GB2026315A

GB2026315A - Cushions and mattresses

Info

Publication number: GB2026315A
Application number: GB7926123A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-07-26
Filing date: 1979-07-26
Publication date: 1980-02-06

Abstract

A pad, cushion or mattress for use by medical patients or disabled persons comprises two fluid-tight compartments 1, 2 arranged to contain air or other fluid. These compartments are connected by a pipe 4 through which air or other fluid can flow between the two compartments. A control tap 5 is provided in the pipe for regulating the flow of air or other fluid between the two compartments. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cushions and mattresses This invention reiates to pads, cushions or mattresses, hereinafter referred to as pads.

It is well known that persons, such as disabled persons or patients requiring a long stay in bed, often develop bed sores because they are unable to change their posture.

Where a patient or disabled person remains immobile, pressure over one area of the body surface can gradually cut off the flow of blood and nutrients through the micro vessels of the person and this leads to the development of the bed sores.

In order to overcome this difficulty, many pads have been proposed which are designed to assist in spreading the body weight of a person and so lengthen the time before bed sores develop. However, if the posture of the skeletal frame is also altered at frequent intervals so that pressure is changed from one weight bearing area to another, the condition in which permanent damage is caused to the micro vessels, particularly those over the bony parts of the skeleton, is rarely reached and the incidence of bed sores is greatly reduced or even altered altogether.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pad which permits the posture of a patient to be changed from one weight bearing area to another and the new posture to be maintained without difficulty.

Accordingly, the invention provides a pad which comprises at least two fluid-tight compartments arranged to contain a fluid, a conduit through which fluid can flow connecting the two compartments and a control device for regulating the flow of fluid from one compartment to another. The pad may if desired be used in a medical chair or bed under another cushion or mattress or it may be incorporated in another cushion or mattress.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pad constructed in accordance with this invention and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of an alternative arrangement.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 a pad for medical use is made of flexible airtight sheets welded or seamed together in an airtight manner and comprises two chambers or compartments 1 and 2. These compartments are separated by an airtight weld or seam 3.

The two compartments 1 and 2 are connected together by a conduit 4 in the form of a flexible pipe made of a material which is stout enough not to expand or close significantly when subjected to positive or negative pressure. This conduit 4 has a portion extending outside the pad and including a transfer tap 5 which can be opened or closed as desired to regulate the transfer of air between the two compartments. Instead of a tap, any other suitable flow regulating device may be employed.

The pad or cushion is partially inflated with air or other fluid. To control the flow of air from one chamber to another the tap is opened or closed as desired. When the tap is opened air can flow from one chamber to the other and residual air can be moved in one of three ways namely: (1) If the patient is tilted to the left the chamber 2 in the drawing will contain most of the air and the chamber 1 will be practically empty. If pressure is exerted as by a nurse or attendant on the chamber 2, air will flow out through the pipe 4 and fill the chamber 1 and empty the chamber 2. This causes the surface of the pad to cushion to the right. If the transfer tap 5 is then closed this position will be maintained until it is desired to alter the tilt by again opening the transfer tap. In a normal case this would take place some one or two hours after the position was originally chosen.

(2) If the patient is tilted to the left, the chamber 2 will contain most of the air and the chamber 1 will be practically empty. If the transfer tap 5 is opened the patient'is gently pulled towards the right the centre of gravity is altered in the plane of the tilt pad, for example the right buttock of the patient presses against the chamber 2, and this pushes air out of the chamber 2 into the chamber 1. The transfer tap can then be closed.

(3) If desired, a pump can be incorporated in order positively to move air from one compartment to another. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this arrangement the pad is associated with a tube 6 which is connected through a control tap 7 to an inlet valve 8 of a pump 9. A second tube 10 extends from an outler valve 11 of the pump and includes a control tap 1 2. The tube 10 terminates in a non-return valve 1 3 opening into a chamber 14 of the pad.

Another tube 1 5 extends from the compartment 14 to an inlet valve 1 6 of the pump 9 and includes a control tap 1 7. A tube 1 8 which includes a control tap 1 9 extends from an outlet 20 of the pump 9 to a non-return valve 21 opening into a chamber 22 of the pad. Air can be moved from one compartment 1 4 or 22 to the other by suitably opening and closing the control taps and operating the pump.

