I've been trying to find a foam mattress system that has the same pressure/moisture/temperature/lifetime characteristics of the usual powered LAL/AP mattresses. The only candidate I've found is the Blue-Chip Pre-Vent series. If the pressure-mapping & other info on Blue-Chip's site can be believed, this setup would match the performance of powered mattresses. Though several DME suppliers here in the US sell this system, I've not found any independent user or clinical reviews. Has anyone here had experience with the Pre-Vent mattresses, and what's your opinion of them? thx - fw

Looks a bit over to me. Over sold, over engineered and judging by the fact that they don't list a $ amount...over priced. It appeared their main claim to being superior to normal memory foam is their longevity. And I wonder if their tests were matched against a tempur mattress or a cheap mattress pad(like the one that works great for me). I never turn in the night nor do i float anything and have never had a problem since buying a 2 inch memory pad to put on top of my normal mattress.

Interesting, Lucky, thanks. Good point to question exactly what "standard foam" Blue Chip tested against; I took it to be the Geo-Mat, not tempur. The Pre-Vent version with the lowest pressure-map values can be had for about $500, and is said by the company to not bottom out significantly iover 8 years. I compare this with the Geo-Mat, which I've found to be (in my case, support surface pressure relief is notoriously individual) very good at first, BUT losing resiliency after 6 or 8 mos. Blue-Chip & Geo-Mat are not viscoelastic, and I haven't tried a memory foam surface, since I'm worried about temperature & maceration. Like I said, everyone's different. The great thing about foams is that they don't use electricity, and are easier to get in/out of than the air-based systems. I've had enough of that with My ROHO wheelchair cushion. But I'll put up with just about anything to keep the pressure ulcers down. I'll be interested to see if Blue Chip replies to the several questions I've sent them. - fw

Thats for sure. I had to google maceration, to me your dilemma depends on what kind of moisture is a problem.

Ex: I sweat heavily from my left leg when I get hot I can recall seeing a leg shaped wet spot on my sheets once or twice, the mattress seems to suck it up quite readily... this could become a (maybe smell) problem if constant? I have had a couple of more "unwelcomed" leaks on the mattress but have never done more than wash the zip on cover that it has and so far I haven't had any smell issues. had it 4 years or so

For moisture problems there are many other possible solutions. Under armour wicks moisture off the skin quite well also in summer months I like to hose down my left leg with degree antipersp spray.

Hi - I don't have any experience of this as I've not needed it myself. But the only thing I can say right now is that there seems to be an explosion of these mattresses and memory foams coming onto the market. Just been to a trade fair in Germany and many companies selling. Can't advise, but look around, because with all that competition, I should think there should be some good products at competing prices. Do you have a OT or health care person who can advise?

Thanks,guido. Yes, there are a lot of knock-offs. The problem is that there's no generally accepted criteria by which to compare therapeutic values. One has to buy pretty much on faith, and then try out over a period of months before one can say that a particular surface is adequate. Some sellers will reproduce the "comfort" aspects of a new foam, but not the therapeutic aspects, but will still imply that it's a therapeutic item. There are several such knockoffs of the Geo-Mat design out there, for example. When buying online, it's impossible to judge their pressure-ulcer-reducing properties in advance. Very disconcerting.The rehab people I've dealt with haven't been any help in suggesting mattresses for a home setting. One of the reasons I'm being careful to scope out the new foam systems thoroughly is that I'm helping my doc get educated so that he can better advise his other patients.

Lucky - The maceration problem is when the skin breaks down from contact with moisture for too long (as under a bandage or sleeping through the night without turning).