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Low Air Loss Mattress with Alternating Pressure Cells, 350 Lbs. Capacity | Joerns DermaFloat APL

Low Air Loss Mattress with Alternating Pressure Cells, 350 Lbs. Capacity | Joerns DermaFloat APL

The Joerns DermaFloat® APL is an alternating pressure/low air loss combination therapy mattress designed to prevent and treat pressure ulcers through Stage IV — using 22 therapy cells that alternate pressure between adjacent A-B air cells on a regular cycle to continuously shift pressure points across the mattress surface, combined with low air loss technology that wicks moisture and reduces friction during repositioning. Three modes (Autofirm, Therapy, Alternating), CairRail side air bolsters, 12-hour backup inflation, CPR quick deflation, and a breathable antimicrobial polyurethane-coated nylon cover. 350 lb capacity — 35"×80"×8" standard or 42"×80"×8" wide — 22 lb mattress weight for portability — authorized Joerns dealer — call 866-218-0902.++

Product Code: DFAPL3680NZ

$3,417.00
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Description
Joerns DermaFloat APL Alternating Pressure Low Air Loss Mattress | 22 Cells | CairRail Bolsters | 350 lb | Stage I–IV | Wheelchair Authority

Joerns DermaFloat® APL Alternating Pressure / Low Air Loss Mattress — 22 Cells, CairRail Bolsters, 3 Modes, 350 lb, Stage I–IV Wound Healing

Alternating pressure as the primary therapy. Low air loss for moisture and friction management. Built for wound healing through Stage IV. The Joerns DermaFloat® APL is a combination alternating pressure/low air loss mattress system designed to both prevent pressure ulcers and actively treat existing wounds through Stage IV. Where the DermaFloat LAL uses low air loss as the primary therapy with optional pulsation, the APL reverses the emphasis — alternating pressure between adjacent A-B air cells is the lead therapeutic mechanism, continuously cycling on a regular basis to ensure that no single contact point on the patient's body sustains pressure long enough to compromise blood flow and tissue integrity. Twenty-two therapy cells automatically adjust to conform to the individual patient's body shape and weight, maximizing surface contact and pressure distribution. Low air loss technology runs simultaneously, wicking moisture away from the skin and reducing friction during repositioning — managing the microclimate conditions that accelerate wound deterioration. CairRail integrated side air bolsters protect against patient edge migration. The system remains inflated for up to 12 hours during power outages. Lightweight at just 22 lbs for the mattress, the APL is also well suited to portability across care settings. 350 lb weight capacity. Available in 35" and 42" widths. Authorized Joerns dealer.

✔ Alternating Pressure A-B Cell Cycling — Primary Therapy Mechanism
✔ Low Air Loss — Moisture Wicking & Friction Reduction
✔ 22 Individual Therapy Cells — Auto-Conforming to Patient Body Shape & Weight
✔ Prevents & Treats Pressure Ulcers Stage I Through Stage IV
✔ CairRail Integrated Side Air Bolsters — Fall & Edge Migration Protection
✔ 3 Operation Modes: Autofirm, Therapy & Alternating
✔ 8 Comfort/Therapy Settings
✔ 12-Hour Backup Inflation — Power Outage Protection
✔ CPR Quick Deflation — Emergency Access
✔ Antimicrobial Polyurethane-Coated Nylon Cover — Breathable, Moisture-Wicking, Low Friction
✔ 22 lb Mattress Weight — Portable Across Care Settings
✔ 350 lb Weight Capacity
✔ UL 60601-1 & CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 601.1 Compliant
✔ Authorized Joerns Dealer — Wheelchair Authority


APL vs. LAL — Choosing the Right DermaFloat System

Joerns makes two DermaFloat combination therapy mattresses with different primary therapy mechanisms and capacity ratings. Selecting the right one depends on the patient's weight, wound severity, and care setting.

