Ssi Medical Services, Inc.

Other

Hill-rom Services, Inc.

Hill-rom, Inc.

Support Systems International Corp.

William T Sutton

James M Thomas

Ryszard S Ozarowski

James R Stolpmann

James J Romano

Richard I Barnett

Barry D Hand

Kenith W Chambers

Richard B Stacy

Craig D Ellis

Stephen E Glover

Stephen P Sutton

William Charles Knapp

Paul B King

Robert C Novack

James M C Thomas

James O Threlkeld

Vernon D Beard

Optical polishing pitch formulations include synthetic polymers or other synthetic resins. As alternatives to traditional optical pitches, these materials offer improved stability in use, storage, and processing. In addition, these pitch compositions may be masterbatched and manufactured with precision to ensure superior reproducibility and quality control in polishing performance.

Optical polishing pitch formulations

A fluidization level sensor and controller for use in a fluidized patient support surface has a controller coupled to a sensor and a compressor. The patient support surface contains a mass of granular particles housed in frame walls and supported by a diffuser. The compressor forces a fluid, typically air, into a plenum chamber and through the diffuser. The fluid flows through the mass of granular particles, causing the mass of granular particles to fluidize, and exits through a fluid permeable sheet. The fluidization level sensor produces an output signal proportional to the fluidization level of the mass of granular particles, and provides this output signal to the controller. The controller generates a compressor control signal in response to the output of fluidization level sensor, which in turn adjusts the compressor to maintain a substantially constant fluidization level.

Apparatus for sensing and controlling fluidization level

The disclosure relates to a device for determining perfusion capacity in a region of a patient's skin and underlying tissue utilizing a thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential, a sensor for measuring the temperature differential, a controller coupled to the sensor and the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device, and measuring the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient's skin to indicate perfusion capacity.

Skin perfusion evaluation apparatus

Apparatus and method for sensing and controlling a fluidization level

An apparatus for evaluating perfusion adjacent a skin surface includes a housing having first an second interior regions. The housing is configured to engage the skin surface. The apparatus also includes a plunger located in the first region of the housing for applying pressure to a first zone of the skin surface, a vacuum connection coupled to the second region of the housing to permit suction to be applied to the second region of the housing and to a second zone of the skin surface, a first temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the first zone of the skin surface, a second temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the second zone of the skin surface, and a processor circuit coupled to the first and second temperature sensors for determining a differential temperature between the first and second zones of the skin surface to provide an indication of perfusion adjacent the skin surface.

An apparatus for evaluating perfusion adjacent a skin surface includes a housing having first and second interior regions. The housing is configured to engage the skin surface. The apparatus also includes a plunger located in the first region of the housing for applying pressure to a first zone of the skin surface, a vacuum connection coupled to the second region of the housing to permit suction to be applied to the second region of the housing and to a second zone of the skin surface, a first temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the first zone of the skin surface, a second temperature sensor for generating an output signal related to the temperature of the second zone of the skin surface, and a processor circuit coupled to the first and second temperature sensors for determining a differential temperature between the first and second zones of the skin surface to provide an indication of perfusion adjacent the skin surface.

An apparatus is provided which supports a patient on an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure preferably has two components: a) lower inflatable layer which is selectively operable to provide basic support for the patient and which includes a plurality of laterally offset zone which may be independently inflatable to control rotation of the patient. Further, a second inflatable layer includes a plurality of zones for establishing optimal patient interface pressures and patient comfort levels, and may also include sufficiently independent inner chambers to facilitate the providing of specific therapies such as alternation of primary pressure contact areas, or percussion or vibration of the patient through inner cell inflation.

Method and apparatus for supporting and for supplying therapy to a

An apparatus and method for evaluating perfusion adjacent a skin surface includes the steps of measuring a reference rate of perfusion of the skin surface, storing the reference rate of perfusion, and applying a positive force to the skin surface. The apparatus and method also includes the steps of measuring a second rate of perfusion adjacent the skin surface after the positive force is applied, and calculating a differential rate of perfusion between the reference rate of perfusion and the second rate of perfusion after positive force is applied to provide an indication of perfusion adjacent the skin surface. The apparatus and method further includes the step of displaying the indication of perfusion.

