DK202300077U3 - PUMP FOR A MATTRESS FOR THE PREVENTION AND/OR TREATMENT OF PRESSURE SORES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump (2) for a mattress for the prevention and/or treatment of pressure ulcers, which pump comprises a compressor (201), - an intake (2041) for air from the surrounding atmosphere to the compressor, a valve unit (211-213) and two or more mattress interfaces (221-223) adapted to connect to two or more mattress channels (1111-1113) in a mattress unit, the valve unit comprising two or more valves adapted to communicate with the mattress interfaces, wherein the pump comprises a construction (261-264), where the pump comprises an intake channel (204) for directing air from the intake to the compressor (201 ), a compressor channel (203) for directing air from the compressor to the valve unit (211-213) and/or two or more valve channels (231-233) for directing air from the valve assembly to the two or more mattress channel interfaces (221-223), the pump comprising a control unit adapted to control the valves to selectively allow communication between the compressor and the mattress interfaces , where an inner boundary of the intake channel (204), an inner boundary of the compressor channel (203), and/or an inner boundary of two or more of the two or more valve channels (231-233) are formed by the structure (261-264) .

Description

DK 202300077 U3 1

PUMP FOR A MATTRESS FOR THE PREVENTION AND/OR TREATMENT OF

PRINTER

Technical area

The invention relates to a pump for a mattress for the prevention and/or treatment of pressure ulcers.

Background

Pressure ulcers, also referred to as pressure sores and bedsores, are local damage to the skin and/or the underlying tissue, which damage usually occurs over a bone part of a person as a result of pressure. Pressure ulcers are most common among people with low mobility, i.e. persons who are unable to change positions when they e.g. is bedridden.

Pressure ulcers can be prevented by redistributing the pressure by turning the person regularly. Nursing homes and hospitals usually implement programs to prevent the development of pressure ulcers for bedridden patients.

This may include using a routine time frame for turning and repositioning a patient to reduce pressure. However, such programs increase the workload for the staff at the hospital or similar.

Another way to redistribute the pressure is to use pressure redistribution mattresses. Such mattresses, which are becoming more and more popular, are connected to a pump which is able to supply and remove air to or from the mattress. Pressure redistribution mattresses can contain multiple air chambers that are inflated alternately. The pump can follow a special control strategy for the increase and decrease of the air in the chambers. In such a way, the pressure can be varied, and thus the pressure sores can perhaps be avoided. | WO2019083436A1 describes an example of such a pressure redistribution mattress.

A pump for a pressure redistribution mattress typically includes a compressor, a valve unit and interfaces for connections to the mattress chambers. Due to the relatively large amount of components, such a pump can be relatively complicated and therefore expensive to manufacture.

DK 202300077 U3 2

Summary

One of the objects of the invention is to reduce the complexity of the manufacture of pumps for pressure redistribution mattresses.

Ground nas with a pump for a mattress for the prevention and/or treatment of pressure ulcers, which pump comprises - a compressor, - an intake for air from the ambient atmosphere to the compressor, - a valve unit and - two or more mattress interfaces suitable for to be connected to two or more mattress channels in a mattress unit, - the valve unit comprising two or more valves which are arranged to communicate with the mattress interfaces, - where the pump comprises a structure, - where the pump comprises an intake channel for directing air from the intake to the compressor , a compressor channel for directing air from the compressor to the valve unit and/or two or more valve channels for directing air from the valve unit to the two or more mattress channel interfaces, - the pump comprising a control unit adapted to control the valves to selectively allow communication between the compressor and the mattress interfaces, - where the construction forms an internal boundary of the intake channel, an internal boundary of the compressor channel and/or an internal boundary of two or more of the two or more valve channels.

The internal boundary of a channel formed by the construction preferably forms the entire total internal surface area of the channel in question.

When delimiting the intake duct, the compressor duct and/or the valve ducts internally, one or more of these ducts can be integrated with

DK 202300077 U3 3 the construction. This integration enables the construction to perform the function of the channels. Thereby, no separate provision of channels, for example in the form of hoses, is needed. Furthermore, the installation of such separate channels in the pump is avoided. In this way, the manufacture of the pump can be made less complex.

