GB1601682A

GB1601682A - Supporting device for a recumbent person

Info

Publication number: GB1601682A
Application number: GB1503678A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-04-18
Filing date: 1978-04-17
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: GB1602952A; SE7704380L; DE2816642C2; DE2816642A1; SE409653B; DE2816641C2; DE2816641A1

Description

(54) SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A RECUMBENT PERSON (71) I, IRENE ANDERSSON, a Swedish subject, of Skogsglatan 9197, Asteby S-685 00 Torsby, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to devices for supporting a recumbent person, e.g., a patient confined to bed.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a simple supporting device, by means of which a patient lying in bed can easily be turned from a position on one side to a position on another side, the required width of the device for carrying out the operation being small.

According to the present invention there is provided a supporting device for a recum bcnt person comprising three adjacent, distensible bodies or columns of bodies secured to a base, the bodies being individually distensible with fluid and the bodies or columns of bodies extending in a direction which, in use, is longitudinal of the person to provide a supporting surface for the person, the three bodies or columns of bodies being un-connected with each other in their upper regions so that each can be distended with and emptied of fluid without influencing the other bodies, so as to adjust the relative heights of the part of the support ing surface provided by the three bodies or columns of bodies.

The invention will now be described by wav of example with reference to the ac comnanying drawings, in which Figures 1-5 are cross sectional views through a supporting device embodying the invention. showing it in different working positions, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in the working position illustrated in figure 3, Figure 7 is a Dartly cut-away perspective view corresponding to the one in figure 6 and showing a second supporting device embodying the invention, Figure 8 is a cross sectional view through the embodiment illustrated in figure 7 in a working position corresponding to the one illustrated in figure 4, and Figure 9 shows the same embodiment in a working position which substantially corresponds to figure 3.

The supporting device illustrated in figures 1-6 comprises a base 1, which is preferably made of flexible material, and bodies 2 of flexible material, by way of example plastics, which are fastened to the top side of the base 1. In the embodiment illustrated the bodies 2 are not interconnected along their side edges, apart from the connection via the base 1. The illustrated bodies 2 extend in the longitudinal direction of the device for a recumbent person along substantially the whole length of the device, but within the scope of the invention each one of the bodies 2 might also be replaced by a number of shorter bodies, each of which could individually be filled with or emptied of a fluid.As is best seen from the figures 2 and 3, the cells 2 are of a comparatively great height, i.e., a height, which a1 most exactly corresponds to their width.

Moreover, according to the first embodiment illustrated in figures 1-6, the middle body 2a is much narrower than the two outer bodies 2b. The three cells 2a and 2b provide a supporting surface for a recumbent person. The device of course also may be provided with further flexible bodies located outside of the bodies 2b without departing from the scope of the invention.

The bodies 2 are shown in figure 6 connected to a common pipe line 3, which is connected to a source of a suitable pressurised fluid, for example, air. The common pipe line 3 is connected to the bodies 2b and 2a via separate branch pipes 3b and 3a respectively provided with valves 4b and 4a respectively, which are of the three position type, so that in one position they will open the communication between the bodies 2 and the pipe line 3, in another position will close this communication, and in a third position will permit evacuation of air from the bodies 2. The valves 4 may be controlled from a control board (not shown) disposed at a convenient point.When the supporting device for a recumbent person is in the position illustrated in figure 1, in which the bodies 2 are inflated to a limited extent only, a patient is offered a comfortable position lying on his back. When the patient is going to be turned over from lymg on his back into a position in which he rests on a side, two adjacent bodies 2a, 2b are inflated in the manner illustrated in figure 2, so that the patient by his own weight, or with a small amount of assistance tilts over into the side position illustrated in figure 3.

Tilting over the patient to the opposite side is effected by inflating the opposite outer body 2b together with the middle body 2a, as is shown in figure 5.

In figure 4 the patient is shown lying on his back with the bodies 2 only partly inflated. Because of the fact that the middle body 2a is comparatively narrow, a very easy tilting to the other side position may take place.

Because of the comparatively great height of the bodies 2 the patient, when being tilted from a position lying on his back into one or the other side position, will only perform a very limited movement in a sidewise direction, which means that the width of a bed supporting the device can be small and that there is no necessity to displace the patient in a sidewise direction once a correct side position has been obtained. In addition, the patient will get a good support for his back in this desired side position.

Thus, the patient can be moved into a desired position without the use of physical strength by the person nursing the patient.

If it is necessary for the patient to be lying on his back on a hard supporting surface, thebodies 2 can be completely deflated. It has been stated above that the base 1 is of flexible material. Although this is preferable in most cases, it can of course sometimes be preferable to manufacture the base 1 of a rigid material instead. Each one of the bodies 2 can be completely deflated. It halves 2a' and 2a" and 2b' and 2b" respectively, welded together.

The embodiment illustrated in the figures 7-9 differs from the one described above by the provision of a horizontal flexible partition sheet 15 separating three upper distensible bodies 16 from three lower disten sidle bodies 17 as that the base itself consists of distensible bodies 17 sandwiched between the partition sheet 15 and a bottom sheet 11 which may be flexible or rigid.

