GB1602952A - Supporting device for a recumbent person - Google Patents

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION

( 11) ( 21) Application No 15324/78 ( 22) Filed 18 April 1978 ( 19) ( 31) Convention Application No 7704380 ( 32) Filed 18 April 1977 in ( 33) Sweden (SE) ( 44) Complete Specification published 18 Nov 1981 ( 51) INT CL 3 A 61 G 7/00 ( 52) Index at acceptance A 4 M l Bl 1 B 2 1 83 1 84 l B 5 ( 54) SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A RECUMBENT PERSON ( 71) I, IRENE ANDERSSON, a Swedish subject of Skogsglantan 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 de-

scribed in and by the following statement:-

The present invention relates to devices for supporting a recumbent person for example, a patient confined to bed.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a simple supporting device which makes possible, without having to carry out heavy lifting, access to the underside of the patient to, for example, treat the patient or introduce a sheet.

According to the present invention there is provided a supporting device for a recumbent person, comprising a plurality of adjacent distensible bodies secured to a base and each extending in a direction which, in use, is transverse of the person to provide a supporting surface for the person, each body being individually distensible with fluid and having an upper portion which is selectively collapsible to a level substantially lower than the parts of the supporting surface provided by the adjacent bodies to form, at a selected point along the length of the device, a transversely-extending passage beneath the person.

In the following two embodiments of the invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a supporting device embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic, longitudinal crosssection of the supporting device shown in figure 1, Figure 3 is a section corresponding to Figure 2 of the device in a different working condition, and Figure 4 is a partly cut-away perspective view corresponding to figure 1 and showing a second supporting device embodying the invention.

The supporting device illustrated in the figures 1-3 comprises a base 1, which can be made of flexible material, for example plastics, but, within the scope of the invention, can be of stiff material, if so required A number of distensible bodies 2, which extend transversely of the base 1 and are made of a flexible material, for example plastics, or 55 rubber, are on top of the base 1 The bodies 2 each comprise an upper half 2 a and a lower half 2 b, which halves are joined to each other by horizontal welded seams 3 The different bodies 2 can be inflated to the condition 60 illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and be deflated to a completely empty condition It is also possible to obtain a degree of inflation anywhere between these extremes By means of a common pipe 4 and a branch pipe 5, 65 each of the bodies 2 is connected to a source of pressurised fluid, for example compressed air Each one of the bodies 2 can be individually connected to the source of fluid by a respective valve 6 In addition, they can 70 be brought into communication with the surrounding air by means of the same valves 6 in order to be deflated The valves 6 are controlled from a control board (not shown) located at the side of a bed supporting the 75 device.

In this embodiment, the bodies 2 are not attached to each other in a sideways direction except via the base 1 When the bodies 2 are completely inflated, as is shown is figure 2, 80 the supporting device has a great height, compared with the deflated condition Thus, if one of the bodies 2 is deflated, which, by way of example, is the case shown in broken lines for the third cell body from the left in 85 figure 2, the underside of a patient at this point is accessible for certain types of treatment Each one of the different bodies 2 can of course be deflated entirely independently of the others By successive deflation and 90 reflation of the bodies 2 from one end to the other of the device a roll of bed sheet can be rolled into place in such a way that any lifting up of the patient is not required In a normal lying down position of the patient the 95 bodies 2 can be partly deflated, as is shown in figure 3, so that a comfortable soft support is obtained Due to the fact that the bodies 3 are connected to the base 1 at the centres of their lower walls only, a very great height in 100 1602952 1,602,952 the inflated condition is obtained relative to the height of the bodies 3 in their deflated condition.

The supporting device illustrated in figure 4, like the previous embodiment, comprises transversally arranged distensible bodies 12, which at the centre of their undersides are fastened to a bottom sheet 11 Differing from the preceding embodiment the supporting device has a horizontal flexible partition sheet 15 of cloth separating upper distensible bodies 12 from lower distensible bodies 19 so that the base itself consists of distensible bodies 19 sandwiched between the partition sheet 15 and a bottom sheet 11 which may be flexible or rigid Each upper body 12 has beneath it three narrower lower bodies 19.

Each upper body 12 is individually connected to a common supply pipe 17 via a branch pipe 16, and each group of three lower bodies 19 is connected to the common pipe 17 via a second branch pipe 18 In a normal lying position of the patient the upper bodies 2 are deflated, and thus the patient rests on inflated lower bodies 19 This gives a soft support for the patient Because the groups of lower bodies 19 are deflatable individually, the pressure under the patient can be relieved on desired portions of his body, if so desired In order to avoid bedsores, the pressure on different portions of the body can be eased alternately during the time the patient is confined to bed.

Alternatively, the lower bodies 19 of each group are not in communication with each other but are individually inflatable and deflatable.

My copending application 15036/78 (Serial No 1601682) is connected with a related device utilizing longitudinally extending bodies.

which the second flexible bodies extend in the said transverse direction.

A device according to claim 3 or 4, in which the second flexible bodies are individually distensible.

6 A device according to claim 3, 4 or 5, in which at least one second flexible body comprises a plurality of adjacent, communicating cells.

7 A supporting device for a recumbent person, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

REDDIE & GROSE, Agents for the Applicant, 16 Theobalds Road, London WC 1 X 8 PL.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd -1981 Published at The Patent Office.

Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.

Claims (4)

WHAT I CLAIM IS-

1 A supporting device for a recumbent person, comprising a plurality of adjacent distensible bodies secured to a base and each extending in a direction which, in use, is transverse of the person to provide a supporting surface for the person, each body being individually distensible with fluid and having an upper portion which is selectively collapsible to a level substantially lower than the parts of the supporting surface provided by the adjacent bodies to form, at a selected point along the length of the device, a transversely-extending passage beneath the person.

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

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

4 A device according to claim 3, in