EP2055210A1 - Inflatable cell, method of manufacturing thereof and support device therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The cell (1) has a flexible tubular envelope (2) closed at its ends (3, 4) in a longitudinal direction, where the envelope defines an inflatable chamber (8) between walls of the envelope. A fluid introduction tube (5) introduces inflating fluid e.g. gas, in the chamber, and a fluid discharge tube (6) discharges the fluid from the chamber, where the tubes are sealed at one of the ends. A connection unit i.e. tab (7) connects the cell to another identical cell, where the tab is integrated to the envelope. The envelope is formed of a portion of a tube or a sheath of thermoplastic material. An independent claim is also included for a method for fabricating an inflatable cell.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of mattress-like support devices or cushions for supporting the body of a person seated or lying on the support device, and in particular therapeutic mattress-type support devices for supporting the body of patients.

The invention more particularly relates to an inflatable cell and its manufacturing method specifically developed for the production of a support device comprising a structure composed, at least partially, of a plurality of inflatable cells that can be inflated with a fluid, in particular inflated with air, which are, more particularly in the form of a coil, arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mattress, side by side, to form an inflatable support layer on which an individual can be extended and supported in optimal comfort conditions.

Support devices of this type are used in particular as mattresses for patient care because they make it possible, thanks to a device for regulating the inflation / deflation of the cells, to ensure an adequate distribution of the interface pressures, ie that is to say, pressures exerted locally by each point of the body on the surface of the mattress, according to the morphology and the position of the patients and thus to avoid or reduce the risks of formation of decubitus ulcers in the areas of the body at risk such as the area of the sacrum and that of the heels for example.

A large number of devices of this type are known and described in various forms in the state of the art. However, these support devices with at least partially inflatable structure all have the disadvantage of being very expensive to manufacture, which limits their area of use to hospitals, and even sometimes only to certain services thereof for taking into account. charge and the treatment of patients with very limited mobility and / or high risk of developing pressure ulcers.

The manufacturing cost of these support devices is in particular related to the cost of producing their structural elements and in particular inflatable cells, as well as the automatic inflation systems for these cells, which require the use of a large number of cells. supply and / or air exhaust pipes and valves to allow inflation and then regulation of the inflation pressures of the cells.

The large cost of these inflatable cell support devices to date prohibits a large majority of patients the use of such support devices in the context of home medicalization because social security organizations and other mutuals generally refuse the support and reimbursement of the costs inherent in the purchase and use of such devices.

However, home medicalization is, in return, a form of medicalization that is increasingly encouraged by the same social security and mutual insurance organizations because it significantly reduces the health care costs associated with prolonged hospitalizations or patient rehearsals. to avoid purely and simply the hospitalization of patients who can now thanks to the evolutions of the medical techniques to be taken care of in ambulatory.

There is therefore an important technical problem of designing and producing a support device comprising inflatable cells whose cost is low enough to be supported by patients and / or supported by their social insurance systems to allow medicalization to be carried out. home.

Such a problem notably requires that the cost of each of the constituent elements of the cell support devices be reduced. inflatable, in particular that of the cells themselves; but also that is simplified the structure of these support devices to facilitate assembly and thus reduce the cost of manufacture.

Another problem is to provide a support device comprising inflatable cells improving the lift of the mattress and the comfort of the patient and able to be assembled to each other and if necessary replaced individually to form a support device of the mattress type.

• une enveloppe souple close à ses extrémités dans sa direction longitudinale, ladite enveloppe définissant entre ses parois au moins une chambre de forme sensiblement cylindrique après gonflage, et
• au moins un moyen d'introduction de fluide dans ladite chambre et au moins un moyen d'évacuation de fluide de ladite chambre, hermétiquement scellés à au moins une dite extrémité de l'enveloppe, et
• au moins un moyen de liaison de la cellule à une autre cellule identique, solidaire de l'enveloppe.

The present invention proposes a solution to these problems by providing, in a first aspect, an inflatable cell of a fluid and preferably of air, comprising:

• a flexible envelope closed at its ends in its longitudinal direction, said envelope defining between its walls at least one substantially cylindrical chamber after inflation, and
• at least one means for introducing fluid into said chamber and at least one means for discharging fluid from said chamber, hermetically sealed to at least one said end of the envelope, and
• at least one connecting means of the cell to another identical cell, integral with the envelope.

The inflatable cell of the present invention has the advantage of forming an individual and independent inflation chamber which incorporates in its structure means for introducing and discharging an inflation fluid and which further comprises connecting means to another identical cell, which allows to achieve by assembly of several cells an inflatable support mattress of dimension adaptable to the request and each cell is individually inflatable and can be, in case of failure, quickly and simply replaced by another identical cell without replacing the entire mattress.

The cell of the invention also has the advantage of being made from a single envelope sealed at these ends, which allows the cell to be made in one operation, at high rates, from a sheath. or portion of tubular tube, in particular by welding two opposite faces of the tubular wall of the sheath along a line extending transversely to the axial longitudinal direction of said sheath to form the ends of the envelope, which reduces the cost of manufacturing significantly.

More specifically, according to the present invention, the tubular envelope consists of a tube portion or sheath of an extruded thermoplastic material, closed at its ends by a weld along a line, preferably curved, extending substantially transversely through relative to the axial longitudinal direction of the sheath at said closed ends.

Thus, the tubular casing consists of a portion of tube or sheath of an extruded thermoplastic material closed at its ends by welding, preferably by heat-welding or high-frequency welding, of the tubular wall of said sheath on it. -Even, the opposite faces of the tubular wall of said casing being welded transversely to each other at said closed end, that is to say substantially in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of said cell, for forming or delimiting ends preferably in a curved transverse profile.

Here, the term "transversely" or "transverse direction" means a direction perpendicular to said axial longitudinal direction of said sheath and cells, corresponding to a diametrical direction when the sheath has a circular cross section and more particularly corresponds to a vertical direction when said cells are joined together horizontally side-by side to form a mattress.

More particularly, the opposite faces of said tubular casing are welded transversely to each other in end regions beyond said closed ends of said casing.

More particularly, said introduction means and said fluid discharge means consist of tubular ends welded at the welding of at least one said closed end of the casing communicating with said inflatable chamber, said tubular ends being interposed between the opposite faces of said tubular wall welded against each other transversely to a said closed end.

• ledit moyen de liaison est formé de matière avec l'enveloppe tubulaire de la cellule, dans une dite zone d'extrémité soudée de la cellule, de préférence sous forme de languette, s'étendant au-delà de la dite extrémité close de l'enveloppe, et
• ledit moyen de liaison comporte ou coopère avec des moyens de fixation réversible, aptes à coopérer avec un moyen de liaison identique ou des moyens de fixation réversible identiques et/ou des moyens de fixation réversible complémentaires d'une autre cellule gonflable identique pour permettre une liaison réversible de la cellule avec ladite autre cellule identique, de préférence une liaison réversible avec deux autres cellules identiques.

According to other advantageous characteristics of an inflatable cell according to the invention:

• said connecting means is formed of material with the tubular casing of the cell, in a said welded end zone of the cell, preferably in the form of a tongue, extending beyond said closed end of the cell; envelope, and
• said connecting means comprises or cooperates with reversible fixing means capable of cooperating with an identical connecting means or identical reversible fixing means and / or complementary reversible fixing means of another identical inflatable cell to allow a connection reversible of the cell with said other identical cell, preferably a reversible bond with two other identical cells.