It should be noted that in certain embodiments, the internal boundary of the intake duct formed by the structure, the internal boundary of the compressor passage formed by the structure, and/or the internal boundary of the valve passages formed by the structure form only part of the total internal surface area of the channel in question.

The invention is applicable to various types of pumps. For example, the pump may include two or more mattress interfaces suitable for connecting to two or more mattress channels in a mattress. At least two of the mattress channels may be arranged to communicate with corresponding mattress chamber configurations of the mattress. The valve assembly may include two or more valves adapted to communicate with the mattress interfaces. The mattress interfaces may be located on an outer surface of the housing formed by the construction of the pump.

The pump may include a control unit adapted to control the valves to selectively allow communication between the compressor and the mattress interfaces.

Preferably two or more valves arranged to communicate with a corresponding one of the mattress interfaces. The two or more valves can preferably be controlled individually.

The control of each valve is preferably independent of the control of any of the other valves. Thereby the valves can be controlled to allow any combination of valve settings. The valves can, for example, be controlled so that all the valves are open, one or more but fewer than all the valves are open, or all the valves are closed. Each valve preferably includes a valve to selectively block the flow of a fluid through that valve, and also an actuator to move that valve. The control unit is preferably designed to control the actuators for individual control of the flap in question.

The valves are preferably digitally controlled. The valves can be solenoid valves.

DK 202300077 U3 4

The mattress may be suitable for supporting a person lying down on the mattress. | however, in certain embodiments, the mattress may be a seat cushion, such as a pressure redistributing cushion or a pressure relief cushion.

The compressor can be any device for moving air.

During use, the compressor can compress the air and increase the air pressure to a greater or lesser extent. | in certain embodiments, the compressor is a fan.

The construction of the pump preferably includes a housing and/or an internal construction of the pump, and the internal boundary of the intake channel, the internal boundary of the compressor channel and/or the internal boundary of one or more of the one or more valve channels is formed by the housing and/ or the internal construction.

The compressor and/or valve may be present in the housing formed by the structure. The compressor and/or valve may be mounted on the structure.

Thereby, the structure can provide the multiple functions of containing and/or storing the valve assembly and/or the compressor, and also forming internal boundaries of the intake duct, the compressor duct and one or more of the one or more valve ducts.

The construction preferably comprises a plastic material which forms the inner boundary of the intake channel, the inner boundary of the compressor channel and/or the inner boundary of one or more of the one or more valve channels. Thereby, the housing's plastic material can be injection molded. Thereby, the channels can be provided by a process for injection molding the construction.

Thereby, the manufacture of the pump can be significantly simplified.

The structure preferably comprises a first structural part containing the compressor and a second structural part containing the valve unit and which is mounted on the first structural part. The first and second construction parts are preferably separate construction parts. Thereby, the construction can be modular. This facilitates the manufacturing and/or maintenance processes. The structural parts may form a structure for enclosing and/or supporting the compressor and/or valve assembly. The first structural part can enclose the compressor.

DK 202300077 U3

Preferably, the inner boundary of the intake channel, the inner boundary of the compressor channel and/or the inner boundary of one or more of the one or more valve channels is formed by the second structure. | in certain embodiments, the first structural member forms at least a portion of the inner boundary of the intake channel. | in certain embodiments, the first structural part forms at least part of the inner boundary of the compressor channel.

The second structural part is preferably removably mounted on the first structural part. | in certain embodiments, each of the first and second structural members is a single solid piece of injection molded plastic. | in certain embodiments, the second structural member forms the mattress interfaces. in certain embodiments, the valve channels are formed by the second structural part.

In certain embodiments, however, the first and second structural members are integral.

In certain embodiments, the structure also includes a third structural member that is mounted on the second structural member and that forms the mattress interfaces. The third construction part can be a single solid piece of injection molded plastic. The valve channels can be formed by the second structural part and the third structural part. The third structural part is preferably removably mounted on the second structural part. At least a part of the compressor channels can be formed by the second structural part and the third structural part.

