AU2008320693A1

AU2008320693A1 - Device for stimulating sense perception by a patient suffering from cognitive deficiency

Info

Publication number: AU2008320693A1
Application number: AU2008320693A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gonzague De Raulin; Remy Jaffres
Original assignee: Hill Rom SAS
Current assignee: Hill Rom SAS
Priority date: 2007-10-31
Filing date: 2008-10-30
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: WO2009056767A3; WO2009056767A2; FR2922756B1; EP2214764A2; FR2922756A1

Description

Device for stimulating sense perception by a patient suffering from cognitive deficiency The invention relates to a device to stimulate sense perception such as the perception of vibrations, particularly sounds, in a patient with cognitive impairment, such as a person in a coma or a person with Alzheimer's disease. It allows causing sensations in the patient related to the fact that such vibrations are propagated so as to be perceived not only by hearing but by the entire body. In a patient with Alzheimer's disease, for example, we know that the loss of environmental awareness can be addressed or at least delayed by combining several senses in the recognition of a same physical phenomenon. The invention provides a device constituting an application of this therapeutic principle. Specifically, the invention relates to a means to stimulate the vibration sense perception of a patient with cognitive impairment, characterized in that it comprises a coupling mattress on which a patient is likely to lie and at least one device generating vibrations associated with said mattress. The term "coupling mattress" means that said mattress is designed to propagate vibrations (particularly sounds) and not dampen them, so that said vibrations can be perceived by any body part of the patient in contact with the mattress, which also retains its usual resting surface qualities. The device as defined above is preferably equipped with a vibration generator which comprises a sound generator including a speaker in contact with the mattress. Said coupling mattress is typically a watertight flexible casing, thin enough that it can be arranged as a "mattress pad" on a bed or classic easy chair. It is filled with a coupling fluid. Typically, the coupling fluid is water. To facilitate the embodiment of the device, it may include a container of said coupling fluid connected to said sealed casing via a pump in order to be able to 2 transfer said coupling fluid from the container to the casing and vice versa. Preferably, the sound generator is a musical sound generator (amplifier and speaker) and the transducer (speaker) may be in direct contact with the coupling mattress surface. When the patient lies on the coupling mattress, they sink gently and evenly into it, so that their entire body is able to perceive vibrations (sense of touch) in conjunction with the sounds they hear (sense of hearing). This two-way combination allows the patient to gain a better awareness of their own body. The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become clearer in light of the following description of a device according to its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings where: - The single figure is a schematic view of the device according to the invention. The device II for stimulating vibratory sensory perception has a coupling mattress 13, here placed on a conventional bed 15 and at least one means of generating vibrations 17, associated with this mattress. In the example, the coupling mattress 13 includes a watertight and flexible casing 14, filled with a coupling fluid. Here, the coupling fluid is water. In the example shown, the means of generating vibrations 17 is a sound generator comprising an amplifier 18 and two speakers playing music 19. In the example, the speakers are in direct contact with the mattress 13 (without intermediate damper) applying said speakers on the flexible casing of the mattress. They are attached to the mattress by any suitable means. The flexibility of the upper membrane of the mattress casing 13, as well as the quantity of water introduced in it, are chosen so that a large part of the body (head, back, legs) is in contact with this top membrane, the coupling between the patient's body and the liquid being thus maximum. The liquid allows transmission of sound waves, normally perceived only by the 3 auditory system, to a large part of the body surface. The patient's sensory perceptions are thus expanded and diversified. In addition, the perception of music in these conditions has a relaxing effect on the patient. To facilitate transport and secure the patient's exit from bed, a container 20 is connected to the coupling mattress 13 through a pump 22. This allows the transfer of coupling fluid from the container 20 to the mattress 13 for the use of the device and vice versa for the stoppage of treatment.

Claims

1. Device for stimulating sensory perception of vibrations by a patient with cognitive impairment, characterized in that it comprises a coupling mattress (13) on which a patient may lie and at least one means of generating vibrations (17) associated with said mattress.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said vibration generator includes a sound generator (18, 19) comprising a speaker (19) in contact with said mattress.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said sound generator (18, 19) is a generator of musical sounds.

4. Device according to previous claims, characterized in that said coupling mattress (13) comprises a watertight flexible casing filled with a coupling fluid.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said coupling fluid is water.

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a container (20) of said coupling fluid connected to said casing via a pump (21) for transferring said coupling fluid from the container to said casing and vice versa.