Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
  • A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
  • A61G7/057—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor
  • A61G7/05769—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers
  • A61G7/05776—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G2203/00—General characteristics of devices
  • A61G2203/30—General characteristics of devices characterised by sensor means
  • A61G2203/44—General characteristics of devices characterised by sensor means for weight

Definitions

• This invention relates to alternating pressure pads, particularly for use in nursing patients and others prone to bed sores.
• a sensor pad is located beneath the inflatable cells in
• One sensor described comprises a flexible tube positioned beneath the mattress. One end of this tube is
• a sensor tube of this kind has the disadvantage that there is a constant loss of air from the system, which necessitates the continuous operation of a higher capacity pump than would be required if such a leak
• an alternating pressure pad having a sensor pad in which the sufficiency of inflation of the
• an altemating pressure pad which comprises at least two sets of inflatable
• an air supply line to each set a pump to circulate pressurised air alternately through a circuit, including the sets of cells, and to return air from the cells to the pump, the sensor pad in said circuit through which pressurised air is passed and a detecting means for detecting a reduction in air flow through the sensor pad, which is below a predete ⁇ riined level and for increasing air pressure in said sets of cells to restore the air flow of above said predetermined level.
• the reduction in air flow through the sensor pad caused by the patient's weight compressing the sensor pad can be detected by sensing the change of air pressure in the sensor pad or in conduits connecting the pad to the circuit.
• a sensor pad for use in accordance with the invention can be very simply
• the pad can be constructed from films of plastics sheet material welded at their perimeters to form the envelope and fo ⁇ ning the conduit by pa ⁇ ially
• a first pump is provided to circulate air through the circuit
• a second, larger capacity pump is connected to the circuit and is operated intermittently to increase inflation pressure in the event that the sensor pad mdicates that the sets of cells are insufficiently inflated.
• an altematmg pressure pad which comprises at least two sets of inflatable cells, an air supply line to each set, a first pump to circulate air alternately through a circuit, including said sets, and return air to said first pump, a sensor pad positioned to detect inadequate inflation pressure in said sets, a second pump connected to said circmt and
• detecting means for detectmg a pressure change in the sensor pad. or in air conduits connected thereto and for causmg said second pump to be actuated in the event of reduction of pressure below a predetermined level.
• the inflatable cells are arranged in at least two sets of lnter-
• dispers ⁇ d cells e.g. an inter-digitated arrangement as described in US Patent No 5,396.671 Conveniently, there are one or more layers of indigitated cells, preferably contamed within a cover which is waterproof and provides an easily cleaned and
• Such an arrangement is desc ⁇ bed in the above US patent and has the advantage that if the cells m the two or more layers are disposed so that a deflating cell is juxtaposed beneath or above an inflating cell, the user of the mattress is less likely to touch the underlying suppo ⁇ surface during any pan ofthe altematmg cycle.
• an altematmg pressure pad comprising a plurahty of inflatable cells arranged in at least two sets of mter-dispersed cells, means for inflating and deflating the cells alternately,
• a pressure sensor ananged to sense the flow of air through the cells, a pump for
• Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of an alternating pressure pad in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 2 is a plan view showing the constmction ofthe sensor pad.
• FIGS 3 and 4 are circuit diagrams of modified altemating pressure pads of the invention.
• the altemating pressure pad comprises two sets 1 and 2
• inflatable cells are preferably constructed as longitudinal headers 4 inter-digitated finger-like cells 5 having a fo ⁇ n as described in US Patent No. 5,396,671.
• a sensor pad 3 is positioned to He beneath the mattress formed by the sets
• the inflatable sets 1 and 2 are connected to a rotary valve 6 by air input lines
• Rotary valve 6 is fed with air from low power circulation pump 8 or larger
• Circulation pump 8 may be a diaphragm pump having a relatively low output
• main inflation pump 9 may be an axial or centrifugal rotary pump of higher output.
• Check valves 10a and 10b are located between air lines 7a and 7b to prevent inflation air leaking between the air lines 7a and 7b.
• An air line 11 feeds the
• Circulation pump 8 feeds air along air line 13 and air line 14 to the rotary valve 6.
• Sensor pad includes a flexible, compressible tube 15.
• Rotary valve 6 is driven by an electric motor (not shown), at a speed which is adjustable to provide the desired altemating supply of air to pressure lines 7a and 7b. The rotation speed may be altered to
• the rotary valve 6 may mclude a position in which both sets of cells 1 and 2 are in communication, so that the inflated set equalises pressure with the deflated set, before the set to be deflated is pa ⁇ ially or fully connected in a fu ⁇ her position when it