Preferably, part of the pump construction supports the compressor and/or valve assembly and is a single solid piece of injection molded plastic. Thereby, at least 50% of the internal surface area of the intake channel, at least 50% of the internal surface area of the compressor channel and/or at least 50% of the internal surface area of one or more valve channels can be formed by the single solid piece of injection-molded plastic. More generally, at least 50% of the internal surface area of the intake channel, at least 50% of the internal surface area of the compressor channel and/or at least 50% of the internal surface area of the one or more valve channels preferably form the structure.

DK 202300077 U3 6

The construction preferably forms the inner boundary of the compressor channel, so that the compressor channel exhibits at least three bends that form respective diversions of a flow through the compressor channel of at least 45 degrees. In this way, pressure pulses from the compressor can be reduced. The bends are mostly sharp. For example, the curvature of the bends may be such that the radius of a line following the center of the channel is no wider than twice the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the channel at the narrowest point of the channel.

The channel is preferably relatively narrow at the bends and between the bends.

When the valve assembly comprises two or more valves, the construction preferably forms an internal boundary of an inter-valve connection connecting one of the valves to another of the valves.

The construction preferably forms a sound-absorbing geometry of the compressor duct. This allows the pump to have an internal geometry with a sound dampening function. When the construction comprises a first construction part that contains the compressor, where the construction further comprises a second construction part that contains the valve unit and which is mounted on the first construction part, the sound-absorbing geometry can be formed at least partially by the second construction part.

The sound dampening geometry preferably forms two expanded spaces in the compressor channel, separated by a channel part which is narrower than the expanded spaces. The areas of the cross-sections of the expanded spaces, which cross-sections are transverse in relation to the intended path of the air, can be larger than the areas of the cross-sections of the other parts of the compressor duct, which cross-sections are also transverse in relation to the intended path of the air. | in particular, the area of the cross-section of the duct part, which cross-section is transverse to the intended path of the air, may be smaller than the areas of the cross-section of the expanded spaces.

As illustrated below, the duct part is preferably arranged to direct an air flow through the compressor duct in a plurality of different consecutive directions. The directions may be partially determined by one or more walls of the structure which form surfaces bent along the intended path of the air.

The purpose is also achieved by using a system according to claim 16.

DK 202300077 U3 7

Additional advantages and advantageous features of the invention are described in the following description and in the dependent claims.

Short description of the characters

Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to drawings, in which: - fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-section of part of a mattress, which cross-section is horizontal, and a schematic view of parts of the pump for the mattress, - fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the pump depicted in FIG. 1, - fig. 3 shows a part of the pump in fig. 2 seen from above, - fig. 4 shows part of the pump in fig. 2 seen from below, - fig. 5 shows a perspective drawing of a pump according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, where the pump's housing is shown partially cut away, - fig. 6 shows a perspective drawing of part of the pump in fig. 5, - fig. 7 shows a perspective drawing of part of the pump part shown in fig. 6, - fig. 8 shows an exploded perspective drawing of a part of a pump according to a further embodiment of the invention, and - fig. 9 shows a plan view of a portion of the part shown in FIG. 8.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 depicts part of a mattress unit 1A comprising a mattress 11.

The mattress unit 1A includes an air system. The air system comprises a plurality of, in this example three, unit cavity formations 1101-1102, 1111-1113. Each unit cavity formation includes a mattress chamber configuration 1101-1102 within the mattress 11 and a mattress channel 1111-1113 external to the mattress. The mattress channel 1111-1113 is arranged to communicate with the corresponding mattress chamber configuration 1101-1102 and with a pump 2, which is described below.

DK 202300077 U3 8 this example includes two of the mattress chamber configurations 1101-1102 elongated chambers 1101a, 1101b that extend in a width direction of the mattress. the longitudinal direction of the mattress, the chambers in these mattress chamber configurations 1101-1102 are alternately distributed, so that the chambers in one mattress chamber configuration 1101 are separated from the chambers in the other mattress chamber configuration 1102. In each of these mattress chamber configurations 1101-1102, the chambers are connected by interchamber channels 1101z.