A bottom wall 12" of the lower bodies 17 is, in addition, by means of longitudinally extending edge seam welds 18 fastened to the partition sheet 15 and by means of spaced longitudinal welds 19 formes channels of smaller size extending along the lower bodies 17, which channels in the embodiments described are in communication with each other, but which of course may be separated from each other and be each one individually connected to a source of fluid under pressure, so that they can be filled and emptied independently of each other. When the upper bodies 16 are emptied and the lower bodies 197 are filled, as is evident from figure 8, the lower bodies 17 serve the purpose of a comfortable support for a patient.The lower bodies 17 can, of course, be divided up into a number of shorter cells distributed in the longitudinal direction and arranged in such a manner that each one can be individually inflated, which enables one or more of these shorter cells to be deflated in order to avoid the patient being subjected to pressures upon sensitive portions of his body. If a hard support is required, all of the lower bodies 17 can, of course, be deflated, so that the surface supporting the patient coincides with the bottom sheet 11, to which the bottom walls 12 of the lower bodies 17 are welded. In the embodiment illustrated, each lower body 17 is provided with three channels, of which the middle one is fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by means of longitudinal seams 20 or 21.In this arrangement, the outer lower bodies 17 are fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by means of a longitudinally extending seam 20, while the middle one is fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by two parallel seams 21. As was the case in the preceding embodiment, the individual lower bodies or channels can be connected to a suitable source of a fluid via connecting pipe lines 22.

WHAT l CLAIM IS : - 1. A supporting device for a recumbent person, comprising three adjacent, distensible bodies or columns of bodies secured to a base, the bodies being individually distensible with fluid and the bodies or columns of bodies extending in a direction which, in use, is longitudinal of the person to provide a supporting surface for the person, the three bodies or columns of bodies being un-connected with each other in their upper regions so that each can be distended with and emptied of fluid without influencing the other bodies, so as to adjust the relative heights of the parts of the supporting surface provided by the three bodies or columns of bodies.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which each body is generally elliptical in cross-section, the major dimension of the ellipse being horizontal.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, in which a lowermost portion of the wall of each body is attached to the base.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the central body or column of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. at a convenient point. When the supporting device for a recumbent person is in the position illustrated in figure 1, in which the bodies 2 are inflated to a limited extent only, a patient is offered a comfortable position lying on his back. When the patient is going to be turned over from lymg on his back into a position in which he rests on a side, two adjacent bodies 2a, 2b are inflated in the manner illustrated in figure 2, so that the patient by his own weight, or with a small amount of assistance tilts over into the side position illustrated in figure 3. Tilting over the patient to the opposite side is effected by inflating the opposite outer body 2b together with the middle body 2a, as is shown in figure 5. In figure 4 the patient is shown lying on his back with the bodies 2 only partly inflated. Because of the fact that the middle body 2a is comparatively narrow, a very easy tilting to the other side position may take place. Because of the comparatively great height of the bodies 2 the patient, when being tilted from a position lying on his back into one or the other side position, will only perform a very limited movement in a sidewise direction, which means that the width of a bed supporting the device can be small and that there is no necessity to displace the patient in a sidewise direction once a correct side position has been obtained. In addition, the patient will get a good support for his back in this desired side position. Thus, the patient can be moved into a desired position without the use of physical strength by the person nursing the patient. If it is necessary for the patient to be lying on his back on a hard supporting surface, thebodies 2 can be completely deflated. It has been stated above that the base 1 is of flexible material. Although this is preferable in most cases, it can of course sometimes be preferable to manufacture the base 1 of a rigid material instead. Each one of the bodies 2 can be completely deflated. It halves 2a' and 2a" and 2b' and 2b" respectively, welded together. The embodiment illustrated in the figures 7-9 differs from the one described above by the provision of a horizontal flexible partition sheet 15 separating three upper distensible bodies 16 from three lower disten sidle bodies 17 as that the base itself consists of distensible bodies 17 sandwiched between the partition sheet 15 and a bottom sheet 11 which may be flexible or rigid. A bottom wall 12" of the lower bodies 17 is, in addition, by means of longitudinally extending edge seam welds 18 fastened to the partition sheet 15 and by means of spaced longitudinal welds 19 formes channels of smaller size extending along the lower bodies 17, which channels in the embodiments described are in communication with each other, but which of course may be separated from each other and be each one individually connected to a source of fluid under pressure, so that they can be filled and emptied independently of each other. When the upper bodies 16 are emptied and the lower bodies 197 are filled, as is evident from figure 8, the lower bodies 17 serve the purpose of a comfortable support for a patient.The lower bodies 17 can, of course, be divided up into a number of shorter cells distributed in the longitudinal direction and arranged in such a manner that each one can be individually inflated, which enables one or more of these shorter cells to be deflated in order to avoid the patient being subjected to pressures upon sensitive portions of his body. If a hard support is required, all of the lower bodies 17 can, of course, be deflated, so that the surface supporting the patient coincides with the bottom sheet 11, to which the bottom walls 12 of the lower bodies 17 are welded. In the embodiment illustrated, each lower body 17 is provided with three channels, of which the middle one is fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by means of longitudinal seams 20 or 21.In this arrangement, the outer lower bodies 17 are fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by means of a longitudinally extending seam 20, while the middle one is fastened to the bottom sheet 11 by two parallel seams 21. As was the case in the preceding embodiment, the individual lower bodies or channels can be connected to a suitable source of a fluid via connecting pipe lines 22. WHAT l CLAIM IS : -

1. A supporting device for a recumbent person, comprising three adjacent, distensible bodies or columns of bodies secured to a base, the bodies being individually distensible with fluid and the bodies or columns of bodies extending in a direction which, in use, is longitudinal of the person to provide a supporting surface for the person, the three bodies or columns of bodies being un-connected with each other in their upper regions so that each can be distended with and emptied of fluid without influencing the other bodies, so as to adjust the relative heights of the parts of the supporting surface provided by the three bodies or columns of bodies.

bodies is narrower than the outer bodies or columns of bodies.

5. A device according to claim 1 or 4, in which the base comprises a plurality of second flexible bodies which can be distended with a fluid.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which the second flexible bodies extend in the said longitudinal direction.

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, in which the second flexible bodies are individually distensible.

8. A device according to claim 5, 6 or 7, in which at least one second flexible body comprises a plurality of adjacent, communicating cells.

9. A supporting device for a recumbent person, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.