FR2798833A1 - ADJUSTABLE LOW PRESSURE MATTRESS DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The mattress (3), containing a series of tubes (34) which can be inflated alternately, simultaneously or to a variable pressure, has the tubes incorporated individually or in groups in one or more inserts (31) designed to be fitted detachably into cavities (30) in the surface of the mattress. The mattress itself can be inflatable, shaped to leave one or more cavities in its surface after inflation, made from a block of synthetic foam with a removable protective cover, or from two layers of foam (32, 33) with different properties, the upper one being agreeable to the touch.

Description

i 2798833 The subject of the present invention is a mattress device

  adjustable low pressure, used in particular to prevent

pressure ulcer formation.

  A pressure ulcer consists of a necrosis of the skin resulting from a defect in blood supply, it often develops in people who have to stay in bed for a long time, because the pressure exerted by the weight of the body can generate, at points

  individuals, an interruption in blood circulation.

  Numerous mattress or similar devices are already known which make it possible to prevent bedridden persons from developing bedsores. This is achieved by creating a movement on the surface of the mattress, which in a way creates a massage for the patient. There are different types of these mattress devices, the most effective of which are those comprising inflatable cells extending transversely, distributed longitudinally, and which can be inflated alternately or simultaneously, by means of inflation means, at a variable pressure, so as to create a movement on the surface of the mattress such as a wave

for example.

  The cells can be swollen with water, but air is preferably used, the transport of which is more easily controllable and which has shorter reaction times. In general, such a mattress consists of a succession of inflatable cells welded together or held by an envelope, the whole being covered with a cover made of material.

flexible textile.

  For some of these devices, all the cells communicate with each other, they can even consist of an inflatable tube arranged in a coil. Such devices are of limited use and efficiency, since they do not allow the pressure to be varied differently at different points.

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  On other mattress devices, it is proposed to separate the cells into several zones, in order to be able to supply them with

  independently, and thus offer more varied movements.

  These mattress devices have drawbacks, and particularly in terms of maintenance. Indeed, the cells are directly exposed to dirt and stains, since only protected by the cover. However, despite the fact that these cells are generally designed to be able to be washed, or even

  sterilized, this remains an uneasy and restrictive operation.

  In addition, known mattress devices are generally suitable for a person of average height, which presents

  disadvantages for tall and short people.

  In addition, patients do not always stay in bed, they can also take a semi-lying position, on a chair for example, which can also promote the development of bedsores. However, there are known armchairs covered with an adjustable low pressure mattress device, the operation of which is similar to those used on a bed, it is however difficult, for obvious reasons of cost, to make available to a single person a bed and an armchair each

  equipped with a mattress device as described above.

  The object of the present invention is to propose an adjustable low pressure mattress device, used in particular to prevent the formation of pressure sores, making it possible to remedy the various

aforementioned drawbacks.

  The adjustable low-pressure mattress device, used in particular to prevent the formation of pressure sores, object of the present invention, is of the type comprising several cells which are inflatable alternately, simultaneously or at variable pressure, and it is essentially characterized in that said cells are incorporated, individually and / or grouped, in at least one insert intended to be removably placed in at least one

  excavation in one side of the mattress.

  The mattress device according to the invention can comprise either several inserts incorporating one or more inflatable cells

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  and taking place in excavations made in the mattress at specific locations, that is to say a single insert incorporating several inflatable cells distributed in groups so as to

  correspond to specific locations.

  According to an additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the mattress consists of a block of synthetic foam

  covered with a removable protective cover.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, each insert consists of a block of synthetic foam capable of being covered with a removable protective cover, and in which is formed at least one housing intended for

  accommodate at least one inflatable cell.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the mattress and the insert are produced by superposition of two layers of synthetic foam with different characteristics so that the upper layer is

pleasant to the touch.

  According to a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, it comprises several inserts, at least two of which are of equal dimensions and where the inflatable cells are arranged

  differently, are interchangeable.

  Two inserts of the mattress device according to the invention, the two extreme inserts for example, can thus have the same dimensional characteristics, on the other hand the inflatable cells can be distributed there differently, so that an exchange of positions can make it possible to modify the specific locations to be treated. This advantageously makes it possible to adapt the

  mattress according to the invention to the size of the patient.

  Advantageously, at least one of the inserts of the first embodiment is connected to the air compressor independently of the other inserts, so that it can be used as a cushion. According to a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, it comprises an insert which incorporates at least two

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  groups of inflatable cells, and that is reversible in the sense

of the length.

