DE19633318C1 - Support device for human body or limbs, e.g. mattress, seat etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

The appliance has parallel telescopically retractable pressure medium cylinders (1), each cylinder being provided with a head (16) that has a support surface (16a) and a foot with a pressure medium inlet. A support holds the cylinders into parallel position and the pressure medium source is in fluid connection the foot of each cylinder. The telescopic part (17) of each cylinder is connected to the head and forms the outer telescopic tube. The telescopic parts are closely packed across a bearing direction so that they move mutually. The pressure medium cylinders may be provided with a concertina shaped wall or corrugated tube which can be fixed to the foot.

Description

The invention relates to a device with the in the preamble of claim 1 specified features.

Such a device is from the DE-40 23 289 A1 known. It serves to form a lying surface or seat for People who have to lie or sit for a long time. The device contains one Arrangement of parallel, telescopically extendable compressed air cylinders with a pivotable head, on which a support surface is formed and with egg nem foot, on which compressed air can be supplied via a dip tube. The arrangement tion of pressure medium cylinders is housed in a frame-like carrying device brings in which the air cylinders are held in their parallel orientation. Pressure medium cylinders with size are located in some areas of the carrying device rem distance, the heads of which are connected by a crossbar. In other areas Chen the carrying device, the pressure medium cylinders are at a closer distance and prune the bait or body part with individual support surfaces.

The pressure medium cylinders consist of an outer telescopic tube, which is in the tra Geeinrichtung is fixed, and from an inner telescopic tube, which on his closed end carries the head with the support surface. The outer telescopic tube has a stepped bottom to form an annular space in which water is filled, to seal the telescopic pressure medium cylinder. The compressed air is through the Bottom of the outer telescopic tube by means of the dip tube into the inner telescopic tube guided.  

The disadvantage here is that the inner telescopic tubes in the outer telescopic tubes "swim" and the person sitting or lying on the arrangement through the screen mobility of the inner telescopic tubes, especially when extended Convey a feeling of insecurity due to a lack of lateral guidance. On top of that the liquid seals are disadvantageous in handling: the water must regulate be changed moderately, the water level must be checked and the arrangement can only be used for horizontal seating or lying surfaces, but not for sloping or even vertical support surfaces. Furthermore, the Län ge, over which the pressure medium cylinders can be extended, smaller than a third tel the length of the outer telescopic tube.

Better lateral guidance of the heads of pneu put together into a mattress matical telescopic cylinders enables the Unterma disclosed in US 4,799,276 A. step in that the heads of the telescopic cylinders lead each other, the Leadership is only guaranteed as long as the altitude of the fairly flat Heads differ by no more than their thickness. Unfortunately, this does not allow a high degree of adaptation ability to body contours, which in US 4,799,276 but not that anyway The aim is that between the heads of the telescopic cylinder and the Per son is still a foam mattress.

From DE-PS 8 42 833 an alternating pressure mattress is known, in which a group pe of mattress elements against a second group of mattress elements mecha nisch height adjustable, the mattress elements lead each other. A such alternating pressure mattress can not adapt to the body contour son The only difference is that the pressure is alternately distributed among different people Body surfaces.

From US 4,279,044 a seat is known which consists of an arrangement of fle xiblen balloons, which are arranged in a box open at the top and ge are connected to a compressed air source, which results in pressure equalization between the different balloons. Such a seat is easier in Structure than that known from DE-40 23 289 A1, but offers much less grip and lateral guidance, is unstable when the person moves and ventilates the seat bad.  

From FR 2,692,477 A1 a seat is known, which as a result of having Ab Stand to each other arranged support elements is well ventilated, the lying but does not give the or seated person a stable position because the sitting or Lying surface is formed from bellows, which show in all directions can fluctuate.

The present invention has for its object a device to improve the type mentioned in that they simplify the construction cher, is better adaptable to the body shape by greater sink depths and supportive person or body part to be supported good, stable hold granted.

