RIPPLE BED/MATTRESS

Typical Number in Hospital: 20

Cost Bands: 2

References:

Patients who are immobile for long periods may develop pressure sores. These can be avoided by repeatedly moving the patient so that different parts of the skin are supporting the body weight. An alternative method is to use a ripple mattress in which different segments of the mattress are repeatedly inflated and deflated to vary the positions where pressure is applied to the skin. There are two types of these, water-filled and air-filled types. The water-filled types are also used to provide heat and are much thinner (see Heated ripple mattress).

The air-filled types may have large or small inflatable cells and there are cushions and seats which use the same principle. The air pump inflates and deflates the alternative cells over a period of a few minutes (e.g. 10 minutes). The controller unit includes a small pump and valves to control the delivery between two or more circuits in the mattress. One trade name for these is the Pulsair mattress.