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
• • 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
  • A61G2203/34—General characteristics of devices characterised by sensor means for pressure
• • 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
  • A61G2203/40—General characteristics of devices characterised by sensor means for distance

Definitions

• EP-A-0 676 158 a method and an apparatus for supporting a supported element, in particular the body of a patient, allowing support at a controlled depth of insertion, essentially constant using a device measurement comprising an induction system combined with a metal sheet located under the body to be supported, the metal sheet being moved as a function of the depression of the body to be supported.
• the support device can be a single chamber, as shown in Figure 1, which is also recalled in Figure 1 in the appendix.
• Figure 3 of this prior document of the applicant there was provided a support device with three chambers 114a, 114b, 114c including a heel zone chamber, each chamber being provided with a depth measurement device to allow individual control of each chamber at an appropriate inflation pressure. It is understood that this procedure complicates the apparatus and the operating method.
• the main object of the present invention is to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution which makes it possible to support a patient's body with at least two support zones, including one zone specific heel while maintaining a simple structure of the device and simple operation.
• the main object of the present invention is also to solve the aforementioned new technical problem according to a solution which makes it possible to maintain an adjustment of the pressure of the heel zone independently of the pressure in the support zone other than the heel zone, while maintaining the simple structure of the device and its simplified operation.
• the present invention provides a method of supporting a patient's body, comprising the provision of at least one support element, in particular a mattress, subdivided into at least two closed, flexible zones , with controlled exhaust, inflatable under pressure depending on the setting of the driving distance, at least a first support zone of the body of the patient other than the heel area, and a second support area specific to the heel area, characterized in that the second area is inflated in diversion from the first area.
• the pressure in the second zone is adjustable as a function of the pressure in the first zone.
• the pressure in the second zone of the heel zone is substantially constant.
• the pressure ratio between the two zones will advantageously be variable.
• the pressure in the second zone of the heel zone is a constant fraction of the pressure of the first zone.
• the present invention also covers a device for supporting the body of a patient comprising at least one support element, in particular a mattress, subdivided into at least two closed zones, flexible, and with controlled exhaust, inflatable under a pressure depending on the setting of the insertion distance, at least a first support zone of the patient's body other than the heel zone, and a second specific support zone of the heel zone, characterized in that said second zone is connected in derivation of the first zone so as to be inflated in derivation of the first zone.
• a device for supporting the body of a patient comprising at least one support element, in particular a mattress, subdivided into at least two closed zones, flexible, and with controlled exhaust, inflatable under a pressure depending on the setting of the insertion distance, at least a first support zone of the patient's body other than the heel zone, and a second specific support zone of the heel zone, characterized in that said second zone is connected in derivation of the first zone so as to be inflated in derivation of the first zone.
• connection between the second heel zone and the first zone comprises a pressure regulation valve.
• this pressure regulating valve is adjusted to give a substantially constant pressure value in the second zone.
• this pressure regulating valve is adjusted to give a pressure value in the second heel zone constituting a substantially constant fraction of the first zone.
• the position regulating valve comprises an inlet chamber having an inlet communicating with said first zone and an outlet communicating at least temporarily with a pressure regulating chamber whose exit communicates with the second heel area; a depreciation room are independent, separated from the pressure regulation chamber by a movable partition supporting a piston closing a communication orifice between the intake chamber and the pressure regulation chamber.
• the intake chamber and the pressure regulation chamber also communicate permanently through a calibrated orifice.
• the damping chamber communicates permanently with the outside via a calibrated orifice.
• the second support zone of the heel zone communicates permanently with the outside via a calibrated orifice.
• the heel area is mounted as a bypass of the first area mainly or essentially supporting the patient, outside the heel area, the pressure of the heel area is lower than that of the rest of the support so that the heels sink into the mattress and the leg rests over its entire length on the support to relieve the pressure exerted on the heels.
• the pressure can be easily adjusted according to the relative position of the patient on the support, his weight and his morphology, or according to the particular needs of the treatment.
• a particularly low pressure zone is created in the heel zone, the pressure of which is in fact a function of the pressure existing in the main zone or zones.
• the pressure adjustment valve it is possible to adjust the pressure value existing in the heel area either at a constant pressure which is always a fraction of the pressure in the main zone or zones, or even in a constant pressure ratio in the main zone or zones, this valve then having a pressure division function.
• the pressure adjustment valve can have any practical embodiment, either a mechanical form, an electronic form or any other suitable pressure adjustment device. Thanks to the invention, the pressure exerted on the heels is relieved, which makes it possible to avoid the development of bedsores, the heel area being one of the regions of the body most sensitive to the development of bedsores for a bedridden patient. prolonged. A particularly advantageous application of the invention is therefore the prevention or medical treatment of pressure sores.