This object is achieved by a device with the specified in claim 1 characteristics. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention is suitable for the formation of lying surfaces and Seating, of backrests and of siderests, in particular for people nen who due to frailty, paralysis or diseases such. B. Ver Burns protected against excessive pressure when sitting and / or lying down need to be in order to treat bedsores or pressure sores (pressure ulcers) avoid or heal skin damage, especially in the case of burns, to promote diseases of peripheral vessels or surgical scars or to make it possible at all. However, the device according to the invention can can also be used to accommodate people who have to sit a lot for work-related reasons to facilitate relaxed sitting; therefore the invention is also applicable to Formation of seats and backrests in vehicle seats and office chairs.

Based on the state of the art given by DE-40 23 289 A1 The invention achieves substantial progress in that the outer  In contrast to DE-40 232 289 A1, the telescopic tube does not support the foot of the pressure tel cylinder forms, but connects to the head, in combination with a wide measure, which consists in the outer telescopic tubes in the stretcher direction so tightly that they lead each other. This leadership fin takes place immediately afterwards on the heads on which the support surface for the body or the body part is formed, regardless of how far the Telescopic cylinders are extended. It is therefore easily possible that Extension length of the telescopic pressure cylinder to be chosen so large that also and especially in the buttocks area, where the greatest adjustment lengths of the pressure tel cylinder are needed, a nestling of the heads or on them formed support surfaces on the body is possible without the telescopic Cylinders reach their end stop. Through the mutual leadership of the outside Ren telescopic tubes in the vicinity of the heads is ensured that the Body when sitting or lying down or with other support, e.g. B. on one Backrest is only cushioned in the telescopic direction, any "swimming" in sideways direction is avoided, however, so that the body protrude one gets the hold and the feeling is conveyed to the patient, not only good and relieved of pressure, but also stable and safe to sit, what for Well-being is particularly important if it is due to physical disability or paralysis is already unsettled.

The pressure medium cylinders not only give the patient a secure hold, but also allow good ventilation of the seat, because you can between the pressure medium cylinders, which are to be regarded as rigid in terms of their cross section can provide sufficient ventilation and drainage channels, which from Head of the pressure medium cylinders run in the telescopic direction. Through drainage and Ventilation, the skin is dried, cooled and supplied with oxygen. The Drying ensures a mushroom profile, ventilation / cooling a lowering the skin temperature accompanied by constant supply of new acid air rich in substances. In the simplest case, the pressure cylinder can circle have a shaped cross section. This allows a tight packing with  easily realize sufficient ventilation space. Because of Stability is preferred, however, at least the outer telescopic tubes Pressure cylinder with a cross-section deviating from the circular shape provided which larger mutual guide surfaces and a more stable ge mutual support enables than with a linear contact of true cylinders. Angular cross-sections, which not only are particularly favorable enable a tight packing with flat contact, but also not to deviate very much from the circular shape. A cross section is particularly preferred can be imagined by one regular hexagon as a cross section and from this every second Corner cuts, which creates a no longer regular nine-corner, which ever however, due to its 120 ° rotational symmetry, a high packing density is permitted. The The extent of the capping should not be too large: that of the cut corners outgoing pages should be less than half, preferably less be shortened as a third of their (imaginary) original length.

Such profile shapes are extruded or extruded profiles made of metal or Plastic can be produced inexpensively and are readily suitable for the formation of Telescopes.

In order to solve the problem of sealing, you do not have to go to the front beat DE-40 23 289 A1 with the large tolerances water seal, especially since the large tolerances due to the ver poor cornering are undesirable. In the case of cylindrical telephoto You can counter these with O-rings or sealing sleeves seal each other. The same is still possible if all but the outer telescopic tube are cylindrical and the outer telescopic tube is angular only on the outside, but cylindrical on the inside.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the problem of sealing of the telescope can be solved elegantly in that in the telescope Bellows or a corrugated hose or corrugated pipe with high elasticity  is installed so that the tightness through the bellows, the corrugated tube or the corrugated hose is guaranteed and the telescope only has the task the bellows, the corrugated pipe or the corrugated hose, which are not alone in the La ge would be to create a stable seat or lying surface by the tele be encased and stabilized. Through this development of the invention can in contrast to DE 40 23 289 A1 without further ado and without possible wear of sealing rings and be with only small tolerances adhered to sealing surfaces, even telescopes with two or more than two stages are formed.