According to the present invention, the opposite faces of the tubular casing are bonded to one another by a longitudinal weld extending between said closed ends of the casing over a portion only of its length, thus separating said inflatable chamber from two inflatable upper and lower compartments in the form of superposed tubes, communicating with each other at their ends.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it makes it possible to provide cells having a depth or a height in said vertical transverse direction greater than their width (dimension in the longitudinal direction of the mattress), which gives said cells greater rigidity, and therefore greater stability conferring them crush and deformation resistance under the effect of the weight of the patient resting on the mattress.

Preferably, two diametrically opposite faces of the tubular wall of the tubular casing are welded longitudinally against each other between said closed ends of the casing substantially at mid-height, thus separating said inflatable chamber into two upper compartments and inflatable lower bead-shaped superimposed substantially the same height.

This feature is advantageous because it allows the cells to maintain a substantially constant width over their entire length and, thus, it is possible to implement a mattress consisting of an assembly of individualized cells, connected to each other reversibly by reversible connection means at their ends alone, further contributing to improve the lift of the mattress and comfort of the patient.

Indeed, when the cells of a mattress are fully secured to each other on their longitudinal sides as is conventional, any change in volume of a cell, caused by pressure applied to the cell, affects the adjacent cells who are in solidarity with him. On the other hand, individualized cells according to the invention deform independently of each other, so that the zone consisting of individualized cells is more in line with the patient's forms resting on it. However, this requires that said individualized cells have greater stability in width regardless of their level of inflation. Therefore, according to the present invention, the opposite longitudinal side faces of the tubular wall of each cell are connected to each other by a connecting means consisting of a longitudinal line or welding zone on only part of their length thus delimiting 2 superposed compartments communicating at their ends.

More particularly, the cell comprises at least two connecting means, each comprising reversible fixing means, able to cooperate with identical reversible fixation means of another identical inflatable cell and complementary reversible fixation means to allow a reversible connection. of the cell with at least one said other identical cell, and preferably with at least two other identical cells.

More particularly, both said introduction means and fluid discharge means respectively are formed by tubular ends, preferably rigid or semi-rigid, so as to open each into said chamber at a said different compartment higher or lower.

In the present description, "semi-rigid" means that said tubular endpieces are shaped, while being able to be bent, in particular bent, without plicature.

• un dit moyen d'introduction ou, respectivement, moyen d'évacuation de fluide formés par un embout tubulaire scellé à une même extrémité de l'enveloppe, et
• un dit moyen de liaison formé à l'extrémité opposée desdits moyen d'introduction et moyen d'évacuation de fluide.
  Selon d'autres caractéristiques d'une cellule gonflable selon l'invention, l'enveloppe est constituée d'éthylène vinyle acétate (EVA) ou de polyuréthane (PUR), plus particulièrement d'une épaisseur comprise entre 150 µm et 350 µm.
  Selon un second aspect de la présente invention, la présente invention fournit également un procédé de fabrication d'une telle cellule gonflable, dans lequel:
  1. a- on sélectionne une dite portion d'un tube ou d'une gaine de matière thermoplastique de longueur déterminée, et
  2. b- on soude , de préférence par thermo-soudage, transversalement, les faces opposées de ladite portion de tube ou de gaine l'une contre l'autre pour former lesdites extrémités closes de l'enveloppe, et on soude longitudinalement l'une contre l'autre les faces opposées de la paroi tubulaire de l'enveloppe de la cellule sensiblement selon une zone ou ligne droite longitudinale de ladite enveloppe sur une partie seulement de la longueur de ladite cellule pour diviser la chambre gonflable en deux compartiments gonflables superposés, et communiquant à leurs extrémités , puis,
  3. c- on découpe la portion de tube ou de gaine dans les zones soudées, au-delà des limites de soudage transversal formant les extrémités closes (3, 4) de ladite enveloppe délimitant la dite chambre, pour obtenir une dite cellule gonflable.
  On entend ici par « transversalement », selon une direction transversale par rapport à la direction longitudinale axiale de la dite gaine, telle que définie ci-dessus.
  Plus particulièrement, à l'étape b), on soude transversalement lesdites extrémités de ladite portion de tube ou de gaine de manière à former en une seule opération l'enveloppe tubulaire close à ses deux extrémités avec lesdits moyens d'introduction et d'évacuation de fluide de la cellule hermétiquement assemblées au niveau d'une desdites extrémités de la portion de tube ou de gaine simultanément au soudage, en intercalant entre les faces opposées de la paroi tubulaire de ladite portion de tube à au moins une dite extrémité, des embouts tubulaires, aptes à former au moins un dit moyen d'introduction de fluide et, respectivement, au moins un dit moyen d'évacuation de fluide, avant de réaliser ledit soudage des extrémités de l'enveloppe par-dessus lesdits embouts tubulaires.

More particularly, the cell comprises, opposite each of said two upper and lower compartments:

• an said introduction means or, respectively, fluid discharge means formed by a sealed tubular nozzle at the same end of the envelope, and
• a said connecting means formed at the opposite end of said introducing means and fluid discharging means.
  According to other characteristics of an inflatable cell according to the invention, the envelope is made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PUR), more particularly of a thickness between 150 microns and 350 microns.
  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a method of manufacturing such an inflatable cell, wherein:
  1. a said portion of a tube or sheath of thermoplastic material of predetermined length is selected, and
  2. b is welded, preferably by heat-welding, transversely, the opposite faces of said portion of tube or sheath against each other to form said closed ends of the casing, and longitudinally welding the one against the other the opposite faces of the tubular wall of the cell envelope substantially in a zone or longitudinal straight line of said envelope on only a part of the length of said cell to divide the inflatable chamber into two superimposed inflatable compartments, and communicating at their ends, then,
  3. c-cutting the tube or sheath portion in the welded areas, beyond the transverse welding limits forming the closed ends (3, 4) of said envelope defining said chamber, to obtain a said inflatable cell.
  Here is meant by "transversely" in a direction transverse to the axial longitudinal direction of said sheath, as defined above.
  More particularly, in step b), said ends of said tube or sheath portion are welded transversely so as to form in a single operation the tubular casing closed at its two ends with said means of introduction and evacuation. fluid of the cell hermetically assembled at one of said ends of the tube or sheath portion simultaneously with the welding, by interposing between the opposite faces of the tubular wall of said tube portion at at least one said end, tips tubular, adapted to form at least one said fluid introduction means and, respectively, at least one said means of evacuation of fluid, before performing said welding of the ends of the envelope over said tubular ends.

• -à l'étape b), on soude les faces opposées de ladite enveloppe tubulaire soudées transversalement l'une contre l'autre dans des zones d'extrémité au-delà des lignes transversales de préférence incurvées de soudage formant lesdites extrémités closes de ladite chambre, et
• -à l'étape c), on découpe la portion de tube ou de gaine dans les dites zones d'extrémité soudées de manière à former desdits moyens de liaison de la cellule.

More particularly,

• in step b), the opposite faces of said tubular envelope welded transversely are welded against each other in end zones beyond the preferably curved transverse welding lines forming said closed ends of said chamber , and
• in step c), the portion of tube or sheath is cut in the said end zones that are welded so as to form the said connecting means of the cell.

More particularly still, said connecting means is made by cutting a said tongue and making said perforations in said welded end zone.

More particularly, the diametrically opposed faces of the tubular wall of the cell envelope are welded against each other between said closed ends, substantially at mid-height to divide the inflatable chamber into two upper inflatable compartments. and lower superimposed, substantially the same height.