• FIG. 2 schematically shows the modified support part according to the invention showing the creation of a specific support area of the heel area, bypassing at least one support area other than the heel area;
• FIG. 3 shows in detail and in axial and longitudinal section the structure and the operating principle of a currently preferred embodiment of a pressure control valve according to the invention, mounted as a bypass between the main support zone outside the heel area and the support area of the heel area;
• FIG. 4 represents in axial and longitudinal section an effective embodiment of a pressure regulating valve, the principle of which is shown in FIG. 3.
• This support device makes it possible to support an element, in particular as shown the body of a patient P.
• This device 10 comprises a support device proper 12, for example a mattress, comprising at least one closed or exhaust area controlled 14, flexible, inflatable, which can for example be composed of a multiplicity of inflatable tubes communicating with each other, said chamber 14 being inflatable under a predetermined initial inflation pressure, adjustable.
• This chamber 14 has an upper face 15 serving as a support for the support element T and P, a lower face 16 which can, for example, rest on a box spring (not shown here) or equivalent means.
• the apparatus also comprises means 18 for controlling the filling pressure of the chamber 14 as a function of the insertion distance into the support device of the element to be supported, for example comprising filling means 20, such as pumping means 20, of a flow filling the chamber 14, such as a gas, in particular air, or a liquid, in particular water, and evacuation means such as a valve 22.
• filling means 20 such as pumping means 20, of a flow filling the chamber 14, such as a gas, in particular air, or a liquid, in particular water, and evacuation means such as a valve 22.
• This device also comprises means 30 for measuring the distance D separating the upper face 15 from the chamber 14 relative to the lower face 16.
• These measuring means 30 may, for example, comprise a metallic element 32, advantageously in the form of a thin sheet, integral with the upper face 15 of the chamber 14, here inside the chamber 14, cooperating with at least one inductive element 34 forming a position detector, integral with the lower face 16 of said chamber 14, which can be arranged inside the chamber, integrated into the underside of the chamber 14, or secured externally to the underside 16 of the chamber 14, as shown.
• the apparatus also comprises control means 40 acting on the mean 18 of servo-control of the inflation pressure of the chamber 14 to maintain, during the support, the distance B measured by the upper face 15 of the lower face 16 of the chamber 14, preferably at a predetermined distance value, for example essentially constant, essentially equal to, or within an acceptable variation, relative to a set distance De.
• control means 40 acting on the mean 18 of servo-control of the inflation pressure of the chamber 14 to maintain, during the support, the distance B measured by the upper face 15 of the lower face 16 of the chamber 14, preferably at a predetermined distance value, for example essentially constant, essentially equal to, or within an acceptable variation, relative to a set distance De.
• the control means 40 may advantageously include a control unit 42 comprising an electronic or electromechanical central unit having a memory which receives continuously or intermittently signals proportional to the value of the measured distance Dm, transmitted by the aforementioned measuring means 30 , and which compare the measured distance values Dm with the setpoint distance value De.
• the control unit 42 controls the means 20, 22 for controlling the inflation pressure of the chamber 14 in order to permanently reach a measured distance Dm, essentially equal to, or in an acceptable variation, relative to the set distance De.
• the control means 40 may comprise an oscillator device 44 described in this prior application of the depositor, coupled to the inductive element 34, such as an induction or self coil, an amplifier device 46 whose amplification can be adjusted by a setpoint adjustment device 48 defining the setpoint distance De.
• the amplifier 46 is then coupled to an integral proportional regulation device 50 coupled to an adapter device 52 whose output is coupled to the control unit 42.
• the inductive element 34 such as a coil or induction coil is, for example, placed on a reinforcement element 36 at the level of the zone of the element to be supported P of greater mass or prominence, here the sacral area of patient P as explained in the previous document of the aforementioned depositor.
• the apparatus is modified so that the support device, for example a mattress, is subdivided into at least two support zones, of which a support area for the specific heel area.
• the support device for example a mattress
• the elements identical to those of the applicant's previous document have been used with the same reference numbers, while the modified elements use the same reference increased by 500.
• the patient is represented with the reference P
• the heel area is referenced T.
• the general support element is referenced 512
• the first main support area is referenced 514
• the second support area of the heel area is referenced 514a. It is understood that each of these zones 514, 514a can be formed of a multiplicity of inflatable tubes.
• the first zone or main zone 514 which can naturally be itself subdivided into several zones, can be inflated under a predetermined initial inflation pressure, adjustable according to the structure of FIG. 1 attached which was briefly recalled above and which is described completely in detail in the previous document of the depositor.