The bellows or the corrugated tube are with their open end at the foot of each because attached pressure cylinder and - z. B. on a common Distribution room - connected to a pressure medium source. In principle, a hy draulic pressure medium can be used. For the sake of saving weight however, air is preferred. As a pressure source comes a pump, a comm pressor or a compressed air bottle, in the simplest case also one Hand pump or a manually operated bellows can be used can.

If all pressure medium cylinders ver with a common pressure distribution chamber are connected, you get a complete pressure equalization: In all cylinders there is the same pressure, so that all parts of the body - provided that equally large support surfaces - be supported with the same pressure. It can but also be expedient, at least a subset of the pressure medium cylinders, under certain circumstances also to equip all pressure medium cylinders individually with valves, e.g. B. with small solenoid valves to individual pressure medium cylinders or submenus to be able to relieve pressure from pressure medium cylinders in a targeted manner. That makes it possible e.g. B. injured areas of the skin or particularly poorly perfused tissue additionally or completely to relieve. Pressure cylinder with individually operable Valves are already known from DE 40 23 289 A1.  

Another possibility offered by the installation of valves is the targeted Ab lower contiguous groups of support surfaces to one straps Hoist under a sitting or lying, frail or paralyzed to be able to push the person with whom they get out of bed or out can be lifted out of a wheelchair. Such groups of support surfaces could also use a common solenoid valve for this purpose be lowered.

To adapt the heads with their support surface as cheaply as possible to the To allow body contour, they or the support surface formed on them Chen expediently pivotable at the end of the outer telescopic tube ge stores. In an advantageous further development, some or all of the heads are located a force sensor with which the supporting force is measured and checked immediately and can be adjusted for optimal therapy. Around the heads or swivel the support surfaces formed on them without obstruction can and in order not to hinder the ventilation of the supported body part, the support surfaces should keep a small distance from each other. The Ab stand should therefore only be small so that the support surface is large and therefore the support pressure exerted on the body part remains. The column between the supports surfaces ventilate the drying and tempering of the body part. In addition, One or more openings are still present in the support surfaces of the heads be that improve ventilation and drainage.

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the accompanying drawing are shown and are described below. Same or each other corresponding parts are the same in the different examples the reference numbers.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a telescopic Druckluftzylin in the retracted state,

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the same air cylinder in maxi painter exit position,

Fig. 3 shows the detail A from Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the head of a second embodiment of a pneumatic cylinder,

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the second embodiment of te leskopischen air cylinder with an internal corrugated pipe,

Fig. 6 shows the pressure air cylinder of FIG. 5 in a maximum extended position,

Fig. 7 shows an arrangement of mutually identical Druckluftzylin countries, framed by a carrying device, the Druckluftzylin are only shown in outline and without a head,

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement as in Fig. 7 completed to the top view of the heads of the compressed air cylinder,

Fig. 9 shows the section IX-IX through the assembly of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 shows the contour of the buttocks on an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 11 shows the contour of the buttocks in the plan view of serving as a seat of the invention device,

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing an inventively constructed lying surface,

Fig. 13 shows a comparison with FIG. 4 modified head in top view,

Fig. 14 shows the head from Fig. 13 in a side view;

Fig. 15 shows a comparison with FIG. 6 modified head in a longitudinal section;

FIG. 16 shows the head according to FIG. 15 with the support surface tilted, FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a head similar to that in FIG. 4, but with a built-in force sensor,

Fig. 18 shows another embodiment of a head with a tiltable support surface in longitudinal section;