The method of the invention advantageously makes it possible to produce the inflatable cells of the invention from a very long roll of a sheath or a tube of extruded thermoplastic material, and thus to manufacture the inflatable cells in accordance with the invention. chain, by a single operator, which must only position the means for introducing and discharging fluid at one end of the sheath or plastic tube before localized welding of its walls to simultaneously form the envelope of the cell according to the invention. the invention, soldering said means for introducing and discharging fluid from the cell and forming the means for attaching or connecting the envelope of the inflatable cell.

The method of the invention thus allows very significant productivity gains in the manufacture of individual inflatable cells for mattress-type support devices, and therefore a very significant reduction in production and labor costs.

The present invention finally provides, according to a third aspect, a device for supporting an element to be supported, in particular a mattress or cushion for supporting the body of a patient, comprising at least two individualized inflatable cells as defined herein. above, assembled to one another using at least one said connecting means.

More particularly, the support device comprises a plurality of individualized inflatable cells arranged side by side, one after the other, in the longitudinal direction of the mattress and extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mattress, p being an integer between 2 and n, p and n being integers, the inflatable cells being integral with each other by joining said respective connecting means, and communicating hydraulically or preferably pneumatically between them by means of hydraulic connection or preferably pneumatic comprising tubular pipes or connectors capable of driving and transferring, if appropriate, the inflation fluid between said fluid introduction means of one and said fluid discharge means of the others, to which the pipes or fittings tubular are connected.

Here, the term "individualized" inflatable cells is understood to mean cells made individually in unit and connected, if necessary, one by one in a reversible manner; in particular by said connecting means and possibly by the pipes ensuring the circulation of fluid, in particular air between the different cells, connected to an air supply device and to regulate the inflation pressure of the cells. Thus, said individualized cells can be replaced unitarily. In addition, said cells individualized not being secured to each other over their entire length, they have and allow greater freedom of movement to marry more perfectly curves and shapes of the patient.

When the consecutive cells arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mattress, are fully secured on their longitudinal sides as is conventional, any change in volume of a cell, caused by pressure applied to the cell, affects the cells. adjacent to it. On the other hand, individualized cells connected together at their ends only, according to the invention deform independently of each other, so that the area consisting of individualized cells better marries the forms of the patient resting on it. But, the cells, by their constitution in individualized form, must have greater stability in width, whatever their level of inflation, compared to juxtaposed cells, welded to each other along their entire length.

This is why, according to the present invention, the opposite lateral faces of each cell being connected to one another longitudinally by a connecting means constituted by a longitudinal weld extending over a part of the length of said cells, do not not extending to their ends, preferably said weld being located substantially in the middle relative to the height of the cell, in order to give the cells a substantially constant width regardless of their level of inflation.

More particularly, according to the present invention, this support device comprises, in at least one central support zone, more preferably a substantially central zone intended to support the body area of the sacrum of a said individual and preferably still at the level of which is located the sensor, a plurality of inflatable elements, having a width less than their height, the width of said individualized inflatable elements of said support zone in addition, the central station is more particularly less than the width of the non-individualized inflatable elements of a said end zone adjacent to the said central support zone.

The support device has, at least in its said central support zone, a greater density of cells, so that the patient is not likely to pass through the cells, especially in the event of deflation when the cells are inflated in a fashion. alternation of pressure.

In total, the combination of the individualization characteristic of the cells, on the one hand, and the stabilization of their width, and possibly the reduction of the width of said individualized cells in said zone, contributes to improving the lift of this zone. and the comfort of the patient. This makes it possible to increase the support points provided by the inflatable elements and optimize their distribution in said support zone when the body of an individual rests on the upper layer of the device.

More particularly, in at least one area of the mattress, said consecutive cells are arranged in opposite directions with said air introduction and discharge means arranged on opposite sides in the transverse direction of the mattress, so that said zone of the mattress comprises two so-called first and second series of cells, each so-called first and second series of cells being constituted by cells having said means of introduction and fluid discharge means on the same side in the transverse direction of the mattress and communicating hydraulically or preferably pneumatically with each other continuously, a said means of evacuation of one being connected to a said means for introducing the next of the same said first or second series, the first and second series of cells being connected in parallel powered by the same inflation device, said two series of cells es comprising the same number of cells, with a cell of each of said two series of cells alternating in the longitudinal direction of the mattress in said zone, a cell of said first or second series being preceded and / or followed by a cell of said second or, respectively, first series.

Advantageously, in said zone of the mattress, said consecutive cells have their said connecting means arranged at an end opposite to that of said introduction means and fluid discharge means, so that each said first and second series respectively. cells being constituted by cells having their said means (s) for bonding the same side in the transverse direction of the mattress, is linked by said connecting means to the next cell of the same said first or second series and preferably also, where appropriate, to the adjacent cell of the other series.

This embodiment is more particularly advantageous, especially in case of inflation in the alternate mode of the first and second two series respectively, because it reduces the size of the hydraulic connection pipes between the different cells arranged along the mattress, on both sides of the mattress.

• un dispositif de gonflage coopérant avec au moins un conduit d'alimentation de fluide relié à un dit moyen d'introduction de fluide d'au moins une dite cellule, et
• au moins un conduit d'évacuation de fluide relié à un dit moyen d'évacuation de fluide d'au moins une autre dite cellule, et
• au moins une électrovanne permettant de commander, l'alimentation de fluide et/ou l'évacuation de fluide desdites cellules,
• le dispositif support comporte un dispositif électronique de commande et de régulation permettant de piloter au moins deux dites électrovannes et ledit dispositif de gonflage pour commander le gonflage et/ou le dégonflage, le cas échéant de façon alternée, des deux premières et deuxième séries de cellules dans une au moins dite zone du matelas au moins,
• le dispositif support comporte en outre un dispositif du type vanne manuelle de dégonflage d'urgence d'au moins certaines desdites cellules gonflables, ledit dispositif du type vanne manuelle comportant :
  • une première pièce de fixation munie d'une pluralité de premiers embouts rigides perforés d'orifices cylindriques traversants, lesdits premiers embouts rigides coopérant avec desdits moyens d'évacuation de dites cellules, de préférence, lesdits premiers embouts rigides perforés étant insérés dans lesdits embouts tubulaires formant lesdits moyens d'évacuation, ou lesdits premiers embouts rigides perforés étant insérés aux extrémités de tuyaux de transfert hydraulique ou de préférence pneumatique communiquant, à leurs autres extrémités, avec desdits moyens d'évacuation d'une pluralité de dites cellules, pour permettre le dégonflage d'au moins une zone de cellules dudit matelas, et
  • une deuxième pièce amovible comportant des deuxièmes embouts aptes à être adaptés dans lesdits premiers orifices desdits premiers embouts rigides perforés pour former des bouchons amovibles obturant lesdits premiers orifices, et une poignée apte à être tirée manuellement pour extraire lesdits deuxièmes embouts desdits orifices, desdits premiers embouts et permettre un dit dégonflage rapide desdites cellules.
• lesdits seconds embouts de ladite pièce amovible comprennent des deuxièmes orifices cylindriques traversants obturés hermétiquement par des capsules, lesdites capsules étant aptes à coopérer avec des moyens de mesure de la pression permettant ainsi la mesure rapide de pression dans lesdites cellules.
• lesdites capsules comprennent une partie en élastomère, apte à être perforée et traversée de manière étanche par une aiguille creuse, ladite aiguille creuse coopérant avec des moyens de mesure de la pression, permettant ainsi la mesure rapide de pression dans lesdites cellules.
• le dispositif support comporte un moyen de distribution contrôlée d'air comportant au moins un conduit semi-rigide, formant un réseau de distribution d'air, muni d'une conduite sensiblement rectiligne, comprenant des perforations ou des dérivations formant une pluralité de buses perforées en leurs extrémités, s'étendant dans une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la direction longitudinale de ladite conduite rectiligne, lesdites perforations ou dites buses étant aptes à distribuer des filets d'air sous le patient, lorsque ledit moyen de distribution contrôlé d'air est disposé sous lesdites cellules et relié à un dispositif d'alimentation de fluide, ledit dispositif de distribution contrôlée d'air comportant de préférence au moins un dit conduit de chaque côté du matelas et relié à un même dit dispositif d'alimentation.