• the second support zone of the heel zone 514a is connected in derivation of the first zone by means of a connection means 600.
• This connection means 600 is preferably constituted by a pressure control valve 610, the inlet of which is supplied by a supply duct 612 communicating with the main support area 514 and the outlet of which communicates by a duct 660 with the second support area of the heel area 514a.
• FIG. 3 The structure of the currently preferred embodiment of the pressure regulating valve 610 is now described with reference to FIG. 3.
• the main support zone 514 and the support zone of the pressure zone are represented symbolically. heel 514a, as well as the inlet 612 and outlet 660 conduits.
• This regulating valve 610 comprises an inlet chamber 614 having an inlet 616 communicating with the inlet duct 612 and an outlet 618 communicating with a pressure regulating chamber 620 whose outlet 622 communicates with the outlet conduit 660 communicating with the second zone 514a.
• the valve 610 also comprises an independent damping chamber 630, separated from the pressure regulation chamber 620 by a movable partition 632 supporting a piston 634 d closing a port 636 for communication between the inlet chamber 614 and the pressure regulation chamber 620.
• the intake chamber 614 and the pressure regulation chamber 620 also communicate permanently by a calibrated orifice 640.
• the damping chamber 630 also communicates permanently with the outside via a calibrated orifice 642.
• the second zone 514a for supporting the heel zone T communicates permanently with the outside via a caliber orifice 650 which can be, for simplification, integral with the regulating valve 610, as shown, and connected to the second zone 514a by a conduit 652.
• This adjustment means 670 can, for example, comprise an elastic element 672 exerting a unidirectional pressure against the rod 634a of the piston 634 whose value of unilateral pressure is adjusted by a pressure adjustment member proper 674, such as a system pressure setting screw and nut.
• this first zone 514 which here supports the main part of the patient's body P, with the exception of the heel zone T, according to a procedure identical to that described for FIG. 1 of the prior document of the depositor, after inflation of this first zone 514 to a certain pressure value, this first zone will supply via the conduit 612 the intake chamber 614 then the pressure regulation chamber 620 and finally by the conduit 660 the second support region 514a the heel zone T and from a certain pressure value, a leak will occur through the conduit 652 through the calibrated leak orifice 650.
• this calibrated orifice 650 is sufficiently small for the deflation of the second zone 514a requires a relatively long period of time.
• the orifice 636 being much larger, and supplied more significantly by the conduit 612 of the first zone 514, there is an inflation of the second zone 514a until the pressure in the inlet chamber 614 is greater than the setting pressure exerted by the pressure adjusting means 670, value from which the head 634b of the piston 634 will come to bear against the orifice 636 made watertight by a seal 637. From this pressure value, the pressure regulating chamber 620 is maintained at essentially constant pressure due to the existence of the fluid orifice 640 making the intake chamber 614 communicate with the pressure regulating chamber 620 and which compensates substantially exactly the permanent leakage obtained by the fluid orifice 650 at the outlet of the second zone 514a of the heel zone.
• the existence of the leakage orifice 642 communicating the damping chamber 630 with the outside makes it possible to facilitate correct operation of the movable partition 632, for example formed by a flexible membrane, for example made of rubber or equivalent material. Thanks to this structure, the pressure value in the second support zone 514a of the heel zone T can be adjusted to a pressure value at more equal to the pressure value in the first zone 514, or to an adjustable fraction thereof, in a particularly simple manner.
• valve 522 similar to valve 22, FIG. 1, and controlled by the central control unit 42 to ensure operation in the first zone 512 in accordance with the method and the device described with reference to FIG. 1 in the prior document of the depositor, which is not modified.
• the present invention makes it possible to create a specific heel zone, the pressure of which is made specific by a very simple means, that is to say by bypassing the first zone.
• the pressure can be varied as a function of the relative position of the patient on the support, of his weight and of his morphology or else as a function of the particular needs for treatment.
• the invention therefore finds a preferred application in the case of prevention or treatment of pressure sores.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 1996
  • 1996-07-23 FR FR9609204A patent/FR2751530B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-07-18 CA CA002258116A patent/CA2258116C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-07-18 EP EP97934593A patent/EP0959737B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-18 US US08/896,612 patent/US5934280A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-18 ES ES97934593T patent/ES2157591T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-18 DE DE69704379T patent/DE69704379T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-07-18 AT AT97934593T patent/ATE199819T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-07-18 JP JP10506649A patent/JP2000514686A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-07-18 WO PCT/FR1997/001341 patent/WO1998003102A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-07-18 BR BR9710741A patent/BR9710741A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-07-18 AU AU37745/97A patent/AU3774597A/en not_active Abandoned

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