Feature DermaFloat APL DermaFloat LAL
Primary Therapy Alternating pressure (A-B cycling) Low air loss (moisture management)
Secondary Therapy Low air loss Pulsation
Weight Capacity 350 lbs 500 lbs
Therapy Cells 22 cells 20 horizontal cells
Mattress Depth 8" 10"
Mattress Weight 22 lbs — highly portable Heavier
Available Widths 35" and 42" 36" and 42"
Dynamic Pressure Mode Alternating (A-B cell cycle) Pulsate
Best For Patients ≤350 lbs; active wound healing priority; portable/multi-setting use Patients up to 500 lbs; severe moisture issues; bariatric wound care

Not sure which system is right for your patient? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our specialists can help assess the right therapy based on wound stage, patient weight, and care setting.


Product Specifications

Product Name Joerns DermaFloat® APL Alternating Pressure / Low Air Loss Mattress System
Manufacturer Joerns Healthcare
Therapy Type Alternating pressure (A-B cell cycling) + low air loss — combination therapy
Weight Capacity 350 lbs
Mattress Dimensions (Standard) 35"W × 80"L × 8"D
Mattress Dimensions (Wide) 42"W × 80"L × 8"D
Mattress Weight 22 lbs
Number of Therapy Cells 22 individual cells — A-B alternating configuration
CairRails Height 4"
Power Outage Backup Remains inflated up to 12 hours without power
Operation Modes Autofirm, Therapy, Alternating
Comfort/Therapy Settings 8
CPR Deflation Quick deflation — emergency access
Cover Material Polyurethane-coated nylon — low friction, low shear, breathable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial
Control Unit Dimensions 7.5"W × 12.25"H × 5.5"D
Control Unit Weight 10 lbs
Electrical 120V AC, 60 Hz, 0.6A
Compliance UL 60601-1 / CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 601.1 — UL Classified Medical Equipment

Size & SKU Guide

Width Length Depth SKU Notes
35" 80" 8" DFAPL3680NZ Standard bed width; fits most hospital and home care bed frames
42" 80" 8" DFAPL4280NZ Wide bed frames (WeCare CareWide 42", bariatric frames); wider patient comfort

Key Features

Alternating Pressure A-B Cell Cycling — Active Pressure Relief

The APL's 22 therapy cells are arranged in an A-B configuration — alternating cells are grouped into two sets that inflate and deflate in opposition on a regular, repeating cycle. When the A cells are inflated, the B cells are deflated, and vice versa. The practical effect is that every point on the patient's body is periodically relieved of pressure as the cells beneath it deflate — restoring blood flow to the tissue before it can be compromised. This dynamic pressure relief is the clinical standard for active wound treatment: unlike static pressure redistribution surfaces that reduce peak pressure but maintain it continuously, alternating pressure systems periodically eliminate pressure entirely at each contact point. For patients with existing Stage I–IV pressure ulcers, this periodic off-loading is what enables tissue healing to occur.

Low Air Loss — Moisture & Friction Management

Simultaneously with the alternating pressure cycle, the APL provides low air loss therapy — continuously moving air through the mattress surface to wick moisture away from the patient's skin and maintain a dry microclimate at the wound and peri-wound areas. Moisture management is clinically essential during wound healing — even small amounts of sustained moisture at the wound site impair healing, promote maceration of the surrounding skin, and increase infection risk. Low air loss therapy addresses this passively and continuously without any caregiver intervention.

Auto-Conforming to Individual Body Shape & Weight

The therapy control unit automatically adjusts cell pressures to conform to the individual patient's body shape and weight distribution — ensuring that the alternating pressure cycle is calibrated to the correct pressure range for effective therapy without over-inflating or under-inflating cells relative to the patient's actual weight at each contact zone. This automatic adjustment eliminates the need for manual pressure calibration at each setup and ensures consistent therapy delivery regardless of patient size variability within the 350 lb capacity range.