  According to an additional characteristic of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the insert comprises two groups that are unequal in number of inflatable cells, the largest group in number of inflatable cells is intended to take place under the patient's pelvis, while the smallest group of inflatable cells is intended to take place under the feet or under the head of said patient, depending on the orientation given

audit insert.

  According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the thickness of the insert decreases from the end of the largest group in number of inflatable cells to its end comprising the other group of

inflatable cells.

  Advantageously, the insert of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention is provided, on the side of the group with the smallest number of inflatable cells, with means for fixing to the

back of an armchair.

  The advantages and characteristics of the device according to

  the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows

  and which relates to the attached drawing, which represents several

  non-limiting embodiments.

  In the accompanying drawing: - Figure i shows a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the mattress device according to the invention - Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view along a

  median longitudinal plane of the same device.

  - Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view along a

  median longitudinal plane of a variant of the same device.

  - Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view along a median longitudinal plane of the same mattress device in a

  different configuration of use.

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  FIG. 5 represents a sectional view along a median longitudinal plane of a second embodiment of the device

mattress according to the invention.

  - Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a variant of a part of the same device. - Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective and exploded view of the same second embodiment of the device

mattress according to the invention.

  - Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of part of the same second embodiment of the device

mattress according to the invention.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that according to a first embodiment, an adjustable low pressure mattress device, used in particular to prevent the formation of bedsores, according to the invention is in the form of a block 1 of a flexible but relatively firm material such as a foam of synthetic material, in which excavations are made 10, 11 and 12 o house inserts, respectively 13, 14 and 15, which each incorporate inflatable cells 16 of shape elongated and arranged parallel next to each other, and which are connected, independently or not, to an air compressor, not shown. It will be noted that the mattress device according to the invention is,

  in use, covered with a removable cover, not shown.

  As can be seen in Figure 2, the excavations 10, 11 and 12 are made in the underside of block 1, so that the inserts 13, 14 and 15 are introduced there from below, and also that block 1 consists of two layers 17 and 18 of different materials, in this case synthetic foams which can be joined by gluing. The upper layer 17 is thin compared to the lower layer 18, these layers can both be made of the same material such as a polyether based polyether foam, with a difference in treatment for the upper layer 17, so this one

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  is pleasant to the touch, even through the protective cover. Note that in the embodiment shown, the excavations 10, 11 and 12 are made in the entire thickness of the lower layer 18 so that the inserts 13, 14 and 15 come directly into contact with the upper layer 17 il it is however possible that part of the lower layer 18 remains between the inserts 13, 14 and 15 and the upper layer 17. The inserts 13, 14 and 15 consist of blocks made of a material preferably identical to that which is makes block 1, and in which are housed for cells 16 which consist of sealed envelopes, such as tubes or sheaths, which may be identical to those used on the

current devices.

  By swelling and / or deflating the cells 16 alternately or simultaneously according to predefined sequences, a movement similar to the massage is created on the surface of the mattress. The inflation and deflation of the cells 16 is ensured by the air compressor, which itself is controlled by a processor which can optionally be programmed to take into account

  the patient's condition and / or weight.

  Advantageously, the mattress device according to the invention is easy to maintain, since the inserts 13, 14 and 15 are protected in the block 1. Furthermore, it is also possible that each of the inserts 13, 14 and 15 is wrapped in a protective cover. Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that, according to a variant of the first embodiment of the mattress device according to the invention, the latter comprises a block 2 consisting of the joining by bonding of two layers 27 and 28 of foam synthetic material, and in which three excavations 20, 21 and 22 are made, intended to house inserts 23, 24 and 25 respectively, which each incorporate inflatable cells 26, the excavations 20, 21 and 22 being made in the

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  upper face of block 2, inserts 23, 24 and 25 therefore being there

introduced from above.

  The inserts 23, 24 and 25, which are preferably each wrapped in a protective cover (not shown), consist of a block of material identical to that of the lower layer 28, covered with a layer of material identical to that of the upper layer 27, so as to provide continuity when the inserts 23, 24 and 25 are housed in the excavations

respectively 20, 21 and 22.

  Of course, in this variant, the whole of block 2 is

  also wrapped in a protective cover.

  It will be noted that at least one of the inserts 23, 24 and 25 can be separated from the assembly in order to be able to be connected independently to the compressor, and to serve as a cushion on a chair or

similar.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, we can see the same block 2 for which the extreme inserts 23 and 25 have been inverted, that is to say that they have been placed in the excavations

22 and 20 respectively.

  However, the cells 26 of the inserts 23 and 25 are not regularly distributed, they are grouped on one side, and not the same depending on the insert considered. Also, the inversion of the inserts 23 and makes it possible to modify the dimensional characteristics of the active part of the mattress device, which is the smallest on

  Figure 3 and the larger one in Figure 4.

