Method and apparatus for supporting and for supplying therapy to a patient

摘要

An apparatus (20) is provided which supports a patient on an inflatable structure (24). The inflatable structure (24) preferably has two components: a lower inflatable layer (74) which is selectively operable to provide basic support for the patient and which includes a plurality of laterally offset zones (78, 80, 82) which may be independently inflatable to control rotation of the patient. Further, a second inflatable layer (92) includes a plurality of zones (160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170) for establishing optimal patient interface pressures and patient comfort levels, and may also include sufficiently independent inner chambers to facilitate the providing of specific therapies such as alteration of primary pressure contact areas, or percussion or vibration of the patient through inner cell inflation. <IMAGE>