US 4,947,500 · Granted 1990-08-14
The Smart Mattress That Moves to Stop Bedsores
Imagine a mattress that automatically shifts and repositions you throughout the night to prevent painful pressure ulcers—the kind bedridden patients get from lying in one spot too long. This mattress has air cushions controlled by a programmable pump that creates custom movement patterns, like a personal physical therapist working while you sleep.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a therapeutic mattress with a base foam layer, a framed middle section, and a soft cover layer that houses two independent groups of three air cushions each. What's protected is the specific combination of these cushions connected to a programmable pumping station that can execute varied cycles to reposition and move a patient automatically. The design includes the ability to set customized programs for preventing or healing pressure ulcers through controlled movement.
Why it matters
Decubitus ulcers (bedsores) are a serious medical problem for immobilized patients in hospitals and care facilities, causing pain, infection, and extended recovery times. Rather than relying on nurses to manually reposition patients every few hours, this patent creates an automated system that can run continuously on custom schedules, reducing labor costs while improving patient outcomes and comfort. The programmable control element was notable for the early 1990s, as it allowed medical facilities to tailor the mattress to individual patient needs.
Real-world use
A hospital patient confined to bed for weeks would rest on this mattress, which automatically lifts and shifts different sections of their body in programmed intervals, preventing the constant pressure that leads to bedsores.
Original USPTO abstract
The therapeutic mattress comprises an elastic but hard base layer of foam material. Over this base layer is applied a frame composed of a hard part and a soft part. On its upper side the mattress is bounded by a soft cover layer. Between or inside the aforementioned parts is disposed a core comprising essentially two groups of three air-cushions each and an insert. Each of the two air-cushion groups has its own connection to a pumping station equipped with a programmable control device. Using this control device it is possible to set up the most varied programs and cycles for moving a patient and positioning him, or repositioning him, as often as needed. In this way, decubitus ulcers may be prevented from developing, but in addition, conditions may be created to enable ulcers already developed to be healed.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 4,947,500
- Filing date
- 1989-07-11
- Grant date
- 1990-08-14
- Assignee
- OBA AG and Hans Vollmin
- Inventor(s)
- SEILER WALTER O
- CPC class
- A47C27/18
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