One of the mattress chamber configurations (not shown) with which one of the mattress channels 1113 communicates is located below the other mattress chamber configurations described above. The mattress chamber configuration located below the other mattress chamber configurations includes a single cavity and forms a mattress pad.

It should be noted that in other examples the mattress may have two, four or more mattress chamber configurations.

The pump 2 comprises a compressor 201, a valve unit 211-213 and one or more, in this case three, mattress interfaces 221-223. An intake duct 204 is adapted to direct air from the ambient atmosphere to the compressor 201. More specifically, the intake duct 204 is adapted to direct air from an air intake 2041 to the compressor 201. The valve assembly comprises three valves 211-213, each of which is adapted to communicate with the compressor via a compressor channel 203. In this example, the compressor channel comprises a compressor corridor 2030. The compressor channel 203 branches through the compressor corridor 2030 to the valve intakes 2031-2033, which communicate with a corresponding one of the valves.

Each of the valves 211-213 is arranged to communicate with a corresponding one of the mattress interfaces 221-223 through a corresponding valve channel 231-233.

The mattress unit 1A comprises one or more, in this example three, pump interfaces 1121-1123, each of which is suitable for connecting to a corresponding one of the pump mattress interfaces 221-223. The pump interfaces 1121-1123 are arranged to communicate with a corresponding one of the channels 1111-1113, which in turn communicate with a corresponding one of

DK 202300077 U3 9 the mattress chamber configurations 1101-1102. The pump interfaces are attached to each other to form an interface unit.

The valves 211-213 are designed to be controlled by a control unit 241. Thereby, the valves are designed to be controlled individually to deliver or release air from a corresponding one of the air cavity arrangements 101-103.

The pump comprises an interventional connection 251 that connects one of the valves 211 with another of the valves 212. Thereby, air released from one of the unit cavity formations 1101, 1111 can be supplied to another of the unit cavity formations 1102, 1112.

Reference is also made to fig. 2. The pump comprises a structure 261, 262, 263.

The construction comprises a first construction part 261. In this example, the first construction part 261 forms a central part of the pump construction. The first structural part 261 forms an internal structure of the pump. The first structural part 261 also forms part of the pump housing. The first structural part 261 serves to contain the valve assembly 211-213. The first structural part 261 also serves to contain and enclose the compressor 201.

A second construction part 262 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261. The second construction part 262 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261 at an upper end thereof. The second structural part 262 forms a further part of the pump housing.

A third construction part 263 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261. The third construction part 263 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261 at a lower end thereof. The third structural part 263 forms a further part of the pump housing.

Each of the first, second and third structural parts 261, 262, 263 is a single solid part of injection molded plastic.

A fourth construction part 264 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261. The fourth construction part 264 is suitable for mounting on the first construction part 261 on one side thereof. The fourth construction part

DK 202300077 U3 10 264 comprises a mattress interface assembly comprising the mattress interfaces 221-223.

The construction parts 261-264 may comprise an injection molded plastic material.

Reference is also made to fig. 3, which shows the first structural part 261 seen from above.

The air intake 2041 is indicated in fig. 3. Fig. 3 also shows a compressor inlet 2042.

As indicated by an arrow in fig. 3, the pump is arranged to direct air from the air inlet 2041 to the compressor inlet 2042 through the intake channel 204. It is clear that the first structural part 261 forms part of an inner boundary of the intake channel 204. When the second structural part 262 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the first structural part 261, the second structural part 262 forms the remainder of the inner boundary of the intake channel 204. Thereby the pump structure, in this example a part of the structure formed by the first and second structural parts 261, 262, forms the inner boundary of the intake channel 204. More than 50% of the inner surface area of the intake channel 204 is formed by the first structural part 261.