Fig. 19 shows the support ring of FIG. 18 in the plan view without the plate with the support surface,

Fig. 20 shows a further head with a tiltable support surface in a side view;

Fig. 21 shows a top view of the head of Fig. 20,

Fig. 22 shows a head of FIG. 20 at 45 ° inclination in a side view;

FIG. 23 shows a row of compressed air cylinders in a side view with heads as in FIG. 22,

Fig. 24 shows a series of pneumatic cylinders with heads in a horizontal position,

Fig. 25 is a group of heads shown in FIG. 21 in horizontal position in the plan view, and

Fig. 26 shows a functional diagram for a pressure control of a device according to the Invention.

Figs. 1 to 4 show a telescopically extendable in two stages pneumatic cylinder 1 with three telescopic tubes 17, 18 and 19, of which skoprohr the upper Tele 17 is the outer tube, which is sen tight abgeschlos by a head 16 by the head 16 is inserted into the upper end of the outer telescopic tube 17 with the interposition of a sealing ring 20 . The head provides for the support of a human body part a rounded support surface 16 a, which has three holes 6 serving for ventilation of the body part. At the transition from telescopic tube 17 to telescopic tube 18 and from telescopic tube 18 to telescopic tube 19 , the compressed air cylinder is sealed by sealing rings 21 and 22 . The inner telescopic tube 19 is fastened with its lower end by inserting a sealing ring 23 into a bore of a pressure distributor 25 . The pressure distributor 25 is connected via an inlet and outlet of compressed air valve 15 and a feed line 14 to a compressed air source 13 , which can be a blower, a compressor, a compressed air tank or an air pump. About a limit switch 26 , a central control unit 32 (see also Fig. 26) is informed when the telescopic tubes have lifted.

The telescopic tubes 17 , 18 and 19 can have a circular cross section in a manner known per se.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is particularly suitable for non-circular cross sections. This second game Ausführungsbei differs from the first embodiment not only in that the outer telescopic tube 27 has an outer triangular cross-section, as shown in Fig. 7, but also in that in this case at the transition from Te leskoprohr 27 to the telescopic tube 28 and no seal is provided from the telescopic tube 28 to the telescopic tube 29 . Instead, there is a corrugated hose or a soft corrugated tube 30 in the telescopic compressed air cylinder 1 , which is tightly connected to the pressure distributor 25 at the foot of the inner telescopic tube 29 via a valve 24 and is tightly connected to the head 16 at the upper end. The head 16 is pressed into the outer telescopic tube 27 with the interposition of an O-ring 31 , the inner contour of which is cylindrical. Between the head 16 and a switch 51 , a rubber thread 52 is stretched, which ensures a resetting of the telescope from the extended position ( FIG. 6) to the retracted basic position ( FIG. 5). The switch 51 reports to the central control unit 32 ( FIG. 26) the fully extended position, from which the position of the body lying thereon can be derived.

The outer telescopic tubes 27 have the outer cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 7, the formation of which can be imagined so that every second corner has been cut from a regular hexagon. Because of the hexagonal basic shape, a high packing density is achieved, with triangular ventilation channels 3 remaining between three adjacent telescopic tubes 27 , through which ventilation and drying of the supported body part can take place despite the high packing density, if necessary also with cooled or heated air, which can come from below through the carrying device 2 , which is a box in the embodiment, which is provided with a cushion frame 2 a above.

The middle telescopic tube 28 and the inner telescopic tube 29 are cylindrical, but could also have a triangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 7 if the outer telescopic tube 27 not only had the outside but also the inside corresponding to FIG. 7.

On the outer telescopic tubes 27 heads 16 can be plugged, whose order looks like, as shown in Fig. 4. But you could also use the heads 16 , the support surface 16 a is circular, as shown in Fig. 8, the circle of the nine-cornered outer contour of the outer telescopic tube 27 is inscribed ben.