  It would be possible to obtain the same result by inverting the inserts 23 and 25, however, there would be the problem of the passage of the air supplies, not shown, which are connected to

these laterally.

  With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 7, it can be seen according to a second embodiment, that a mattress device according to the invention comprises a block 3 in the upper face of which an excavation 30 is made, where an insert 31 is housed, the block 3 and the insert 31 also being made up of the superposition of two layers of different materials, in this case a layer

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  upper 32 and a lower layer 33, both of a polyether based polyurethane foam, that of the upper layer 32 being treated to be pleasant to the contact, even through a

protective cover.

  The insert 31 contains inflatable cells 34 divided into two groups 35 and 36 of a different number of inflatable cells 34. Thus, in this embodiment, the group 35 consists of six inflatable cells 34 while the group 36 is constituted

of three inflatable cells 34.

  Furthermore, the excavation 30 represents in length about two thirds of the block 3, and is offset on one side, so that when the insert 31 is introduced therein, the group 35 occupies substantially the central region of the block, that intended to support the patient's pelvis. Also, depending on the orientation of block 3 on the bed, the group 36 of inflatable cells 34 is intended to support

the patient's head or feet.

  Note that the insert 31 can be introduced into the excavation

  under or over the protective cover of block 3.

  With reference to FIG. 6, it can be seen, according to a variant, that the thickness of the insert 31 decreases progressively from the last inflatable cell 34 of group 35, to the end of the insert 31 of the side of group 36. This characteristic makes it possible to obtain, when group 36 is intended for

  support the patient's feet, a gradual physio-

  anatomical of the lower limbs of the patient, going from the hollow

  popliteal with retro-Achilean parts.

  Referring now to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the insert 31 can be used as a mattress for an armchair, not shown, in this case it is divided into two parts, a part 37 which incorporates the group 35 of cells 34 and which constitutes the seat, and a part 38 which incorporates the group 36 of cells 34 which serves to support the patient's head and the zone devoid of cells against which the back rests. Note that part 38 includes

  means 39 for fixing to the chair, such as straps.

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  In this configuration, the variation in thickness of the insert 31, in this case its part 38, makes it possible to gradually discharge the patient's trunk, from the lumbar to the shoulder blades. i5 The mattress device according to the invention offers numerous advantages over existing devices. In addition to the ease of cleaning both the mattress and the active elements that make up the inflatable cells, the modularity and reversibility of the elements that make it up give the device

  according to the invention great versatility of use.

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Claims (9)

  1) Adjustable low pressure mattress device, used in particular to prevent the formation of bedsores, of the type comprising several cells inflatable alternately, simultaneously or at variable pressure, characterized in that said cells (16; 26; 34) are incorporated, individually and / or grouped, in at least one insert (13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25; 31) intended to be removably placed in at least one excavation (10, 11, 12; 20, 21,   22; 30) practiced in one face of the mattress (1; 2; 3).   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mattress consists of a block (1; 2; 3) of synthetic foam   covered with a removable protective cover.   3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each insert (13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25; 31) consists of a block of synthetic foam capable of being covered with a cover of removable protection, and in which is practiced at least one housing intended to accommodate at least one inflatable cell (16; 26; 34).   4) Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the mattress (1; 2; 3) and the insert (13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25; 31) are made by superposition of two layers (17, 18; 27, 28; 32, 33) of synthetic foams with different characteristics so that the upper layer (17; 27; 32) is pleasant to the touch.   ) Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,   characterized in that the synthetic foams consist of   polyether based polyether foams.   6) Device according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that it comprises several inserts (13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25) of which at least two, of equal dimensions and o the inflatable cells (16; 26) are arranged differently, are interchangeable. XIl 2798833   7) Device according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that at least one of the inserts (13, 14, 15; 23, 24, 25) is connected to the air compressor independently other inserts.   8) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that it comprises an insert (31) which incorporates at least two groups (35, 36) of inflatable cells (34), and which is   reversible lengthwise.   9) Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the insert comprises two groups (35, 36) unequal in number of inflatable cells (34), the group (35) the largest in number of inflatable cells (34) is intended to take place under the patient's pelvis, while the group (36) with the smallest number of inflatable cells (34) is intended to take place under the feet or under the head of said patient, according to the orientation given to said patient insert (31).   ) Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the thickness of the insert (31) decreases from the end of the group (35) the greatest number of inflatable cells (34) to its end with the other group (36) of cells inflatable (34).   11) Device according to any one of claims 8 to   , characterized in that the insert (31) is provided with means (39) for attachment to the back of an armchair.