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Most
fluid-filled products permit a high degree of immersion allowing the body to sink into the
surface with the surface conforming to bony prominences. This effectively increases the
surface pressure distribution area and lowers the interface pressure by transferring the
pressure to adjacent areas. These products are capable of achieving small to modest
deformations without large restoring shear forces. In a direct comparison of interface
pressures with air-fluidized (Clinitron (TM), Hill-Rom, Inc.) and low air loss (Therapulse
(R), Kinetic Concepts International) beds, the RIK (R) mattress was shown to relieve
pressure as effectively as the aforementioned technology . |