Skin perfusion evaluation apparatus and method

A proportional flow control valve is provided for use with low air loss patient support systems. The valve includes a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet defined therein with a valve passage defined through the housing between the inlet and outlet. A chamber is defined in the housing, the chamber further including a nipple cavity defined in the bottom thereof and a cam stop extending from the bottom into the chamber. A valve spool is rotatably disposed within the chamber. The valve spool includes an alignment nipple fitting into the nipple cavity and a cam defined on the bottom thereof through a predetermined rotational arc. The cam and cam stop cooperate to limit the rotational arc of the valve spool within the chamber. A proportional flow control groove is defined in the valve spool. The flow control groove establishes linear air flow through the valve depending on the angular displacement of the spool within the chamber. A motor is provided mounted to the housing to rotate the valve spool within the chamber and, preferably, a torque limiting clutch is disposed between the motor and valve spool. The valve spool further includes a friction reducing substance coated thereon or impregnated therein, such as teflon or the like, to reduce binding of the valve spool within the chamber.

Proportional control valve for patient support system

A multi-modal patient support system is provided having the capability of switching from any one of at least three modes of operation, particularly a first constant pressure mode, a second pulsation, and a third turning mode. A plurality of like inflatable sacs are provided supported upon a rigid support member. The inflatable sacs comprise at least two internal chambers. In the first static mode, the inflatable sacs are maintained at a relatively constant predetermined pressure. In the second pulsation mode, at least two sets of inflatable sacs are inflated and deflated in at least two separate and opposite patterns of pressurization so as to provide alternating pressure point relief to a patient resting upon the sacs. In the third turning mode, generally opposite disposed portions of the inflatable sacs are alternately inflated and deflated so that a patient resting upon the sacs can be automatically tilted from side to side. An inflatable sac for use with the multi-modal patient support system is further provided.

Multi-modal patient support system

A method for controlling the blower that supplies gas to the gas sacks of a patient support system uses a blower control circuit, a microprocessor, and a pressure sensor. The blower control circuit controls the power that is supplied to operate the blower. The microprocessor activates the blower control circuit with a control signal that causes the control circuit to supply power to the blower. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of the gas exiting the blower and supplies a signal indicative of this pressure, to the microprocessor. The microprocessor stores the measured pressure signal and calculates a reference pressure for the blower. The microprocessor compares the reference pressure to the measured pressure and determines any discrepancy resulting from this comparison. The microprocessor sends a signal to the blower control circuit, wherein the signal is indicative of the discrepancy from the compared pressure and the reference pressure of the blower. The second control signal is such as to enable the blower circuit to reduce the discrepancy calculated by the microprocessor between the reference pressure and the measured pressure. Only discrepencies of a certain magnitude will cause the microprocessor to send the second control signal to the blower control circuit. The time interval over which the microprocessor maintains storage of the measured pressure is chosen so as to reduce the possiblity of pressure instability in the gas sack.

Method of blower control

A modular construction, low air loss patient support system includes a plurality of identical multi-chambered inflatable sacks, a microprocessor, 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 system includes a modular manifold for mounting the pressure control valves, and a modular support member for mounting the sacks via quick-disconnect couplings and having air flow channels defined therethrough. The support system effects a method of rotating or tilting the patient. The support system permits practicing the method of relieving pressure points between the patient and the sacks while elevating the head and chest of the patient.

Modular low air loss patient support system

A method for turning a bed ridden patient uses a low air loss patient support system that includes a plurality of identical multi-chambered inflatable sacks. A restrictive flow hole connects two adjacent chambers disposed predominately to one side of the centerline of the sack, and each side is separately pressurizable under the control of a microprocess 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 of rotating or tilting the patient that depressurizes one side of the sacks while increasing the pressurization of the opposite side of the sacks. The end chamber of the depresurizing side of the sacks remains inflated while the intermediate chamber of the depressurizing side of the sacks becomes progressively deflated during depressurization to permit the end chamber to restrain the patient from sliding off the sacks during tilting.

Growing community of inventors

Charleston, SC, United States of America

William T Sutton