According to other features, a support device according to the invention comprises:

• an inflation device cooperating with at least one fluid supply conduit connected to a said fluid introduction means of at least one said cell, and
• at least one fluid discharge conduit connected to a said fluid discharge means of at least one other said cell, and
• at least one solenoid valve for controlling, the supply of fluid and / or the evacuation of fluid from said cells,
• the support device comprises an electronic control and regulation device for controlling at least two said solenoid valves and said inflation device for controlling the inflation and / or deflation, if necessary alternately, of first and second series of cells in at least one said at least one zone of the mattress,
• the support device further comprises a device of the manual deflation emergency valve type of at least some of said inflatable cells, said device of the manual valve type comprising:
  • a first fastener provided with a plurality of first rigid ferrules perforated with cylindrical orifices therethrough, said first rigid ferrules cooperating with said means for discharging said cells, preferably said first perforated rigid ferrules being inserted into said ferrules forming said evacuation means, or said first perforated rigid endpieces being inserted at the ends of hydraulic or preferably pneumatic transfer pipes communicating, at their other ends, with said means for evacuating a plurality of said cells, to enable the deflating at least one cell area of said mattress, and
  • a second removable part comprising second end-pieces adapted to be fitted in said first orifices of said first perforated rigid end-pieces to form removable plugs closing said first orifices, and a handle that can be pulled manually to extract said second end-pieces from said orifices, said first end-pieces and allow said rapid deflation of said cells.
• said second end pieces of said removable part comprise second cylindrical through orifices closed hermetically by capsules, said capsules being able to cooperate with means for measuring the pressure, thus enabling the rapid measurement of pressure in said cells.
• said capsules comprise an elastomer part, able to be perforated and penetrated in a sealed manner by a hollow needle, said hollow needle cooperating with means for measuring the pressure, thereby enabling rapid measurement of pressure in said cells.
• the support device comprises a controlled air distribution means comprising at least one semi-rigid duct, forming an air distribution network, provided with a substantially straight duct, comprising perforations or branches forming a plurality of perforated nozzles; at their ends, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said rectilinear pipe, said perforations or said nozzles being able to distribute air streams under the patient, when said air-controlled distribution means is arranged under said cells and connected to a fluid supply device, said controlled air distribution device preferably comprising at least one said duct on each side of the mattress and connected to the same said feeder.

• la figure 1 représente une cellule gonflable individuelle selon la présente invention vue de face;
• la figure 2 représente en perspective un dispositif de support d'un élément à supporter selon la présente invention, comportant un matelas gonflable constitué d'un assemblage d'une pluralité de cellules gonflables individuelles conformes à la cellule de la figure 1;
• les figures 3A à 3B représentent un détail de construction du dispositif de support de la figure 2, montrant le positionnement d'une vanne de dégonflage rapide "CPR" des cellules du matelas gonflable du dispositif de support et la structure de cette vanne CPR;
• les figures 4A et 4B représentent un dispositif de diffusion d'air typiquement à perte d'air ("Low air-loss") intégré au dispositif de support de l'invention représenté sur la figure 2 sous le matelas gonflable du dispositif de support;
• les figures 5A et 5B représentent schématiquement le réseau de connexion hydraulique des cellules gonflables du matelas du dispositif de support de l'invention dans un mode préféré de réalisation.

Other features and advantages will emerge from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the inflatable cell according to the invention and a support device comprising such inflatable cells, a description made with reference to the appended figures among which:

• the figure 1 represents an individual inflatable cell according to the present invention seen from the front;
• the figure 2 represents in perspective a device for supporting an element to be supported according to the present invention, comprising an inflatable mattress consisting of an assembly of a plurality of individual inflatable cells conforming to the cell of the figure 1 ;
• the Figures 3A to 3B represent a construction detail of the support device of the figure 2 , showing the positioning of a rapid deflation valve "CPR" of the cells of the inflatable mattress of the support device and the structure of this valve CPR;
• the Figures 4A and 4B represent a device for air diffusion typically with "low air-loss" integrated in the support device of the invention shown in FIG. figure 2 under the inflatable mattress of the support device;
• the Figures 5A and 5B schematically represent the hydraulic connection network of the inflatable cells of the mattress of the support device of the invention in a preferred embodiment.

The figure 1 represents an inflatable cell according to the present invention, designated by the general reference 1. This cell 1 is inflatable with an inflation fluid such as a gas and preferably air that can be injected into the cell by any suitable means such as a turbine or a compressor.

This inflatable cell 1 comprises in the first place a flexible tubular casing 2, preferably elongate and closed at its ends 3, 4.

It also comprises at least one means 5 for introducing fluid into the cell and at least one means 6 for evacuating fluid hermetically sealed to at least one of the ends 3, 4 of the envelope 2, and for example constituted by two rigid or semi-rigid plastic tube ends such as coextruded EVA-based.

The inflatable cell 1 finally comprises at least one, preferably at least two, and more preferably at least four means 7 for attaching or connecting the cell 1 to another identical cell.

These attachment or linking means 7 preferably take the form of rectangular tabs secured to at least one end 3, 4 of the casing 2 as shown in FIG. figure 1 .

These tabs 7 are advantageously formed of material with the rest of the casing 2 of the cell 1 during the manufacture thereof as will be described later.

The casing 2 of the cell 1 is advantageously constituted by a portion of a tube or a sheath of thermoplastic material, in particular Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or else Polyurethane (PUR) welded over its entire height at the ends 3 , 4 of the casing 2 and defining between its walls an inflatable chamber 8 which communicates with the outside of the cell 1 by the tips 5, 6 for introducing and discharging the inflation fluid of the cell.

Preferably, in order to ensure a good resistance of the cell 1, at the different forces to which it may be subjected, the thickness of the walls of the tubular casing 2 is between 150 microns and 350 microns.

Moreover, the connecting tongues 7 of the cell 1 with other identical cells comprises reversible fastening means such as snap fasteners, staples, or Velcro® fasteners, not shown in FIG. figure 1 and capable of cooperating with identical or complementary reversible fastening means on a link tongue 7 of another identical inflatable cell 1 to allow a reversible connection of said identical cells 1.

The inflatable cell 1 also comprises a median longitudinal weld between the ends 3, 4 of the casing 2 over at least a portion of its length, thus separating the inflatable chamber 8 into two upper compartments 8a and 8b in the form of an inflatable bead, superposed, and communicating at their ends 8C so that an inflation fluid with which the cell 1 is filled can flow easily between the two flanges 8a, 8b of the chamber.

