Footboard with partial mattress integration
View Patent ↗A patient support apparatus is convertible between a bed position, having a generally horizontal sleeping surface upon which a person lies in a supine position, and a chair egress position, allowing a person to exit the support from a sitting position. The patient support comprises a deck, a foot panel coupled to the deck, and an inflatable bladder assembly coupled to the foot panel. The inflatable bladder assembly is coupled to the foot panel and both the foot panel and inflatable bladder assembly are removable from the deck.
1. A patient support apparatus comprising
a deck having a head end, and a foot deck section at a foot end, and at least a first receiver positioned at the foot end of the foot deck section, the deck having a first length,
a foot panel removably coupleable to the receiver to extend the length of the deck to a second length longer than the first length, the foot panel including a first connector engaging the first receiver to couple the foot panel to the foot end of the deck to support the foot panel from the deck when the foot panel is coupled to the receiver, the first connector disengageable from the first receiver to uncouple the foot panel from the foot end of the deck, and
an inflatable bladder assembly positioned on the foot panel and configured to provide support for a portion of a person supported on the patient support apparatus, the inflatable bladder assembly secured to the foot panel for removal therewith when the foot panel is removed from the deck, wherein the first connector includes an integral pneumatic coupler connected to a pneumatic conduit for inflating the inflatable bladder assembly.
2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the foot panel includes a foot panel body extending generally perpendicularly to and above a top surface of the inflatable bladder assembly.
3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first receiver includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the inflatable bladder assembly.
4. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first receiver further includes an attachment sensor for determining if the first receiver has received the first connector.
5. The patient support apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising an air supply including an air source, a vent, and a controller, the controller in communication with the pressure sensor and the attachment sensor.
6. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an air supply pneumatically coupled to the inflatable bladder assembly to inflate the inflatable bladder assembly.
7. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the air supply is coupled to the deck.
8. The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the foot panel includes a foot panel body unitarily formed with the foot panel deck portion, extending generally perpendicularly from the foot panel deck portion and above a top surface of the inflatable bladder assembly.
9. The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the foot deck section is extendable.
10. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the deck includes a plurality of deck sections including a foot deck section and the foot panel includes a foot panel deck portion removably coupled to the foot end of the foot deck section, extending generally parallel to and beyond the foot deck section.
11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the inflatable bladder assembly is coupled to, and is supported by, the foot panel deck portion.
12. The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the foot panel includes a foot panel body, extending generally perpendicularly from the foot panel deck, and a first connector, spaced apart from the foot panel body and extending generally parallel to the foot panel deck portion, configured to pneumatically couple the inflatable bladder assembly to an air supply.
13. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the deck is movable between a horizontal bed position and a chair egress position.
14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the foot panel is removed when the deck is in the chair egress position.
15. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder assembly is configured to remain inflated when the foot panel is removed from the deck.
16. The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the foot panel includes a connector coupled to the foot panel for removal therewith when the foot panel is removed from the deck.
17. The patient support apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the connector includes a check valve.
18. A patient support apparatus comprising
a deck having a head end and a foot end,
a foot panel removably coupleable to the foot end of the deck, the foot panel having an upper surface, and
an inflatable bladder assembly positioned on the upper surface of the foot panel to provide support for a person supported on the patient support apparatus, the inflatable bladder assembly coupled to the foot panel for removal therewith when the foot panel is removed from the deck, wherein the foot panel includes a first connector engaging the deck to support the foot panel from the deck, and wherein the first connector includes an integral pneumatic coupler connected to a pneumatic conduit for inflating the inflatable bladder assembly.
19. The patient support apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first receiver includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the inflatable bladder assembly.
20. The patient support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first receiver further includes an attachment sensor, separate from the pressure sensor, for determining if the first receiver has received the first connector.