1. A pad, cushion or mattress which comprises at last two fluid-tight compartments arranged to contain a fluid, a conduit through which fluid can flow connecting the two compartments, and a control device for regulating the flow of fluid from one compartment to the other.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cushions and mattresses This invention reiates to pads, cushions or mattresses, hereinafter referred to as pads. It is well known that persons, such as disabled persons or patients requiring a long stay in bed, often develop bed sores because they are unable to change their posture. Where a patient or disabled person remains immobile, pressure over one area of the body surface can gradually cut off the flow of blood and nutrients through the micro vessels of the person and this leads to the development of the bed sores. In order to overcome this difficulty, many pads have been proposed which are designed to assist in spreading the body weight of a person and so lengthen the time before bed sores develop. However, if the posture of the skeletal frame is also altered at frequent intervals so that pressure is changed from one weight bearing area to another, the condition in which permanent damage is caused to the micro vessels, particularly those over the bony parts of the skeleton, is rarely reached and the incidence of bed sores is greatly reduced or even altered altogether. An object of the present invention is to provide a pad which permits the posture of a patient to be changed from one weight bearing area to another and the new posture to be maintained without difficulty. Accordingly, the invention provides a pad which comprises at least two fluid-tight compartments arranged to contain a fluid, a conduit through which fluid can flow connecting the two compartments and a control device for regulating the flow of fluid from one compartment to another. The pad may if desired be used in a medical chair or bed under another cushion or mattress or it may be incorporated in another cushion or mattress. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pad constructed in accordance with this invention and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of an alternative arrangement. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 a pad for medical use is made of flexible airtight sheets welded or seamed together in an airtight manner and comprises two chambers or compartments 1 and 2. These compartments are separated by an airtight weld or seam 3. The two compartments 1 and 2 are connected together by a conduit 4 in the form of a flexible pipe made of a material which is stout enough not to expand or close significantly when subjected to positive or negative pressure. This conduit 4 has a portion extending outside the pad and including a transfer tap 5 which can be opened or closed as desired to regulate the transfer of air between the two compartments. Instead of a tap, any other suitable flow regulating device may be employed. The pad or cushion is partially inflated with air or other fluid. To control the flow of air from one chamber to another the tap is opened or closed as desired. When the tap is opened air can flow from one chamber to the other and residual air can be moved in one of three ways namely: (1) If the patient is tilted to the left the chamber 2 in the drawing will contain most of the air and the chamber 1 will be practically empty. If pressure is exerted as by a nurse or attendant on the chamber 2, air will flow out through the pipe 4 and fill the chamber 1 and empty the chamber 2. This causes the surface of the pad to cushion to the right. If the transfer tap 5 is then closed this position will be maintained until it is desired to alter the tilt by again opening the transfer tap. In a normal case this would take place some one or two hours after the position was originally chosen. (2) If the patient is tilted to the left, the chamber 2 will contain most of the air and the chamber 1 will be practically empty. If the transfer tap 5 is opened the patient'is gently pulled towards the right the centre of gravity is altered in the plane of the tilt pad, for example the right buttock of the patient presses against the chamber 2, and this pushes air out of the chamber 2 into the chamber 1. The transfer tap can then be closed. (3) If desired, a pump can be incorporated in order positively to move air from one compartment to another. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this arrangement the pad is associated with a tube 6 which is connected through a control tap 7 to an inlet valve 8 of a pump 9. A second tube 10 extends from an outler valve 11 of the pump and includes a control tap 1 2. The tube 10 terminates in a non-return valve 1 3 opening into a chamber 14 of the pad. Another tube 1 5 extends from the compartment 14 to an inlet valve 1 6 of the pump 9 and includes a control tap 1 7. A tube 1 8 which includes a control tap 1 9 extends from an outlet 20 of the pump 9 to a non-return valve 21 opening into a chamber 22 of the pad. Air can be moved from one compartment 1 4 or 22 to the other by suitably opening and closing the control taps and operating the pump. CLAIMS

2. A pad, cushion or mattress as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the conduit is a flexible pipe leading from one compartment to the other and the control device is a tap which can be adjusted as desired to regulate the flow of fluid between the compartments or to close the pipe.

3. A pad, cushion or mattress as claimed in either preceding claim made of flexible airtight sheets welded together in an airtight manner comprising two compartments separated by an airtight weld, the two compartments being separated by a flexible pipe having a portion extending outside the pad, cushion or mattress, the said outside portion including a tap.

4. A pad, cushion or mattress as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a pump is provided for positively transferring fluid from one compartment to another.

5. A pad, cushion or mattress as claimed in Claim 4, comprising a first pipe leading from a first compartment to an inlet of the pump, a control tap in the first pipe, a second pipe extending from an outlet of the pump and opening into a second compartment, a control tap in the second pipe, a non-return valve leading out of the second pipe, a third pipe extending from the second compartment to an inlet of the pump, a control tap in the third pipe, a fourth pipe extending from an outlet of the pump to the first compartment, a control tap in the fourth pipe, and a nonreturn valve leading from the fourth pipe.

6. A pad, cushion or mattress substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.