This median longitudinal weld 9 makes it possible, from a tubular envelope with a substantially circular section when it is inflated, to form two flanges 8a, 8b of substantially identical diameters. The diameter of said flanges 8a, 8b is decreased by half in relation to the diameter of the initial tubular casing. The cell thus has a width (dimension in the longitudinal direction of the mattress) less than the height, depth or thickness of the cell (dimension in the vertical direction of the mattress), which gives it a better rigidity. From a tubular wall with a substantially circular section, it is thus possible to obtain a cell whose width is substantially less than half its height.

This median longitudinal weld 9 provides a strengthening of the structure of the cell 1 and in particular improves its resistance and resistance to compression forces applied perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane of the cell 1. The resistance to crushing and deformation of the cell 1 is thus improved.

The inflatable cell 1 is advantageously produced in an extremely simple, productive and economical process.

According to this method, a portion of a tube or a sheath of thermoplastic material such as EVA or PUR of a given length, slightly greater than the total length of the inflatable cell 1, is initially selected. it is desired to achieve, and whose walls have a thickness between 150 microns and 350 microns.

The tube or sheath of plastic material used to make the cell may in particular be packaged in the form of a roll or coil formed by winding the tube flat after extrusion thereof continuously, which facilitates the use for manufacturing inflatable cells according to the invention, in particular automatically or semi-automatically.

After having selected a portion of tube of appropriate length, the walls of the latter are welded to two distant zones on the entire width of the tube or sheath to form in a single operation the tubular casing 2, its ends 3, 4 as well as the tongues 7 of connection of the cell in the extension of said ends, the means 5, 6 of introducing and discharging fluid from the cell 1 being hermetically assembled at one of said ends 3, 4 simultaneously with the welding.

Once the welding has been performed, the portion of tube or sheath is then cut on either side of its welded zones (in practice at the ends 3, 4 of the casing 2 and the connecting tongues 7 obtained after welding) for obtain an inflatable cell 1.

In order for the fluid introduction and evacuation means of the cell to be welded to the casing 2 during the production thereof, at least one tube endpiece 5 capable of forming a means is positioned before welding. fluid introduction and at least one tube end 6 adapted to form a fluid discharge means at a cut end of the portion of tube or sheath of thermoplastic material chosen to form the envelope of a said inflatable cell .

This positioning of the tubes 5, 6 of introduction and discharge of fluid can be performed by an operator manually or automatically.

Advantageously, the cutting of the formed cell is carried out simultaneously with the welding of the ends thereof. This cutting may in particular result either from the welding itself, or preferably from the cutting element contiguous to the welding tools and automatically actuated either simultaneously with the welding tools or consecutively thereto for cutting the cell after welding in the sheath or tube. plastic material.

The one or more tongues 7 for attaching or connecting the cell 1 are produced by welding one against the other of the flanks of the tubular wall portion or sheath of thermoplastic material in which the envelope 2 is made, in the extension and continuity of ends 3, 4 of the chamber 8, simultaneously with the formation of said ends 3, 4, and then cutting said tabs in the welded end zones 3 ₁ , 4 ₁ formed by said welded flanks against each other.

Similarly, the walls of the tube or sheath portion of thermoplastic material are also welded together along a longitudinal median line 9 of the casing 2 of the cell formed to divide the inflatable chamber 8 delimited by said walls in two chambers 8a, 8b or inflatable tubes, communicating at their ends.

The length and the diameter of the tubes 8a-8b, and therefore the length and the width of the cells 1 can be 60 to 100 cm long and 7 to 16 cm wide to constitute respectively 60 to 100 cm wide mattresses and from 115 to 220 cm in length with flanges arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mattress.

After cutting of the cell 1, reversible fixing means, in particular of the type push buttons or staples as mentioned above are installed manually or automatically on the tabs or 7 connecting the envelope 2 of the cell 1.

More particularly, on the figure 2 , said connecting means are constituted by a said tongue 7 having perforations 7a and cooperating with rivets 7b, said rivets being able to cooperate in reversible attachment with perforations of another identical tongue or perforations at the end of another cell, the two cells being arranged in parallel with their said connecting means at their ends on the same side.

It is understood that said perforations 7a here constitute reversible fixing means and said rivets 7b constitute complementary reversible fastening means cooperating with said reversible fixing means 7a for producing a said reversible attachment.

Specifically, rivets 7b cooperate with perforations 7a of the tongue 7 of a cell and perforations 7a at the end of a next cell. Preferably, rivets 7b make it possible to attach a tongue 7 of a cell through perforations 7a of two other following cells, the perforation 7a of the second following cell being a perforation of the tongue of the connecting means 7 of said second cell. next cell, while the next cell does not have a tab on that side.

The inflatable cell 1 of the present invention is intended primarily, but not exclusively, to allow the construction of support devices of the therapeutic mattress type with inflatable cells at a reduced cost compared with the support devices of this invention. type existing to date to support the body of patients at risk of forming or worsening bedsores both in hospitals and at home.

The invention proposes for this purpose such a support device represented in a preferred embodiment of the invention. figure 2 or 4B and designated by the general reference 10.

This support device 10 essentially comprises an upper support layer of the body of an individual, constituted by an inflatable mattress 11 formed of a plurality of inflatable cells 1 identical to that described above and shown in FIG. figure 1 resting on a lower support layer of the inflatable mattress 11 and consisting for example of a foam mattress 12, in particular polyurethane foam, the density of which is chosen to stiffen the support device 10 and integrate well the forces applied by the body of an individual lying on the cells 1 of the inflatable mattress 11.

The support device 10 also comprises an automatic inflation system 13 of the mattress 11, placed in a console or rigid housing 14 resting on the foam mattress 12 in the extension of the inflatable mattress 11.

The inflatable mattress 11, the foam mattress 12 and the inflation system 13 are preferably inserted in a removable protective cover not shown on the figure 2 .

The inflatable mattress 11 consists of a plurality of inflatable cells 1 according to the invention, and preferably from 3 to 24 identical inflatable cells, the mattress 11 represented on the figure 2 or 4B comprising 19.

The cells 1 are assembled to each other at their ends 3, 4 by means of their connecting tabs 7 comprising complementary reversible fastening means, in particular press studs, or plastic rivets.

The cells 1 are thus plated and held against each other on their lateral faces such that their respective longitudinal welds 9 separating their inflation chamber 8 into two superposed compartments 8a, 8b are contained substantially in the same horizontal plane forming a median longitudinal plane. inflatable mattress 11, in the absence of patient resting on the mattress.

The inflatable cells 1 of the mattress 11 of the support device also communicate with each other at their means for introducing and discharging fluid 5, 6 and with the inflation device 14 via pneumatic connection means such as conduits and valves establishing communications between the inflation chambers 8 of each of the cells 1 and able to conduct and transfer, if appropriate, an inflation fluid between the inflatable cells 1, which fluid is in practice air.

These connection means form a pneumatic circuit which comprises in particular at least one fluid supply conduit connected to the fluid introduction means 5 of the cells 1 and at least one fluid discharge duct connected to the fluid evacuation means 6 of the cells 1. The connection means also comprise at least one solenoid valve for controlling the supply and / or the escape of fluid from the cells 1 to regulate their pressure inflation.

More specifically, the pneumatic communications between the different cells 1 and the inflation device 14 are preferably established in the manner described below and shown in FIGS. Figures 5A and 5B for an inflatable mattress 11 of 20 cells 1.

On the Figures 5A and 5B , there is shown a therapeutic mattress 11, equipped with an inflation device 14 according to the invention.

The therapeutic mattress 11 consists of 19 inflatable cells, said cells being arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mattress. Each cell consists of two compartments, respectively an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said upper and lower compartments, in the form of a coil, communicating with each other at their ends.

