System and method to occlude patient entrapment zones

1. A method of occluding potential entrapment zones in a hospital bed having a frame, a mattress, a first side rail, a second side rail, a head board, and a footboard, the method comprising:

providing a pad system comprising:

a head-end assembly comprising a head-end cover enclosing a head-end pad;

a foot-end assembly comprising a foot-end cover enclosing a foot-end pad; and

first and second walls extending between the head-end assembly and the foot-end assembly, wherein each of the walls comprises a plurality of inflatable members; and

fitting the pad system to the hospital bed, wherein the head-end pad is placed between the mattress and the head board, the first wall is placed between the mattress and the first side rail, the second wall is placed between the mattress and the second side rail, and the foot-end pad is placed between the mattress and the foot board; wherein:

the pad system is configured to permit articulating the head-end assembly so that the head-end assembly is raised with respect to the foot-end assembly and each of the first and second walls comprises a middle portion having a first and second inflatable member and the first inflatable member is angled with respect to the second inflatable member after articulating the head-end assembly and wherein the first and second walls are coupled to a base sheet, and wherein the ends of the inflatable members that are distal from the base sheet are closer to each other than the ends of the inflatable members that are proximal to the base sheet after articulating the head-end assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pad system is configured to permit articulation of the mattress near an area used to support a patient's knees.