Duke Active Mattress - Advanced Pressure Relief for Very High-Risk Patients.
- 30-Cell System for Very High Risk and Stage 4 Pressure Care - the Duke Active Mattress provides 25 alternating TPU air cells and 5 static pillow cells across a 1980x900x140mm profile, delivering alternating pressure therapy to residents assessed as very high risk of pressure injury or those with existing stage 4 pressure ulcers; the higher cell count compared to the Sandringham and Kensington systems provides greater distribution of the alternating cycle across the body surface, increasing the frequency with which each anatomical zone is offloaded within each cycle period.
- 247kg Safe Working Load with Harvest 3 Pump - the Duke is rated to a maximum SWL of 247kg (39 stone) when operated with the Harvest 3 pump, extending the bariatric range above the 184kg limit of the Kensington and Sandringham; the SWL is pump-dependent and is 165kg (26 stone) when operated with the Harvest 250; the correct pump must be selected based on the resident's documented weight with SWL verified before deployment per MHOR 1992 requirements; pump and mattress must be from the same compatible system.
- Separable Cover and Internal Components for Decontamination - the Duke cover and internal cell assembly are designed to be separated for full decontamination between residents; this is a clinical requirement for high-dependency mattresses used by residents with complex wounds, incontinence, or infection risk, where a wipe-clean-only decontamination of the cover surface is insufficient; the cable management system prevents tubing entanglement during decontamination and reassembly, supporting consistent and repeatable decontamination procedures across care team changes.
- Bed Rail Regulation Compliance - the Duke complies with Bed Rail Regulations for Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, and Community Low bed configurations, confirming that the mattress depth and edge profile do not create entrapment risks at the gap between the mattress and the bed rail in those verified frame types; compliance with the MHRA bed rail guidance is a procurement requirement for any mattress system deployed in a care setting where bed rails are used; frame compatibility must be verified against the specific bed frame in use before deployment.
Duke Active Mattress - 30 Cells - Very High Risk Pressure Care - 247kg SWL - 1980x900x140mm
The Duke Active Mattress from Harvest Healthcare is a premium alternating pressure replacement mattress for residents assessed as very high risk of pressure ulceration, including those with existing stage 4 pressure injuries. The 30-cell system (25 alternating, 5 static pillow) on an integrated 50mm foam base delivers high-performance pressure offloading at 1980x900x140mm. The separable cover and cell assembly support full decontamination between residents. SWL is 247kg with the Harvest 3 pump. Complies with Bed Rail Regulations for Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, and Community Low frames. All cells interchangeable.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Alternating pressure replacement mattress |
| Air Cells | 25 alternating TPU cells + 5 static pillow cells (30 total) |
| Foam Base | Integrated 50mm foam layer |
| Dimensions | 1980 x 900 x 140mm |
| Weight | 9kg |
| Cover | 4-way stretch welded PU - VP, water resistant, Crib 5; separable for decontamination |
| Pump Compatibility | Harvest 250 (SWL 165kg / 26 stone); Harvest 3 (SWL 247kg / 39 stone) |
| Bed Rail Compliance | Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, Community Low bed frames |
| Reference | NCL-HR440 |
| Clinical Standard | NICE CG179 (very high risk and stage 4 pressure care) |
Regulatory Compliance
The Duke Active Mattress is a Class IIa active medical device under Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745. Clinical selection is restricted to residents assessed as very high risk under NICE CG179 or those with existing stage 3 or 4 pressure injuries where advanced alternating therapy is the appropriate intervention. SWL must be verified against the resident's documented weight with pump selection confirmed accordingly; MHOR 1992 documentation must record this verification before deployment. Bed rail compliance for Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, and Community Low frames must be confirmed against the specific bed frame in use. The Crib 5 cover meets BS 5852 institutional fire safety requirements. Separable decontamination of cover and cell assembly supports NHS IPC requirements between residents. Equipment register records must be maintained for CQC Regulation 12 readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Duke differ from the Sandringham, and what clinical factors determine which is prescribed?
The Sandringham and Duke are both replacement alternating pressure mattresses from Harvest Healthcare, but they are designed for different clinical risk levels. The Sandringham has 18 alternating cells and is indicated for high-risk residents per NICE CG179, including those at risk of Category 1 and 2 pressure injuries. The Duke has 25 alternating cells plus a 5-cell static pillow section and is indicated for very high-risk residents and for those with existing Category 3 or 4 pressure injuries where advanced alternating therapy is part of the wound management plan. The higher cell count in the Duke means each anatomical zone is offloaded more frequently within the alternating cycle, providing more intensive pressure redistribution. The Duke also carries a higher SWL ceiling of 247kg with the Harvest 3 pump, extending the range into heavier bariatric presentations. The prescribing clinician should use the NICE CG179 assessment alongside Waterlow or Braden scoring to determine which system matches the resident's current risk and wound status.
What does the bed rail compliance specification mean in practice, and why does it matter for mattress procurement?
Bed rail compliance refers to the MHRA bed safety guidance requirement that mattresses used in beds fitted with rails must not create unsafe gaps between the mattress edge and the rail that could result in limb or head entrapment. The mattress depth, edge stiffness, and surface profile all affect the gap geometry when the mattress is compressed against the rail during use. The Duke's compliance with Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, and Community Low bed frame regulations means that the mattress has been tested and confirmed not to create entrapment-risk gaps when fitted to those specific bed frames with their respective rail configurations. This compliance is a procurement requirement: deploying an alternating mattress in a bed frame for which entrapment compliance has not been confirmed is a patient safety risk and a regulatory non-compliance. Before deploying the Duke, the care setting must confirm that the bed frame in use is one of the four listed compatible types, or must conduct a separate entrapment risk assessment for the specific frame configuration.
NCL-HR440
- 30-Cell System for Very High Risk and Stage 4 Pressure Care - the Duke Active Mattress provides 25 alternating TPU air cells and 5 static pillow cells across a 1980x900x140mm profile, delivering alternating pressure therapy to residents assessed as very high risk of pressure injury or those with existing stage 4 pressure ulcers; the higher cell count compared to the Sandringham and Kensington systems provides greater distribution of the alternating cycle across the body surface, increasing the frequency with which each anatomical zone is offloaded within each cycle period.
- 247kg Safe Working Load with Harvest 3 Pump - the Duke is rated to a maximum SWL of 247kg (39 stone) when operated with the Harvest 3 pump, extending the bariatric range above the 184kg limit of the Kensington and Sandringham; the SWL is pump-dependent and is 165kg (26 stone) when operated with the Harvest 250; the correct pump must be selected based on the resident's documented weight with SWL verified before deployment per MHOR 1992 requirements; pump and mattress must be from the same compatible system.
- Separable Cover and Internal Components for Decontamination - the Duke cover and internal cell assembly are designed to be separated for full decontamination between residents; this is a clinical requirement for high-dependency mattresses used by residents with complex wounds, incontinence, or infection risk, where a wipe-clean-only decontamination of the cover surface is insufficient; the cable management system prevents tubing entanglement during decontamination and reassembly, supporting consistent and repeatable decontamination procedures across care team changes.
- Bed Rail Regulation Compliance - the Duke complies with Bed Rail Regulations for Woburn, Woburn Low, Community, and Community Low bed configurations, confirming that the mattress depth and edge profile do not create entrapment risks at the gap between the mattress and the bed rail in those verified frame types; compliance with the MHRA bed rail guidance is a procurement requirement for any mattress system deployed in a care setting where bed rails are used; frame compatibility must be verified against the specific bed frame in use before deployment.