• the circuit also includes a pressure Umit valve 16, which bridges the feed-back line 12 with the input line 14 to the valve 6.
• the purpose of the pressure limit valve 16 is to leak to atmosphere in the event that the pressure in the circuit reaches an unacceptably high level.
• the pressure limit valve may connect the feed
• a pressure sensitive switch 17 is located in the feed-back line 12 and is
• switch 17 causes the electrical feed to the main
• inflation pump 9 to be actuated, thereby causing the main inflation pump to feed air to the input line 14.
• Pump 9 is normally actuated only on sta ⁇ up of the apparatus. The air
• the tube 15 will collapse and close off the passage of air through the line 12. This will cause the pressure to fall in the feed-back line 12 which will be sensed by the pressure switch 17.
• the main inflation pump 9 On actuation of the switch 17, the main inflation pump 9 will be
• switch 17 is preferably adjusted so that the switch is held in the off position when the pressure in the feed-back line 12 is sufficient to indicate a normal flow of air through line 12. On reduction of the pressure to a level indicative of insufficient inflation of the cells 1 and 2, switch 17 may be ananged to close under a spring-bias to cause activation of the pump 9.
• the sensor pad 3 comprises an inflatable envelope 21, suppo ⁇ ed on a backing
• the backing sheet 22 is preferably a sheet of plastics material which has a dimension X-X approximately co ⁇ esponding to the width of a bed or other suitable
• Backing sheet 22 is fitted with fixing means such as press-studs 23, attached through a reinforcing strip 24.
• fastening means 23 are intended to be attached to the surface of the bed or other underlying suppo ⁇ for the inflatable mattress, under a moderate lateral tension designed to keep the surface of the backing sheet 22 flat, and the pressure pad 21
• Envelope 21 is formed with inlet and outlet connectors 25 and 26 for connection with the air line 11 and feed-back line 12. The tube effectively passing
• between the connectors 25 and 26 consists of an elongated tube formed by pa ⁇ ially welding thermoplastic sheets forming the envelope 21 along weld lines 27 and 28, thereby forming an elongated tube in zig-zag formation within the envelope 21.
• the pressure limit valve is conveniently housed together with the rotary valve 6, and the air switch 17 in the same casing, preferably together with one or both pumps. Alternatively, the pressure limit switch is located adjacent the mattress air input or feed back connection lines.
• the circulation pump 8 is preferably a diaphragm-type pump which has the advantage of requiring low power and creating a low level of noise.
• the pressure relief may be set to relieve pressure within the system at a pressure of about 70 mm Hg water gauge.
• the rotary valve can also be provided with a setting in which both inflatable cells sets are inflated, and with no leakage to atmosphere. In this setting the main
• the main inflation pump will only operate termittently. This has the
• Figure 3 shows a modification of the circuit shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a modification of the circuit shown in Figure 1.
• the pump 8a will be a larger output pump than the pump 8 in Figure 1 , and may, for example, be a pump able to operate at different speeds to increase the air output.
• a pressure-sensitive control system 30 is provided. This system will be a ⁇ ivated if the pressure of air flowing through the sensor pad is restricted by the patient ' s weight. Conective action will then be taken automatically.
• the control system comprises an air flow restrictor 31, connected to the inlet to the pump 8a.
• the control system also includes a control assembly 32.
• the assembly includes a one-way valve 33, connected to the air inlet line to the pump 8a between the restrictor 31 and the pump 8a.
• Valve 33 is under the control of a pressure-sensitive switch 34
• air is pumped by the single pump 8a at, say, 5 litres per minute, to the rotary valve 6 and passed alternately to the two cell sets. If the weight of the patient causes the sensor line to be constricted, a small po ⁇ ion of air is drawn via restrictor 31
• the pump 8a is a two speed pump and the air circuit is as shown in Figure 3 except for the pressure-sensitive control system
• the feed-back line 12 incorporates an air operated switch 40, set to reduce the voltage to

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
• Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)
• Finger-Pressure Massage (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)
• Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
• Measuring Arrangements Characterized By The Use Of Fluids (AREA)
• Inorganic Insulating Materials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26308167

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (13)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1996
  • 1996-11-25 AT AT96939211T patent/ATE208156T1/de active
  • 1996-11-25 PT PT96939211T patent/PT869727E/pt unknown
  • 1996-11-25 WO PCT/GB1996/002895 patent/WO1997018737A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-11-25 DK DK96939211T patent/DK0869727T3/da active
  • 1996-11-25 DE DE69616821T patent/DE69616821T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-11-25 EP EP96939211A patent/EP0869727B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-11-25 CA CA002238413A patent/CA2238413C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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