DYNAMIC MATTRESS SUPPORT AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

An infant environmental transition system provides an infant with controlled sim ulated movements encountered by an infant in an intrauterine environment. The system includes a suspension system having a plur ality of flexures (106) coupled between a base plate (112) and a moving mattress platform (104). A cam shaft assembly (230) includes a groo ve (235) that engages a linear follower (218) connected to the moving bed platform (104) so that the follower (218) moves along the groove (235) while the cam shaft assembly (230) rotates to move the linear follower (218), and thereby reciprocate the moving mattress platform (104) in a longitudinal direction. The cam shaft assembly (235) also includes an eccentric cam (236) coupled to a rocker (242) that is cou pled to one of the flexures (106) to angularly displace the moving mattress platform (104) support on the flexures (106), and thereby provid e the composite reciprocating and rotational movements that simulate the intrauterine environment. Pulses of variable width control op erating speed of a drive motor (256), and a proximity sensor (254) associated with driver cam shaft provide operational feedback for speed re gulation and safe shutdown under adverse operating conditions. Pulse width modulation techniques generates sounds and operate visua l indicators on control panel.