Pulmonary mattress

1. A patient-support apparatus comprising

an upper frame having a head end and a foot end, the upper frame movable between a generally horizontal position and a position wherein the head end of the upper frame is spaced vertically below the foot end of the upper frame,

an upper deck supported on the upper frame, the upper deck movable with the upper frame and including a seat section and a head section, the head section pivotable relative to the seat section to change the angular relationship between the head section and the seat section,

a controller controlling movement of the upper frame and the head section of the upper deck such that when the head section of the upper deck moves from a first, horizontal position sensed by an angle sensor in which the head section is generally coplanar with the seat section to a second, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor in which the head section is inclined, the controller causes the upper frame to move from the generally horizontal position to a first position wherein the head end of the upper frame is lowered, and wherein continued articulation of the head section upwardly to a third, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor causes the controller to move the upper frame from the first position back to the generally horizontal position, and

a mattress including a coverlet including (i) an entry positioned at a first end of the coverlet, (ii) an exit positioned at a second end of the coverlet opposite the entry, (iii) an upper air impermeable layer, and (iv) a lower air impermeable layer coupled to the upper layer to form an air flow path along the length of the coverlet, the flow path providing communication between the entry and the exit,

wherein the upper air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, the lower air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, and the coverlet further comprises a spacer fabric interposed between the upper and lower layers to facilitate air flow through the coverlet.

2. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a peer-to-peer network of the patient-support apparatus.

3. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the angular displacement of the upper frame is measured by at least one potentiometer.

4. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the angular position of the head section is measured by at least one potentiometer.

5. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the patient-support apparatus further comprises at least one inflatable structure positioned on the seat section and configured to support a portion of a patient, and wherein articulation of the head section causes the inflatable structure to deflate.

6. The patient-support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the inflatable structure continues to deflate as the head section articulates through a full range of motion of the head section.

7. The patient-support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the angular position of the head section is measured by at least one potentiometer.

8. The patient-support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a peer-to-peer network of the patient-support apparatus.

9. The patient-support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the upper frame deviates from the generally horizontal position to a position wherein the upper frame is positioned at a maximum angle of about 7° below the generally horizontal position.

10. The patient-support apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the head deck section is movable to an inclined angle of about 65° relative to the upper frame.

11. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame deviates from the generally horizontal position to a position wherein the upper frame is position at a maximum angle of about 7° below the generally horizontal position.

12. The patient-support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the head deck section is movable to an inclined angle of about 65° relative to the upper frame.

13. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the patient-support apparatus further comprises a first inflatable structure positioned on the seat section and a second inflatable structure supported on the first inflatable structure, and wherein the first inflatable structure deflates as the head section is inclined.

14. The patient-support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second inflatable structure maintains a level of inflation during movement of the head section.

15. The patient-support apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first inflatable structure is configured to deflate to facilitate rotation of a patient supported on the patient-support apparatus.

16. The patient-support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein rotation of the patient is part of continuous lateral rotation therapy.

17. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the patient-support apparatus further comprises (i) a control system including a peer-to-peer network and (ii) a pneumatic supply and control system coupled to the peer-to-peer network, the pneumatic supply and control system configured to control operation of the coverlet.

18. The patient-support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the patient-support apparatus further comprises a control module configured to be removably coupled to the pneumatic supply and control system to control the operation of the coverlet.

19. A patient-support apparatus comprising

an upper frame having a head end and a foot end, the upper frame movable between a generally horizontal position and a position wherein the head end of the upper frame is spaced vertically below the foot end of the upper frame,

an upper deck supported on the upper frame, the upper deck movable with the upper frame and including a seat section and a head section, the head section pivotable relative to the seat section to change the angular relationship between the head section and the seat section,

a mattress including a coverlet including (i) an entry positioned at a first end of the coverlet, (ii) an exit positioned at a second end of the coverlet opposite the entry, (iii) an upper air impermeable layer, and (iv) a lower air impermeable layer coupled to the upper layer to form an air flow path along the length of the coverlet, the flow path providing communication between the entry and the exit,

a control system including a peer-to-peer network and a controller controlling movement of the upper frame and the head section of the upper deck such that when the head section of the upper deck moves from a first, horizontal position sensed by an angle sensor in which the head section is generally coplanar with the seat section to a second, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor in which the head section is inclined, the controller causes the upper frame to move from the generally horizontal position to a first position wherein the head end of the upper frame is lowered, and wherein continued articulation of the head section upwardly to a third, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor causes the controller to move the upper frame from the first position back to the generally horizontal position,

a pneumatic supply and control system coupled to the peer-to-peer network, and

a control module configured to be removably coupled to the pneumatic supply and control system to control the operation of the coverlet, the control module including (i) a controller communicating with the pneumatic supply and control system, (ii) a plurality of connectors configured to engage the pneumatic supply and control system to receive pressurized air, (iii) an electrical connector configured to engage the pneumatic supply and control system to provide electrical communication between the controller and the pneumatic supply and control system, (iv) a plurality of outputs configured to provide pneumatic communication between the control module and the coverlet, and (v) a plurality of valves responsive to the controller to control a flow of pressurized air from the pneumatic supply and control system to the coverlet.

20. The patient-support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the upper air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, the lower air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, and the coverlet further comprises a spacer fabric interposed between the upper and lower layers to facilitate air flow through the coverlet.

21. The patient-support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the coverlet is removably coupled to the mattress.

22. The patient-support apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the mattress further comprises

a first inflatable structure configured to provide continuous lateral rotation therapy,

a second inflatable structure supported on the first inflatable structure, and

a third inflatable structure supported on the second inflatable structure the third inflatable structure including a plurality of air chambers which may be selectively and alternatively rapidly inflated to provide percussion and vibration therapy to a patient supported on the patient-support apparatus.

23. A patient-support apparatus comprising

an upper frame having a head end and a foot end, the upper frame movable between a generally horizontal position and a position wherein the head end of the upper frame is spaced vertically below the foot end of the upper frame,

an upper deck supported on the upper frame, the upper deck movable with the upper frame and including a seat section and a head section, the head section pivotable relative to the seat section to change the angular relationship between the head section and the seat section, and

a controller controlling movement of the upper frame and the head section of the upper deck such that when the head section of the upper deck moves from a first, horizontal position sensed by an angle sensor in which the head section is generally coplanar with the seat section to a second, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor in which the head section is inclined, the controller causes the upper frame to move from the generally horizontal position to a first position wherein the head end of the upper frame is lowered, and wherein continued articulation of the head section upwardly to a third, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor causes the controller to move the upper frame from the first position back to the generally horizontal position.