The first structural part 261 forms two compressor outlets 2035. | other embodiments there may be only one compressor outlet 2035 or more than two compressor outlets. As indicated by an arrow in fig. 3, the pump is arranged to direct air from the one or more compressor outlets 2035 to the valve inlets 2031-2033 through the compressor channel 203, which includes the compressor corridor 2030. It is clear that the first structural part 261 forms part of an internal boundary of the compressor channel 203. When the second structural part 262 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the first structural part 261, the second structural part 262 forms the remainder of the internal boundary of the compressor channel 203. Thereby the pump structure, in this example, forms part of the structure formed by the first and the second structural part 261, 262, the inner boundary of the compressor channel 203. More than 50% of the internal surface area of the compressor channel 203 is formed by the first structural part 261. in this embodiment, the pump structure forms the inner boundary of the compressor channel 203, so that the compressor channel 203 exhibits a plurality of inflections 2036, in this example six inflections creating the equivalent

DK 202300077 U3 11 direction changes of the flow through the compressor channel 203 by 90 degrees or 180 degrees. More generally, there are at least three bends, each of which creates a change in direction of the flow of at least 45 degrees. In this way, pressure pulses from the compressor can be reduced.

Reference is also made to fig. 4. The first structural part 261 forms part of an inner boundary of the intervening connection 251 which connects one of the valves to another of the valves. | in this example, the intervening connection 251 is arranged to direct air between two valve openings 2511, 2512, each of which communicates with a corresponding one of the valves which are connected. When the third structural part 263 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the first structural part 261, the third structural part 263 forms the rest of the inner boundary of the interventional connection 251. Thereby the pump structure forms, in this example, part of the structure formed by the first and the third structural part 261, 263, the inner boundary of the interventional connection 251.

Reference is made to fig. 5 — fig. 7, which shows a pump according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The pump is designed in principle as shown in fig. 1, although it has four instead of three valves. The pump 2 thus comprises a compressor 201, a valve unit and four mattress interfaces 221-224.

The pump comprises a construction 261, 262. The construction comprises a first construction part 261. | this example, the first structural part 261 forms a housing for the pump. The first structural part 261 also forms an internal structure of the pump. The first structural part 261 also serves to contain and enclose the compressor 201.

Reference is also made to fig. 6. The structure further comprises a second structural part 262. The second structural part serves to contain the valve assembly, which in this example comprises four valves 211-214. As can be seen in fig. 5, the second structural part 262 is mounted on the first structural part 261. Furthermore, the first structural part 261 encloses the second structural part 262.

The construction also includes a third construction part 263. The third construction part is shaped like a lid on the second construction part 262. The

DK 202300077 U3 12 third structural part 263 is mounted on the second structural part 262. The third structural part 263 forms the mattress interfaces 221-224.

Each of the first, second and third structural parts 261, 262, 263 is a single solid part of injection molded plastic. s Each of the valves 211-214 is arranged to communicate with the compressor through a compressor channel 203a, 203b. A part 203a of the compressor channel is formed by a hose (Fig. 5).

Reference is also made to fig. 7, which shows the second structural part 262 without the third structural part 263. A second part 203b of the compressor channel is formed by the second structural part 262 and the third structural part 263.

The compressor channel portion 203b formed by the second structural member 262 and the third structural member 263 branches to valve inlets (not shown) which communicate with a corresponding one of the valves 211-214.

Each of the valves 211-214 is arranged to communicate with a corresponding one of the mattress interfaces 221-223 through a corresponding valve channel 231-234. The valve channels 231-234 are formed by the second structural part 262 and the third structural part 263. Thereby forming the pump structure, in this example, part of the construction formed by the second and third construction parts 262, 263, the internal boundaries of the valve channels 231-234.

More than 50% of the inner surface area of the valve passages 231-234 is formed by the second structural part 262.

Reference is also made to fig. 8, which shows part of a pump corresponding to that shown in fig. 5 - fig. 7. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, as well as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5-7, the second structural part 262 and the third structural part 263 form a sound dampening geometry of the compressor duct 203. The sound dampening geometry forms two expanded spaces 2036 in the compressor duct. The expanded compartments 2036 are cylindrical. The expanded spaces are separated by a channel portion 2037 which is narrower than the expanded spaces.