Three Operation Modes

Autofirm mode fully inflates all cells to create a firm, stable mattress surface for patient and caregiver transfers — essential for safe lifting and repositioning where a soft, dynamic surface would create instability. Therapy mode delivers static low air loss pressure redistribution that auto-adjusts to patient body shape — appropriate for ongoing skin protection and lower-acuity patients who don't require active alternating pressure. Alternating mode activates the A-B pressure cycling for active wound treatment — the primary therapeutic mode for patients with existing pressure ulcers. Eight comfort/therapy settings within each mode allow fine-tuning for patient body weight and clinical pressure requirements.

CairRail Side Air Bolsters — 4" Fall Prevention

CairRail integrated side air bolsters form 4" raised perimeter rails along both edges of the mattress. They inflate to create a firm boundary that prevents patients from rolling toward the bed edge — a fall risk particularly relevant for confused or weakened patients on a dynamic mattress surface where the alternating inflation cycles can create subtle movement sensations. The CairRails are recognized by major healthcare systems for their improvement in patient safety and entrapment risk reduction. Unlike rigid foam side rails, the air bolsters conform to the patient's body if contacted, avoiding pressure point creation at the mattress edge.

12-Hour Backup Inflation

The DermaFloat APL maintains inflation for up to 12 hours during a power outage — providing a continuous support surface that prevents the patient from bottoming out on the bed deck. This is particularly important during transport between care settings, during facility power events, or in home care where backup power is not guaranteed. The 12-hour window also covers the typical response time for equipment service or replacement in most care environments.

Antimicrobial Polyurethane Cover

The mattress cover is polyurethane-coated nylon treated with an antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and odor-causing bacteria — providing a hygienic surface for wound care environments where contamination risk is elevated. Low friction and low shear properties reduce mechanical skin forces during repositioning. The cover is breathable and moisture-wicking, allowing the low air loss airflow to effectively remove moisture vapor from the skin surface.

Lightweight & Portable — 22 lbs

At just 22 lbs for the mattress (plus 10 lbs for the control unit), the DermaFloat APL is significantly lighter and more portable than comparable alternating pressure systems. This makes it practical for use across multiple care settings — home care, acute care, and post-acute — and allows a single system to follow the patient through transitions between care environments without the logistics burden of heavy specialty mattress systems.


Who This Mattress Is For

  • Patients with Stage I through Stage IV pressure ulcers requiring active alternating pressure wound healing therapy
  • Patients at high risk of pressure injury who need dynamic pressure relief beyond what static surfaces can provide
  • Patients with existing wounds in home care, hospice, acute care, or post-acute settings — the 22 lb mattress follows the patient across transitions
  • Immobile or minimally mobile patients who cannot reposition independently and require continuous dynamic pressure cycling
  • Patients up to 350 lbs — note this capacity is lower than the DermaFloat LAL (500 lb); confirm patient weight before ordering
  • Care environments where alternating pressure is the preferred therapy modality — physician-ordered or protocol-driven wound care
  • Situations requiring portability and multi-setting flexibility — 22 lb mattress weight enables transport between home and facility

Delivery Information

The DermaFloat APL ships via freight. Three delivery options are available:

  • Commercial Loading Dock Delivery (Free) — ships to a business or facility with a loading dock; no additional charge
  • Curbside Liftgate Delivery — liftgate truck delivery to curb at home or business without a dock; additional fee applies
  • Inside Delivery — delivery to ground floor through the threshold of the door at a home or business without a dock; higher additional fee applies

Call 1-866-218-0902 to discuss delivery logistics or for help selecting the right delivery option for your location.


Why Buy From Wheelchair Authority?

  • Authorized Joerns Healthcare dealer — genuine products with full manufacturer warranty support
  • 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor's price
  • Mobility and care specialists on the phone — call 1-866-218-0902 Mon–Fri for clinical and product guidance
  • Email support: orders@wheelchairauthority.com
  • Full range of home care beds, therapeutic mattresses, patient lifts, and accessories

Questions about the DermaFloat APL or need help comparing it with the DermaFloat LAL? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our specialists are ready to help.

Technical Specs
Wheelchair Measuring Guide

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