• une zone de pied 11P, constituée des 3 premières cellules (cellules n°1 à 3),
• Une zone médiane 11C, comportant 8 cellules (cellules n°4 à 11), et
• une zone de tête 11T, comportant également 8 cellules (cellules n°12 à 19).

The mattress 11 shown on the Figures 5A and 5B , has the following three areas:

• a foot zone 11P consisting of the first 3 cells (cells 1 to 3),
• A median zone 11C, comprising 8 cells (cells 4 to 11), and
• a head zone 11T, also comprising 8 cells (cells No. 12 to 19).

The central zone 11C corresponds to an inflated zone according to an alternating inflation method of the present invention.

The central zone 11C comprises a first series of cells, called first 11C1 cells (cells 5, 7, 9 and 11), and a second series of cells, called second 11C2 cells (cells 4, 6, 8 and 10). ).

The cells of each of said first and second series 11C1 and 11C2, are connected in series, that is to say in line, the two series being connected in parallel, fed by the same inflation device 14.

More specifically, the cells of the mattress 11 each comprise an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice (not shown). The inlet or supply port is located at one end of the upper compartment, in the transverse direction of the mattress, the outlet or outlet being located at the end of the same side of the lower compartment, in the transverse direction of the mattress (or longitudinal direction of the cell). Two adjacent cells have their orifices disposed at opposite ends in the transverse direction of the mattress and belong to a different series of cells.

So, on the Figure 5A it can be seen that the cell No. 1 at the foot of the mattress is fed by a pipe 33 at the end 5 of the upper compartment of the cell No. 1, and the end 6 of the same side of the lower compartment of the cell No. 1 communicates directly with the end of the lower compartment on the same side of the cell No. 3, the end of which on the same side of the upper compartment communicates, from a T-branch connection, 33a, with, d firstly, a first solenoid valve 34 ₁ , from which are placed in series cells 5, 7, 9 and 11 of said first series 11C1 of cells, and, on the other hand, connected in parallel to the 11C1 cells , the end of the same side of the upper compartment of the cell No. 13, which is the second cell of the head zone 11T from the foot of the bed, the other cells of the head zone, No. 15, 17 and 19, being mounted one after the other, in series.

• d'une part, la deuxième électrovanne 34₂, à partir de laquelle la cellule n°4 du matelas, représentant la première cellule de ladite deuxième série de cellules 11C2, est alimentée, les autres cellules de la deuxième série de cellules 11C2, à savoir les cellules n°6, 8 et 10, étant alimentées en série, c'est-à-dire communiquant en série entre elles symétriquement et parallèle à ladite première série de cellules 11C1, et
• d'autre part, un tuyau 33 alimente l'extrémité du compartiment supérieur de la première cellule n°12 de la zone de tête, l'extrémité du même coté du compartiment inférieur de la deuxième cellule suivante de la zone de tête, à savoir la cellule n°14 à partir du pied du lit, étant alimentée à partir de l'extrémité du même coté du compartiment inférieur de la cellule n°12 et, ainsi de suite, en série sur la cellule n°16 puis l'avant-dernière cellule n°18 de la zone de tête 11T.

Symmetrically, on the Figure 5B it is shown that the cell n ° 2 of the foot zone 11P is fed, at the opposite end of the upper compartment, from the device 14, by the same pipe 33. And, the end of the same side of the lower compartment of the cell n ° 2 of the foot zone 11P feeds a branching tee 33a, from which is fed in parallel:

• on the one hand, the second solenoid valve 34 ₂ , from which the cell No. 4 of the mattress, representing the first cell of said second series of cells 11C2, is fed, the other cells of the second series of cells 11C2, to namely cells 6, 8 and 10, being fed in series, that is to say communicating in series between them symmetrically and parallel to said first series of cells 11C1, and
• on the other hand, a pipe 33 feeds the end of the upper compartment of the first cell 12 of the head zone, the end of the same side of the lower compartment of the second following cell of the head zone, namely cell # 14 from the foot of the bed, being fed from the end of the same side of the lower compartment of the cell # 12 and, so on, in series on the cell # 16 and then the front last cell 18 of the 11T head zone.

It can thus be seen that the cells of the head zone 11T and of the foot zone 11P constitute third cells, which are located upstream of the first and second solenoid valves 34 ₁ and 34 ₂ .

The solenoid valves 34 ₁ and 34 ₂ have been shown disposed in line between the pipes 33 and the orifices of the first cells of said first series 11C1 and second series of cells 11C2. However, they could be arranged in a specific housing.

Said first and second solenoid valves 34 ₁ and 34 ₂ are 3-way solenoid valves of the 3/2 type, as previously described.

This organization of the different cells of the mattress, in two series of cells 11C1 and 11C2, mounted in parallel but arranged so that the cells of said first series 11C1 and second series 11C2 succeed each other alternately, and with the two series controlled by a solenoid valve different, facilitates the implementation of the alternate inflation method according to the invention, with a minimum size around the mattress pipe network and other hydraulic communication means between the cells.

To control and carry out the inflation / deflation of the cells 1 of the support device, the inflation device in the case 14 comprises, in a conventional manner, at least one air compressor and means for measuring the inflation pressure in the cells, which are electrically connected to an electronic control and regulation device 13 housed, like the rest of the inflation device, in particular the compressor, in a block of foam at the foot of the support device 10 in the extension of the mattress 11.

The electronic control and regulation device 13 makes it possible to control both the air compressor and the solenoid valves of the pneumatic inflating circuit of the support device to inflate / deflate the cells 1 as a function of the air pressure in the cells but also pressures applied by the body of an individual lying on the inflatable mattress 11.

These pressures applied by the body of an individual lying on the mattress 11 are measured by means of at least one sensor 29, as described for example in the patent European EP 0 676 158 in the name of the applicant., placed between the inflatable mattress 11 and the foam mattress 12 or under the foam mattress 12 and also connected to the electronic control device, which by a comparison of the air pressures measured in the cells and pressure applied to the cells by the body of an individual controls the compressor and the solenoid valves to adjust the inflation pressure of the cells 1.

In a known manner, the electronic control device of the automatic inflation system 13 can be configured to produce and maintain a so-called "alternating pressure" inflating mode of certain cells 1 of the inflatable mattress 11 of the support device 10, and in particular of the cells 1 intended to support the sacred area of a patient, which are generally the cells 1 of the central zone of the mattress 11.

In such an "alternating pressure" inflation mode, for example, one cell out of two of the sacral support area of the patient is deflated / inflated and then the cells adjacent to the deflated and then deflated cells are deflated / inflated.

Thus, each cell 1 of the mattress 11 in the alternately regulated pressure support zone of the mattress 11 is successively and gradually deflated / re-inflated, creating a kind of wave moving in the longitudinal direction of the mattress 11 back and forth and performing a patient massage promoting vascularization of the soft tissues of the body at the interface with the mattress during re-inflation of the cells or minimizing the effects of ischemia, especially anoxia or hypoxia, during deflation of the compartment .

As shown in detail on Figures 3A to 3B , the support device 10 also advantageously comprises a manual valve 15 for emergency deflation of at least some of the inflatable cells 1 of the mattress 11. Such an emergency deflation valve is generally known as a valve. CPR "for" Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation "in English.

Such a valve "CPR" allows when it is actuated to deflate simultaneously and very quickly the cells supporting the trunk of a patient lying on the mattress to allow to perform a cardiac massage of the patient on a rigid surface and not on the inflatable cells of the support device.

