber. The fluid supply is in fluid communication with the plenum. The sensor is configured to sense a pressure of fluid in the plenum. The controller is configured to control the operation of the fluid supply as a function of the fluid pressure within the plenum to achieve a desirable level of fluidization of the fluidizable medium.

Systems, methods, and devices for fluidizing a fluidizable medium

A patient support apparatus includes an air supply and an air fluidization therapy bed including a fluidization space and a fluidizable medium positioned in the fluidization space. The air fluidization therapy bed receives a flow of pressurized air from the air supply. The flow of pressurized air operable to fluidize the fluidizable medium. The patient support apparatus is configured to provide other therapies, such as pulmonary therapies, in addition to the air fluidization therapy.

Air fluidized therapy bed having pulmonary therapy

A method of detecting a change in occupancy status of a fluidizable bed () includes determining () an unloaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the absence of a load on the bed, determining () a loaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the presence of an occupant on the bed, and establishing a reference (P) as a function of at least one of the unloaded plenum pressure value and the loaded plenum pressure value. A signal () is issued in response to a relationship between the reference and a value (P) representative of actual pressure in the plenum. The bed also includes a pressure sensor () for monitoring a pressure value representative of pressure in the plenum and a controller () for issuing a signal () responsive to a relationship between the monitored value and a reference value.

Fluidizable bed with occupancy status detection and method of occupancy status detection for a fluidizable bed

A varying depth fluidized bed comprises a tank assembly containing fluidizable medium. The tank assembly comprises at least one step such that the depth of fluidizable medium is greater in one region of the tank assembly relative to another.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Kristopher Klink