Reference is also made to fig. 9, which depicts the path of the air through the compressor channel 203. The air enters one of the expanded spaces 2036 through an air supply opening

DK 202300077 U3 13 2621. Next, the air enters the channel part 2037 as indicated by arrow A.

The air is directed through the duct portion 2037 as indicated by arrows B-D. | channel part 2037, the air is directed in a plurality of consecutive different directions. The directions are partially determined by walls of the second structural member 262 which form surfaces 2622 that are bent along the intended path of the air. From the channel portion 2037, the air enters the second expanded space 2036 as indicated by the arrow E.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; a person skilled in the art will thus admit that many changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the attached requirements.

Claims (16)

DK 202300077 U3 14 PATENT APPLICATION 1. Pump (2) for a mattress for the prevention and/or treatment of pressure ulcers, which pump comprises - a compressor (201), - an intake (2041) for air from the surrounding atmosphere to the compressor, - a valve unit (211-213 ) and - two or more mattress interfaces (221-223) suitable for connecting to two or more mattress channels (1111-1113) in a mattress unit, - the valve unit comprising two or more valves which are adapted to communicate with the mattress interfaces , - where the pump comprises a construction (261-264), - where the pump comprises an intake channel (204) for directing air from the intake to the compressor (201), a compressor channel (203) for directing air from the compressor to the valve unit (211- 213) and/or two or more valve channels (231-233) to direct air from the valve unit to the two or more mattress channel interfaces (221-223), - the pump comprising a control unit which is arranged to control the valves, to selectively allowing communication between the compressor and the mattress interfaces, - where an internal boundary of the intake channel (204), an internal boundary of the compressor channel (203), and/or an internal boundary of two or more of the two or more valve channels (231-233) are formed of the construction (261-264). 2. Pump according to claim 1, where the construction comprises a first construction part (261) that contains the compressor (201), where the construction further comprises a second construction part (262) that contains the valve unit and which is mounted on the first construction part (261). 3. Pump according to claim 2, where the inner boundary of the intake channel (204), the inner boundary of the compressor channel (203), and/or the inner DK 202300077 U3 15 demarcation of two or more of the two or more valve channels (231-233) is formed by the second structural part (262). 4. Pump according to any one of claims 2-3, wherein the second structural part (262) is removably mounted on the first structural part (261). 5. A pump according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein each of the first and second structural parts (261, 262) is a single solid item of injection molded plastic. A pump according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the second structural part (262) forms the mattress interfaces (221-224). A pump according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the structure also comprises a third structural part (263) which is mounted on the second structural part (262) and which forms the mattress interfaces (221-224). 8. Pump according to claim 7, where the third structural part (263) is removably mounted on the second structural part (262). 9. A pump according to any one of claims 7-8, wherein a part (203b) of the compressor channel is formed by the second structural part (262) and the third structural part (263). 10. A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 50% of the internal surface area of the intake channel (204), at least 50% of the internal surface area of the compressor channel (203) and/or at least 50% of the internal surface area of the one or more valve channels (231-233) are formed by the structure (261-264). 11. A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the construction (261-264) forms the inner boundary of the compressor channel (203), such that the compressor channel (203) exhibits at least three bends (2036) that create corresponding changes of direction of a current through the compressor channel (203) of at least 45 degrees. DK 202300077 U3 16 12. A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the construction forms a sound-absorbing geometry of the compressor channel. 13. Pump according to claim 12, where the construction comprises a first construction part (261) that contains the compressor (201), where the construction further comprises a second construction part (262) that contains the valve unit and which is mounted on the first construction part (261), where the sound-absorbing geometry is at least partially formed by the second structural part. 14. A pump according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein the sound dampening geometry forms two expanded spaces in the compressor channel, separated by a channel portion that is narrower than the expanded spaces. 15. Pump according to claim 14, where the channel part is arranged to direct an air flow through the compressor channel in a plurality of consecutive different directions. 16. System comprising a mattress for preventing and/or treating pressure ulcers and a pump according to any one of claims 1-15 for the mattress.