The manual valve "CPR" 15 comprises a first attachment part 15 ₁ which essentially comprises first perforated end pieces 17 ₁ . These first end pieces 17 ₁ are perforated by cylindrical orifices 19 ₁ through.

On the Figures 3A and 3B said fixing part 15 ₁ comprises four so-called first rigid ends 17 ₁ . Said first end pieces 17 ₁ are intended to be inserted into discharge orifices of said cells and / or at the ends of small hydraulic transfer hoses or hoses, communicating at their other ends with said discharge ports of said cells. Said first fixing part 15 ₁ advantageously comprises a base or a support plate 18, allowing its attachment to the mattress. In this case, the base or plate 18 is slid under the foam mattress 12 and cooperates in clamping with a counterplate (not shown) positioned over the foam mattress 12 and for securely fixing it around the foam mattress 12, on which rests the inflatable mattress 11, the foam mat 12 being clamped between the plate 18 and the counter plate (not shown).

The manual valve "CPR" comprises a second piece 15 ₂ or removable part 15 ₂ , comprising second end pieces 17 ₂ , able to seal said first cylindrical orifices 19 ₁ of the first end pieces 17 ₁ , and a handle 22, suitable for allowing pulling said removable part 15 ₂ to extract said second end pieces 17 ₂ outside said first openings 19 ₁ , so as to allow accelerated deflation of the cells 1 of the mattress communicating with said first end pieces 17 ₁ .

The solid attachment of said fixing part 15 ₁ facilitates the actuation of the handle 22 to separate the part ₂ from the part ₁ . The removable part 15 ₂ is made of a softer plastic material, elastomer piece including elastomer SEBS or EPDM, while the fastener 15 ₁ is made of a more rigid material, including ABS / PC. The removable part 15 ₂ is fixed to the fastener 15 ₁ , by fitting and fixing the part 16 ₂ of the part ₂ against the part 16 ₁ of the part 15 ₁ , by means of rivets cooperating with the orifices 23 ₁ of the parts ₁ and ₁ orifices 23 ₂ of the part ₂ , the orifices 23 ₁ and 23 ₂ being matched, so that by pulling on the handle 22, it is possible to disengage the second end pieces 17 ₂ from the first orifices 19 ₁ .

On the figure 3B the moving part 15 ₂ comprises three second end pieces 17 ₂ which are themselves also perforated with a second cylindrical orifice 19 ₂ passing through said end piece and receiving a removable cap 20 able to hermetically seal said second end pieces 19 ₂ .

On the figure 3B , the removable capsules 20 comprise an inner end 21 inside said second cylindrical orifices 19 ₂ , said end 21 being made of a fluorocarbon perforable material may be traversed by a hollow needle connected to a pressure measuring device, so it is possible to quickly measure the pressure in the cells communicating with said first tips 17 ₁ . Alternatively, the capsules 20 can be replaced by ball valves of the balloon inflation valve type, inserted in said second end pieces 17 ₂ of the removable part ₂ , to allow rapid connection of a measuring and / or auxiliary system. or inflating cells 1 of mattresses 11.

It is indeed possible, after removal of the moving part 15 ₂ with respect to the attachment part ₁ or removal of the capsules 20, to rapidly reinflate the mattress by an auxiliary fluid injection device, connected in said first orifices 19 ₁ .

It is understood that said first attachment part ₁ constitutes an interface piece between said removable part ₂ , carrying plugs and the orifices communicating with the cells. And, by the good behavior of said first fastener 15 ₁ relative to the mattress, the sudden and rapid opening of all the orifices closed by said removable part ₂ , can be performed more quickly and easily.

On the Figures 3A and 3B , the manual valve device 15 comprises 4 said first end pieces 17 ₁ , able to cooperate with 4 portions of hydraulic connection pipe. In a first embodiment, these 4 hydraulic connection pipes are connected to the cells No. 9, 10, 11 and 12, in particular with a tubular evacuation / supply nozzle 6 ₁ closed from the cell No. 9 and a nozzle of evacuation / supply 6 ₂ shut off from cell # 10 on the opposite side. The manual valve 15 may also communicate with evacuation / supply tips disposed on the opposite sides of the cells 11 and 12 of the zone 11C, or with the unused inlet / outlet nozzles 6 ₀ , 6 ₃ and 6 ₄ cells 1, 19 and 18.

As represented in figure 4 , the support device 10 of the present invention also comprises a device 22 for controlled distribution of air between the cells generally known under the generic designation of low air loss device.

The device 22 for controlled air distribution is intended to convey and distribute the volume of air produced by the air compressor in order to ensure air circulation inside the patient support device in order to limit developing the moisture both in said support device and at the patient interface through the removable protective cover.

In another embodiment, the device is limited to a vulnerable area to be treated (especially the sacral area).

This device 22 for controlled air distribution comprises in particular at least one, and preferably as shown in FIG. figure 4 at least two semi-rigid conduits 23 arranged under the inflatable cells 1 of the mattress 11 and on the foam mattress 12 and connected to the air compressor of the inflation system 13. These ducts 23 are advantageously provided with nozzles 24 protruding on their surface, said nozzles 24 being perforated at their pointed end so as to distribute air streams under the inflatable cells 1 of the mattress 11 of the support device. Alternatively, the nozzles 24 may be replaced by holes in a pipe conduit 23 drilled in a defined pitch.

The air diffusion rate through the nozzles 24 is essentially determined by the opening diameter of said nozzles 24 which can be between 1mm and 3mm depending on the flow rate of the air compressor used.

The ducts 23 are preferably arranged parallel to one another on the longitudinal edges of the foam mat 12 of the support device with their nozzles 24 facing each other. They also preferably comprise fixing lugs 25 by means of which they are fixable, if necessary removably, on the foam mat 12 by appropriate fixing means and / or at the ends of said cells.

The ducts 23 are also connected to each other by a pipe 26 allowing the pneumatic communication between the two ducts 23, a second pipe 27 also integral with one of the two ducts 23 for connecting the distribution device 22 controlled air to the compressor of the inflation system 13 of the support device 10 of the invention.

Claims (20)

