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Glossary of Terms

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Active support surface: A powered support surface, with the capability to change its load distribution properties, with or without applied load.

Air floatation Mattress System: Utilizes pressurized air bladders to form a pressure redistribution support surface

Air Fluidized Therapy: A feature of a support surface that provides pressure redistribution via a fluid-like medium created by forcing air through beads as characterized by immersion and envelopment. Also known as AFT

Alternating pressure pad: The air chambers of a support surface are alternately inflated and deflated to provide alternating areas of support by the pad. Helps with the prevention of pressure sores.

Alternating Pressure Mattress: A feature of an therapeutic air mattress that provides pressure redistribution via cyclic changes in loading and unloading as characterized by frequency, duration, amplitude and rate of change parameters

Anti-microbial: is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans, as well as destroying viruses. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes (microbicidal) or prevent the growth of microbes (microbistatic). Disinfectants are antimicrobial substances used on non-living objects.

Anti-thrust cushion: A specially created seating cushion utilized for patient safety for the prevention of a forward thrusting motion while seated.

Bariatric: of or pertaining to the the overweight or obese.

Boston Fire Code 1X-11: In 1983 the Boston Fire Department instituted regulations for mattresses and box springs used in hotels and university dormitories.

California Technical Bulletin 129: Flammability Test Procedure for Mattresses for Use in Public Buildings.

Cell/Bladder: A means of encapsulating a support medium.

CHAPS: Community Health and Program Services.

Chemsafe: Blue Chip’s medical grade cover material durable, anti-microbial, anti-static, flame resistant, stain, odor and fluid resistant.

Closed Cell Foam: A non-permeable structure in which there is a barrier between cells, preventing gases or liquids from passing through the foam.

Coefficient of Friction: A measurement of the amount of friction existing between two surfaces.

Conductive: Having the quality or power to conduct heat, electricity or sound.

CPR Valve: Air mattress quick air release value to provide care-givers to properly conduct CPR.

Elastic Foam: A type of porous polymer material that conforms in proportion to the applied weight. Air enters and exists the foam cells more rapidly, due to greater density.

Elastomer: Any material that can repeatedly stretched to at least twice its original length: upon release the stretch will return to approximately its original length.

Envelopment: The ability of a support surface to conform so to fit or mold around irregularities in the body.

Fatigue: The reduced capacity of a surface or its components to perform as specified. This change may be the result of intended or unintended use and/or prolonged exposure to chemical, thermal or physical forces.

Federal Flammability Standard 16 CFR 1633: Standard for the Flammability (Cigarette Ignition Resistance) of Mattresses and Matress Pads.

Fire Barrier: Additional protection added to a mattress for the prevention of fire.

Force: A push-pull vector with magnitude(quantity) and direction (pressure,shear) that is capable of maintaining or altering the position of a body.

Friction: The resistance to motion in a parallel direction relative to the common boundry of two surfaces.

Gel: A semisolid system consisting of a network of solid aggregates colloidal dispersion or polymers which may exhibit elastic properties.

Geriatric: of or pertaining to the elderly.

Immersion: Depth of penetration (sinking) into a support surface.

Integrated bed system: A bed frame and support surface that are combined into a single unit whereby the surface is unable to function separately.

Ischemia: is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia.

JACHO: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Lateral Rotation: A feature of a support surface that provides rotation about a longitudinal axis as characterized by degree of patient turn, duration and frequency.

Life Expectancy: The defined period of time during which a product is able to effectively fulfill its designated purpose.

Low air Loss: A feature of a support surface that provides a flow of air to assist in managing the heat and humidity of the skin.

Mattress extender: Extends the length of the length of a mattress.

Mattress: A support surface designed to be placed directly on the exiting bed frame.

Mechanical Load: Force distribution acting on a surface.

Med-Flex: Blue Chip’s medium density pressurized polymer foam for maximum comfort and pressure redistribution.

Medical Grade Vinyl: A vinyl that meets medical standards for infection control.

Moisture/vapor permeable: A surface that allows moisture to pass through it.

