Medical bed system with interchangeable modules for mattress systems and related methods

The present invention teaches mechanisms and methods of adapting a low air loss inflatable mattress to be mounted within a conventional hospital bed frame, in such a manner so that the power/control module is both mounted in the cavity on the underside of the foot end modified baseboard of the bed, and readily accessible to a caregiver of the user of the bed as modified. The modification process involves substituting a foot end baseboard, to which the power/control module has been attached, for the foot end baseboard supplied with the bed, and bed frame, as manufactured. A variety of existing control modules and blower systems can be modified to operate in this manner.

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Accordingly, the following is claimed:

1. A therapeutic patient support system adaptable for compact installation within a conventional hospital bed frame containing a mattress baseboard; thesystem comprising: an inflatable pressure reducing mattress, a replacement baseboard for replacing a portion of the mattress baseboard of the conventional hospital bed frame, and a mattress power/control module encompassed within a single molded housingmounted on an underside of the replacement baseboard.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein a control panel portion of said module is positioned so as to be viewable by a caregiver of a user of said system.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said control panel projects beyond a footboard of said bed.

4. A therapeutic control system adaptable for compact installation within a conventional hospital bed frame containing mattress baseboard; the system comprising: an inflatable pressure reducing mattress, a replacement baseboard for replacing aportion of the mattress baseboard of the conventional hospital bed frame, a mattress power/control module mounted on an underside of the replacement baseboard, and a receptacle in a top of the mattress power/control module that is adaptable to receiveair hoses connected to the pressure reducing mattress, and wherein the replacement baseboard includes an aperture over the receptacle that provides access to the receptacle.

5. A therapeutic patient support system that interactively coacts with a bed frame having a conventional baseboard that is suitable for directly supporting a conventional medical mattress, the system comprising: a replacement baseboard toreplace a portion of the conventional baseboard; a blower assembly mounted to the underside of said replacement baseboard, the blower assembly being enclosed within a molded housing; and a control panel integral with and projecting from the moldedhousing, the control panel operable to control the operation of said blower assembly, said control panel being positioned in a manner so as to be viewable by a caregiver of a user of said system.

6. A system according to claim 5 that additionally comprises a support assembly for supporting said replacement baseboard wherein said support assembly defines a blower-receiving cavity beneath an aperture in said replacement baseboard.

7. A method of modifying a conventional baseboard containing bed frame so as to enable receipt of a modular control system for specialty patient support systems therein, comprising: equipping said baseboard with release enabling mechanisms; removing components that are beneath said baseboard from the underside of said bed frame; creating a cavity within said frame within which a blower and control assembly may be positioned; further adapting said baseboard to provide a sufficient numberof air hose outlets for controlling a therapeutic air mattress mountable on top said base board; and mounting said air hose containing mattress having a plurality of air hoses, said air hoses being connected to said outlets, upon said frame.