The dense packing of the compressed air cylinders in the support means 2 is shown in FIG. 9 in a vertical section through the support means. It can also be seen that the space below the upholstery frame 2 a can be ventilated by means of a blower 33 . The blower air can distribute itself in the entire box of the carrying device 2 as soon as the outer telescopic tubes 27 have been moved out a little, because then the air supplied by the blower 33 circulates freely around the middle and inner telescopic tubes 28 and 29 and into the channels 3 can flow - see Fig. 10, which shows how the air cylinder 1 z. B. can adapt to the contour 7 of a buttocks. If all compressed air cylinders 1 are connected to the pressure distributor 25 , a pressure equalization takes place between the compressed air cylinders 1 , so that the buttocks are supported at all points with the same pressure. The pressure prevailing in the pressure distributor 25 is reported to the central control unit 32 via a sensor 53 .

For a practical embodiment of the invention, a diameter of 1 to 2 cm for the outer telescopic tube is realistic. So you can z. B. form the seat of a wheelchair from about 400 to 1600 support surfaces 16 a, which clearly shows that a good adaptation to the body contour is possible without significantly deforming it. In the interest of the best possible adjustment, the support surfaces 16 a are pivotally mounted on the head of the compressed air cylinder, as indicated in FIG. 10 and shown by way of example in FIGS . 16 and 18: FIG. 16 shows one on the end of the outer telescopic tube 27 snap-on head part 16 c, which receives a spherical body 38 with a stop ring 38 a. The spherical body 38 supports the support surface 16 a and allows pivoting movements of approximately 30 ° around a central position, namely namely to the impact ring 38 on an inwardly projecting edge 16 b of the head part 16 c.

Due to the pressure equalization between the different air cylinders by a device according to the invention, the support pressure on the lying human body acts, be limited to 1 to 3 kN / m².  

By targeted control of individual valves 24 at the foot of the compressed air cylinder 1 , selected cylinders 1 can be temporarily excluded from the supporting task, e.g. B. to protect and heal particularly pressure-sensitive parts of the body, skin injuries and the like. In the same way, it is possible to lower groups 35 and 36 of compressed air cylinders 1 in order to thread the riser te - shown schematically in FIG. 12 using a lying surface.

Pressure cylinder 1 , which lie outside the supported body contour, are extended to the stop when activated (introduction of compressed air). This can be desirable in order to give the person lateral support. Should it be undesirable, it is also possible to lower this unloaded compressed air cylinder of FIG. 1 , which is shown hatched in FIG. 11 with reference to a seat surface, by actuating its valves 24 in whole or in part. The state "not loaded" can be signaled by a limit switch 51 , which can be installed in the cylinder 1 .

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a rigid head 16 with a supporting surface 16 a and three vent holes 6, as is shown in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). FIGS. 15 and 16 show a head 16 with pivoting Barer support surface 16 a, the spherical body 38 is applied under the supporting surface 16 a directly from the closed at this end of corrugated pipe 30. In Fig. 15 the head is unloaded, in Fig. 16 loaded: the corrugated tube 30 has the spherical body 38 raised to the stop; the tilt position is determined by the contour of the body to be supported.

Fig. 17 shows a head 16 with built-in force sensor 42 , which after taking a lid 41 , on which the support surface 16 a is formed, is accessible. The chamber in which the force sensor 42 is located is sealed by an O-ring 43 .

Instead of a spherical body, the pivotability of the support surface 16 a can also be realized by a spring joint, as shown with the aid of a head shown in FIGS . 18 and 19. In this case, the support surface 16 a is formed on a plate 44 which rests with a circular groove in its underside on an upwardly projecting ring 47 a of the support 47 , the plate 44 and the support 47 connected by a rubber spring 45 are. When pressurized, the corrugated tube 30 presses the plate 44 over the support 47 against the body to be supported; the tilt position is determined as in Fig. 16 by the contour of the body to be supported. Fig. 19 shows the plan view onto the support 47 of the head with a support ring 47, but without the plate 44.

