Ripple Mattress

A ripple mattress is a mattress system that is part of or is placed on a hospital bed. Its function is to lower the interface pressure between patient skin and the support medium. It achieves this by uniformly and alternatively supporting the patient contact skin area through air pressurizing of air cushions. There is another device that performs a similar function, called an “Alternating-pressure pad” which is similar to a ripple mattress system but is less than about 9 cm high when inflated. Ripple mattress systems are typically used when treating patients who cannot move or have limited mobility. Some of the criteria necessitating the use of these devices may include the presence of pressure ulcers or burns patients not able to move freely.