Beds and other body support devices with individually controllable cells comprising one or more air bladders
Devices, systems, and methods for supporting the body of user are described. Devices, systems, and methods can employ a plurality of cells where each of the cells within the plurality of cells can comprise a bladder containing air or another compressible fluid supported by a base that forms a fluid-tight seal with the bladder The base and bladder can be constructed and arranged so that the bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base. The height and/or applied pressure in response to an applied load of such bladder may be adjustable substantially independent of the crosssectional shape and dimensions of the bladder. Each of the cells within the plurality of cells which may be a subset or all of the cells of a given support, can also comprise, or otherwise be operatively associated with its own: pressure sensor, height sensor, or both, and/or controllable inlet/outlet valve(s).
1 . A device for supporting at least a portion of a body of a user, the device comprising:
a plurality of cells, each individual cell within the plurality of cells comprising or operatively associated with:
a bladder configured to contain and be inflatable by a compressible fluid within the bladder;
a base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting the bladder, wherein the bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base, the rolling diaphragm portion configured to roll along the base decreasing a volume and a height of the bladder when a force is applied to the bladder by the body of the user;
the base comprising functionally associated therewith:
at least one valve in fluidic communication with the bladder, the valve configured to control inflow and/or outflow of the compressible fluid;
a pressure sensor adapted and arranged to measure a pressure of the compressible fluid;
a height sensor configured to measure the height of the bladder over its full range of motion; and
a controller having a processor configured and programmed to:
individually control the height and/or pressure of each of the plurality of cells;
display/record height/pressure data as a function of time for each cell; and
maintain a height of one or more cells of the plurality at a lower height to provide a region of clearance between the bladder and the body of the user.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the valve, the pressure sensor, and/or the height sensor are positioned within the base and/or are integrated into the base.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the valve, the pressure sensor, and/or the height sensor are positioned remotely from the base and are functionally interconnected with the base.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the bladder does not substantially change when a downward force is applied to the bladder.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the height sensor comprises a time-of-flight sensor.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least the valve is positioned remotely from the base and is functionally interconnected with the base.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein at least the valve and the pressure sensor are positioned remotely from the base and are functionally interconnected with the base.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a full range of motion of the bladder is between 10 cm and 18 cm.
9 . The device of claim 1 , comprising additional cells differently sized, configured, and/or positioned than the plurality of cells.
10 . The device of preceding claim 9 , comprising additional cells fluidically interconnected with each other and configured to be controllable as a group.
11 . A device for supporting at least a portion of a body of a user, the device comprising:
a plurality of cells, each of the cells within the plurality of cells comprising or operatively associated with:
a bladder configured to contain and be inflatable by a compressible fluid within the bladder;
a base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting the bladder, wherein the bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base, the rolling diaphragm portion configured to roll along the base decreasing a volume and a height of the bladder when a force is applied to the bladder by the body of the user;
the base comprising functionally associated therewith:
at least one valve in fluidic communication with the bladder, the valve configured to control inflow and/or outflow the compressible fluid;
a pressure sensor adapted and arranged to measure a pressure of the compressible fluid; and
a height sensor configured to measure the height of the bladder within an accuracy of +/−4 mm over its full range of motion.
12 . A device for supporting at least a portion of a body of a user, the device comprising:
a plurality of cells, each of the cells within the plurality of cells comprising or operatively associated with:
a bladder configured to contain and be inflatable by a compressible fluid within the bladder;
a base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting the bladder, wherein the bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base, the rolling diaphragm configured to roll along the base decreasing a volume and a height of the bladder when a force is applied to the bladder by the body of the user; and
an optical sensor configured to determine a height of the bladder over its full range of motion independent of a light intensity.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein each of the cells within the plurality of cells further comprises a base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting the bladder, and wherein the base is functionally associated with the optical sensor.
14 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising a pressure sensor adapted and arranged to measure a pressure of the compressible fluid.
15 . A system for providing adjustable and controllable support for at least a portion of a body of a user, the system comprising:
a plurality of cells, each of the cells within the plurality of cells comprising or operatively associated with:
a bladder configured to contain and be inflatable by a compressible fluid within the bladder;
at least one valve in fluidic communication with the bladder, the valve configured to control inflow and/or outflow of the compressible fluid;
a pressure sensor adapted and arranged to measure a pressure of the compressible fluid; and
a height sensor configured to measure a height of the bladder over its full range of motion; and
a controller operatively associated with each of the cells within the plurality of the cells, the controller comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured and programmed to:
independently control the pressure of the compressible fluid to an accuracy of +/−10 mmHg, and the height of each bladder to an accuracy of +/−5 mm; and
record and/or display the pressure and the height of each bladder.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured and programmed to maintain a height of a subset of bladders at a subset height within an accuracy of +/−20 mm.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured and programmed to maintain a height of the subset of bladders at the subset height within an accuracy of +/−2 mm.
18 . A method of supporting a body of a user, the method comprising:
positioning the body of the user adjacent to a plurality of cells, each of the cells within the plurality of cells comprising or operatively associated with:
a bladder;
a compressible fluid within the bladder;
a base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting the bladder, wherein the bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base, the rolling diaphragm configured to roll along the base when a force is applied to the bladder by the body of the user; and for each cell:
measuring a pressure of the compressible fluid in the bladder with a pressure sensor to an accuracy of +/−10 mmHg;
measuring a height of the bladder with a height sensor configured to determine a height of the bladder to an accuracy of +/−5 mm over its full range of motion; and
adjusting the height and/or pressure of the cell.
19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising adjusting a subset height of a subset of the plurality of cells.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising positioning the subset of the plurality of cells to subset height different than a height of other cells of the plurality of cells not in the subset.
21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising providing a readout of each cell of the subset of the plurality of cells, wherein the readout is indicative of a height value and a pressure value.
22 . A device for supporting at least a portion of a body of a user, the device comprising:
a plurality of cells, comprising:
at least one cell comprising between 2 and 20 bladders configured to contain and be inflatable by a compressible fluid within the bladders;
a common base adjacent, attached to, forming a fluid-tight seal with, and supporting each bladder, wherein each bladder forms a rolling diaphragm portion with the base, the rolling diaphragm portion configured to roll along the base decreasing a volume and a height of the bladder when a force is applied to the bladder by the body of the user;
the base containing or comprising functionally associated therewith:
at least one valve in fluidic communication with the bladders, the valve configured to control inflow and/or outflow of the compressible fluid;
at least one pressure sensor adapted and arranged to measure a pressure of the compressible fluid to an accuracy of +/−10 mmHg; and
a height sensor associated with each bladder configured to measure the height of each bladder to an accuracy of +/−5 mm over its full range of motion.