Abstract
We improved our air-cell mattress to reduce discomfort feeling during head of bed (HOB) elevation. HOB elevation generates large external force on the body because of mattress bending and body shift. Our mattress could control inner pressure of individual cell dynamically. This mechanism contains the capability of reducing interface pressures and shear forces on the body with respect to HOB elevation angle and body part. We proposed new algorithm of controlling each air cell pressures during HOB elevation. The comparison of external force and discomfort feeling between the mattresses with and without the new algorithm demonstrated that our mattress decreased external forces and discomfort feelings.