Inflatable cell (1), a fluid and preferably air, comprising: a flexible envelope (2) closed at its ends (3,4) in the longitudinal direction, said envelope defining between its walls at least one inflatable chamber of substantially cylindrical shape after inflation (8), and at least one fluid introduction means (5) into said chamber and at least one fluid evacuation means (6) from said chamber, hermetically sealed to at least one said end of the envelope, and at least one connecting means (7) of the cell to another identical cell, integral with the envelope, Characterized in that 1) the tubular envelope (2) consists of a tube portion or sheath of an extruded thermoplastic material, closed at its ends by a weld along a line, preferably curved, extending substantially transversely to the axial longitudinal direction of the sheath at said closed ends (3,4), and 2) the opposite faces of the tubular envelope (2) are connected to each other by a longitudinal weld (9) extending between said closed ends (3, 4) of the envelope on a portion only of its length, thus separating said inflatable chamber into two upper inflatable compartments (8a) and lower (8b) in the form of superposed strands, communicating with each other at their ends (8c). Inflatable cell according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite faces of said tubular casing are welded transversely one against the other in end zones (3 _1, 4 ₁₎ beyond the said closed ends (3,4) of said envelope. Inflatable cell according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said introduction means (5) and said fluid discharge means (6) consist of tubular ends welded at the welding of at least one said closed end (3,4) of the casing, said endpieces communicating with said inflatable chamber, said tubular endpieces being inserted between the opposite faces of said tubular wall welded against each other transversely to a said closed end. Inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said connecting means (7) is formed of material with the tubular envelope of the cell, in a said welded end zone of the cell, preferably in the form of a tongue, extending beyond said closed end of the envelope (3, 4). Inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said connecting means comprises or cooperates with reversible fixing means (7a), adapted to cooperate with an identical connecting means or identical reversible fixing means and / or complementary reversible fixation means (7b) of another identical inflatable cell to allow reversible binding of the cell with said other identical cell, preferably a reversible link with two other cells. Inflatable cell according to claims 4 and 5,
characterized in that said connecting means are constituted by a said tongue (7) having perforations (7a) and cooperating with rivets (7b), said rivets being able to cooperate in reversible fixation with perforations of another identical tongue or perforations at the end of another cell, the two cells being arranged parallel with their said connecting means at their ends on the same side. Inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that two diametrically opposite faces of the tubular wall of the tubular casing (2) are welded longitudinally against each other (9) between said closed ends ( 3, 4) of the casing substantially at mid-height, thereby separating said inflatable chamber into two upper and lower inflatable bead-shaped compartments (8a) and lower (8b) of substantially the same height. Inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least two connecting means, each comprising reversible fixing means, adapted to cooperate with identical reversible fixing means of another inflatable cell. identical and complementary reversible fixation means to allow a reversible binding of the cell with at least one said other identical cell, and preferably with at least two other identical cells. Inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises, opposite each of said two upper and lower compartments: an insertion means (5) or, respectively, means (6) for evacuating fluid formed by a sealed tubular nozzle at the same end of the envelope, and a said connecting means formed at the opposite end of the said introduction means and the fluid discharge means A method of manufacturing an inflatable cell according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: a said portion of a tube or sheath of thermoplastic material of predetermined length is selected, and b is welded, preferably by heat-welding, transversely the opposite faces of said portion of tube or sheath against each other to form said closed ends (3, 4) of the casing, and the opposite faces of the tubular wall of the casing of the cell are welded longitudinally against each other substantially a zone or longitudinal straight line (9) of said envelope on only a portion of the length of said cell for dividing the inflatable chamber into two superposed inflatable compartments, and communicating at their ends (8c), then c-cutting the tube or sheath portion in the welded areas, beyond the transverse welding limits forming the closed ends (3, 4) of said envelope defining said chamber, to obtain a said inflatable cell. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that in step b), said ends of said tube or sheath portion are welded transversely so as to form in a single operation the closed tubular casing at both ends with said means introducing and discharging fluid from the hermetically-assembled cell at one of said ends of the tube or sheath portion simultaneously with the welding, by interposing between the opposite faces of the tubular wall of said tube portion at at least one said end, tubular ends (5, 6), able to form at least one said fluid introduction means and, respectively, at least one said fluid discharge means, before performing said welding of the ends of the envelope over said tubular ends (5, 6). Process according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in step b), the opposite faces of said tubular envelope welded transversely to one another are welded in end regions (3 ₁ , 4 ₁ ) beyond the preferably curved transverse lines of welding forming said closed ends (3, 4) of said chamber, and - in step c), cutting the tube portion or sheath in said end welded areas (3 _1, 4 ₁₎ so as to form said cell-binding means. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that said connecting means is made by cutting a said tongue (7) and said perforations (7a) are made in said welded end zone (3 ₁ , 4 ₁ ). Support device (10) for a support element, in particular a mattress or cushion for supporting the body of a patient, comprising a plurality of individualized inflatable cells according to one of Claims 1 to 9, assembled one to the other using at least one said connecting means (7) arranged side by side, one after the other, in the longitudinal direction of the mattress and extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mattress, the individualized inflatable cells being secured to one another by securing said respective connecting means, and communicating hydraulically or preferably pneumatically, between them by means of hydraulic or respectively pneumatic connection comprising tubular pipes or connectors ( 33) capable of driving and transferring, as the case may be, the inflation fluid between said fluid introduction means of the one and said discharge means fluid flow from the others, to which the tubing or tubular fittings are connected. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that, on at least one zone (10C) of the mattress, said consecutive cells are arranged in opposite directions with said air introduction and evacuation means (5, 6) arranged on opposite sides in the transverse direction of the mattress, so that said zone of the mattress comprises two said first and second series of cells (11C1, 11C2), each said first and second series of cells being constituted by cells having their said means of introduction and means for discharging fluid (5, 6) on the same side in the transverse direction of the mattress and communicating hydraulically or preferably pneumatically with each other continuously, a said means of evacuation of one being connected to a said means for introducing the next of the same said first or second series, the two first and second series of cells being connected in parallel powered by the same inflation device (14), said two series of cells comprising the same number of cells, with one cell of each of said two series of cells alternately in the direction longitudinal of the mattress in said area, a cell of said first or second series being preceded and / or followed by a cell of said second or first series respectively. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that, in said zone of the mattress, said consecutive cells have their said connecting means (7) arranged at an end opposite to that of said means of introduction and fluid discharge means, of so that each cell of said first and second series of cells, respectively, consisting of cells having their said means (s) of connection on the same side in the transverse direction of the mattress, is linked by said means connecting to the next cell of the same said first or second series, and preferably also, if appropriate, to the adjacent cell of the other series. Support device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises a device of the manual valve type (15) for emergency deflation of at least some of said inflatable cells, said device of the valve type manual comprising: a first fixing piece (15 ₁ ) provided with a plurality of first rigid end pieces (17 ₁ ) perforated with through-cylindrical orifices (19 ₁ ), said first rigid end-pieces (17 ₁ ) cooperating with said means for evacuating said cells, preferably, said first perforated rigid end-pieces being inserted into said tubular end-pieces forming said discharge means (6), or said first perforated rigid end-pieces being inserted at the ends of hydraulic or pneumatic transfer communicating, at their other ends, with said means for evacuating a plurality of said cells, to allow the deflation of at least one zone of cells of said mattress, and a second removable part (15 ₂ ) comprising second end pieces (17 ₂ ), adapted to be fitted in said first orifices (19 ₁ ) of said first perforated rigid end pieces (17 ₁ ) to form removable plugs closing said first orifices (19); ₁ ), and a handle (22) adapted to be pulled manually to extract said second end pieces (17 ₂ ) of said orifices (19 ₁ ), said first end pieces (17 ₁ ) and allow a said rapid deflation of said cells. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that said second end pieces (17 ₂ ) of said removable part (15 ₂ ) comprise second cylindrical through orifices (19 ₂ ) hermetically closed by capsules (20), said capsules being able to cooperate with means for measuring the pressure thus enabling rapid measurement of pressure in said cells. Device according to Claim 18, characterized in that the said capsules comprise an elastomer part, capable of being perforated and penetrated in a sealed manner by a hollow needle, the said hollow needle cooperating with means of measuring the pressure, thus enabling the rapid measurement pressure in said cells. Device according to one of Claims 14 to 19,
characterized in that it comprises a controlled air distribution means (22) comprising at least one semi-rigid duct, forming an air distribution network, provided with a substantially rectilinear duct (23), comprising perforations or branches forming a plurality of nozzles (24) perforated at their ends, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said rectilinear pipe (23), said perforations or said nozzles being able to distribute air streams under the patient, when said means of controlled air distribution is disposed under said cells and connected to a fluid supply device (14), said air-controlled distribution device (22) preferably having at least one said duct (23) on each side of the mattress and connected to the same said feeding device.

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