Fig. 20 shows a head 16 which is provided with a tiltable support surface 54 which overlap each other so that ren even with large inclinations of Körperkontu z. B. 45 ° between the heads 16 no major gaps arise.

The support surface 54 is formed by six star-shaped wings, each of which has a hole 56 for the purpose of ventilation of the body, are separated by narrow slots 57 and start from a lenticular central core 58 , with which they are made in one piece from plastic are injected. On the underside of the core 58 , a hinge 59 is formed, with the aid of which the support surface 54 can be pivoted about a pin 60 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the Druckmittelzy cylinder 1 , which is attached to the tip of the respective Druckmit telzylinders 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 show, adjacent support surfaces overlap strong if they are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressure cylinder, and they overlap still weak when it is inclined in contrast, are arranged as shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 26 shows a diagram according to which the pressure in selected Druckmit telzylindern 1 of a device according to the invention can be controlled. Sensors 42 and 53 report individual pressures or forces derived therefrom from the individual pressure medium cylinders 1 or the total pressure from the pressure distributor 25 to the central control unit 32 . End position switches 26 report when a pressure medium cylinder 1 is extended and thus activated. From this information, the central control unit 32 can detect the position and the pressure load of the body lying on it and show it on a display of the central control unit 32 . The doctor has the opportunity to control the pressure load on a body and correct it if necessary. About a control circuit, the z. B. works with a PID controller 49 , according to the measurement data supplied by the sensors 42 and 53 , which reach the central control unit 32 via a data input 50 , changes stored in a memory, for. B. time-varying conditions are realized or kept.

Claims (15)

1. Device for supporting the human body or parts thereof
with an arrangement of mutually parallel, telescopically extendable pressure medium cylinders ( 1 ) with a head ( 16 ) on which a support surface ( 16 a) is formed and with a foot on which a pressure medium inlet ( 24 ) is formed,
with a carrying device ( 2 ), which picks up the arrangement of the pressure medium cylinders ( 1 ), holds and supports them in their parallel orientation and with respect to which the heads ( 16 ) are telescopically displaceable,
and with a pressure medium source ( 13 ) which is connected in terms of flow to the foot of the pressure medium cylinder ( 1 ), characterized in that the telescopic part ( 17 , 27 ) of the pressure medium cylinder ( 1 ) adjoining the head ( 16 ) is the outer telescopic tube, and that the outer telescopic tubes ( 17 , 27 ) in the carrying device ( 2 ) are so tightly packed that they lead to each other. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the Druckmit tel cylinder ( 1 ) for receiving the pressure medium have a attached to the foot and there open bellows or an open corrugated tube ( 30 ). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that little least a subset of the pressure cylinder ( 1 ) is associated with an actuatable by Fernwir effect individual valve ( 24 ). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one group ( 35 , 36 ) of pressure medium cylinders ( 1 ) is assigned a common valve. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support surface ( 16 a) of the head ( 16 ) is pivotally attached to the outer telescopic tube ( 27 ). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a force sensor ( 42 ) is seen in at least one of the heads ( 16 ). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head ( 16 , 16 a) has at least one ventilation opening ( 6 ). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between adjacent heads ( 16 , 16 a) there is a small intermediate space. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that longitudinal ventilation ducts ( 3 ) are formed between adjacent outer telescopic tubes ( 17 , 27 ). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the telescopic tubes ( 27 ) have a cross-section deviating from the circular shape. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cross cut is a regular hexagon where every second corner is capped is. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the of the capped corners outgoing pages by less than half, in front are preferably shortened by less than a third of their original length. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 and 9 to 12, characterized in that the support surfaces ( 54 ) attached to adjacent pressure medium cylinders overlap. 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support surfaces ( 54 ) have interruptions ( 56 , 57 ). 15. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support surfaces are formed by wings, which emanate from a central holder ( 58 ) which supports abge on the outer telescopic tube, in particular is pivotally mounted.