Multi-zoned surface: A surface in which different segments can have different pressure redistribution capabilities.

Non-conductive: In inability of a material to conduct heat, electricity or sound.

Non-powered: Any support surface not requiring or using external sources of energy for operation (Energy = D/C or A/C).

Open Cell Foam: A permeable structure in which there is no barrier between cells and gases or liquids can pas through the foam.

Overlay: An additional support surface designed to be placed directly on top of an exiting surface.

Pad: A cushion like mass of soft material used for comfort, protection or positioning.

PDAC: (Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding), Medicare Coding.

Perimeter Boarder: High density foam mattress boarder which helps to Stiffen for a foam mattress.

Positioning Cushion: A seating cushion to help a patient keep proper spinal alignment while seated.

Powered: Any support surface requiring or using external sources of energy to operate ( Energy = D/C or A/C).

PPF: Blue Chip’s chosen Pressurized Polymer Foaming process to ensure durability and resilience.

Pressure Mapping: A measurement of interface pressure, that is, the pressure between the body and the support surface.

Pressure Redistribution: The ability of a support surface to distribute load over the contact areas of the human body.

Pressure Ulcer: Also known as Bedsores, more properly known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are lesions caused by many factors such as: unrelieved pressure; friction; humidity; shearing forces; temperature; age; continence and medication; to any part of the body, especially portions over bony or cartilaginous areas.

Pressure: The force per unit area exerted perpendicular to the plane of interest.

Proposition 65: See Below.

Reactive Hyperemia: is the transient increase in organ blood flow that occurs following a brief period of ischemia . Following Ischemia there will be a shortage of oxygen and a build-up of metabolic waste.

Reactive support surface: A powered or non-powered support surface with the capability to change its load distribution properties only in response to applied load.

SCT: (Surface Cut Technology) Blue Chip’s foam cutting technology that provides the unique pressure redistribution qualities of Blue Chip’s Prevent Series.

Self adjusting air: Dynamic pump-free air mattress system utilizing a specialized value to maintain pressure equalization across the mattress.

Shear Strain: Distortion of deformation of tissue as a result of shear stress.

Shear: The force per unit area exerted parallel to the plane of interest.

Side Rail System: Safety pads that cover the metal side rails that prevent patient injury.

Skin maceration: Maceration of the skin occurs when it is consistently wet. The skin softens, turns white, and can easily get infected with bacteria or fungi.

Skin protection: protection against skin breakdown due to excessive pressure, heat or moisture.

Solid: A substance that does not flow perceptibly under stress. Under ordinary conditions retains its size and shape.

Support Surface: A specialized device for pressure redistribution designed for management of tissue loads, micro-climate and/or other therapeutic functions (ie. any mattress, mattress replacement, overlay , or seat cushion or seat cushion overlay).

Technical Bulletin #117: Requirements, Test Procedures and Apparatus for Testing the Flame Retardance of Resilient Filling Materials Used in Upholstered Furniture.

TPU: Thermal polyurethane

Water: A moderate density fluid with moderate resistance to flow.

Visco-elastic Foam: A type of porous polymer material that conforms in proportion to the applied weight. The air exists and enters the foam cells slowly which allows the material to respond slower than a standard elastic foam.

Viscotec: Blue Chip’s  visco-elastic “Memory” foam with a specific density and pressure redistribution properties.

Viscous Fluid: A fluid with a relatively high resistance to flow of the fluid.

Vyvex I: Blue Chip’s soft non-shear nylon top cover material that is fluid-proof, stain-resistant, anti-microbial, fire retardant.

Vyvex II: Blue Chip’s 70 denier nylon top cover material that is butyl backed, fluid-proof, anti-microbial, fire retardant.

Vyvex III: Blue Chip’s multi-stretch knit urethane top cover material that is low shear, fluid and stain proof, anti-microbial and fire retardant

Zone: A segment with single pressure redistribution capability.

 

Proposition 65: Is a California law that requires labeling of vinyl material that contains certain chemicals.
WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
All Blue Chip Medical products are below the threshold.