Support apparatus with a plurality of thermal zones providing localized cooling
US5800480A · kind A · utility
153Cited by
25References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2007/0298
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a human or animal body, while selectively cooling weight-bearing areas of the body in order to prevent or reduce damage from ischemia includes a cooling layer that is partitioned into a plurality of zones, and a surface disposed over the cooling layer to support the body. Each zone of the cooling layer is disposed for cooling a respective portion of the surface. A mechanism is provided to selectively operate one or more zones of the plurality of the zones to cool a portion of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing surface of the body being supported.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.