GB2177594A

GB2177594A - Transit mattress for air support appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2177594A
Application number: GB08616820A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth William Hunt
Original assignee: Mediscus Products Ltd
Current assignee: Mediscus Products Ltd
Priority date: 1985-07-10
Filing date: 1986-07-10
Publication date: 1987-01-28
Also published as: GB8517495D0; GB8616820D0

Abstract

A transit mattress for use with air support appliances of the kind in which a plurality of elongated inflatable air sacs are arranged transversely of the bed structure, comprises a plurality of inflatable cushions, each of which is adapted to be interposed between a pair of air sacs (or between a head or foot board and a sac), said air cushions being inflatable via conduit means to a source of pressurised air. The cushions of the mattress can be slipped between the sacs of the air support appliance when both the sacs and cushions are in the deflated or partially inflated condition. When it is desired to move the patient to another location, the pressure in the air sacs is gradually reduced, while simultaneously increasing the pressure in the air cushions. The air blower can then be switched off and disconnected and the patient moved to another location while supported on the cushions of the transit mattress. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transit mattress for air support appliances This invention relates to support appliances, e.g.

beds, in which a person is supported on a plurality of air-inflated sacs.

British Patent Specification Nos. 1442994 and 1474018 describe air support appliances of the kind in which a plurality of elongated inflatable air sacs are arranged transversely of the bed. The sacs are releasably attached to an articulated base structure and means are provided for admitting pressurised airto the sacs on one side ofthe bed and providing a flow of airtherethrough. Beds manufactured in accordance with this patent and subsequent developments have been successful and have made a significantcontributton to improvements in nursing seriously ill patients and those having bed sores or suffering from burns.

In theircommercial form (sold underthetrade mark 'Mediscus') beds ofthe kind described in our above patents have utilized an axial or centrifugal air blower as a source of pressurised airwhich has been housed either in a self-standing console and air conveyed to the bed by one or more conduits or in a blower incorporated in the underframe ofthe bed. In either case, movement ofthe bed is restricted by the need to connect the bed to a power source for the blower in orderto maintain the sacs in an inflated condition.

In the hospital environment there is often a need to move patients from a ward to a different area forthe purpose of examinations or tests (e.g. X-ray examination) or surgery. While Mediscus beds are designed to facilitate transfer of patients to trolleys fortransport to other areas in a hospital, it would be advantageous to avoid the need for such transfer,therebyfurther reducing nursing effortand minimising patientdisturbance and trauma.

In accordance with this invention, a temporarytransit mattress is provided on which the patient is supported during transportfrom one area to another.

According to the present invention there is provided a transit mattress for use with air support appliances ofthe kind referred to above which comprises a plurality of air cushions each of which is interposed between a pair of normal air support sacs of the appliance (or between a foot or head board and the sac), said air cushions being connected to a manifold extending lengthwise of the mattress and being inflatable by selectively connecting to a source of pressurised air.

Features and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, in which, Figure I is a perspective view of a support appliance ofthe kind described in our British PatentApplication No.8611529. The construction ofthe air sacs ofthe base and trolleyframe structures are similarto that described in our U.K. Patent No. 1474018. However, the bed is provided with a blower and control unit supported on the base or attitude frame of the bed.

Figure2 is a scrap view seen from the opposite side of the bed from Figure 1 (i.e. opposite to the manifold side), Figure3 is a scrap view seen from the manifold side and showing the cushions ofthetransit mattress between the normal air sacs, and Figure 4 is a schematic view ofthe air supply system to the transit mattress.

Referring to the drawings, the bed comprises a series of transversely arranged air sacs 1, which are supported on a rectangularframe 2, incorporating a base beneath (not shown). Inserted between each air sac 1 (or between an air sac 1 and the head or base board 10 and 11) is a aircushion 3which are connected pneumatically at one side to a flexible manifold 4 having an inlet nozzle 5. The air cushions 3 are conveniently formed from a plastic coated nylon material and may be welded to the manifold 4which may be manufactured from the same material as the air cushions. Thus, the manifold and air cushions form a closed intercommunicating airspace and in troduction ofairthrough the nozzleS inflates the manifold 4 and consequently also the air cushions 3 simultaneously.Preferably, the manifold is flexible and is welded to the air cushions or otherwise connected in airtight fashion.

The height ofthe air cushions 3 is abouttwo-thirds ofthe height ofthe air sacs 1 and in normal use the tops ofthe air cushions 3 (which will then be defiated) will not be visible when the air sacs 1 are fully inflated.

Figure 2 is a scrap view showing the side of the bed remote from the manifold and illustrates one possible method of anchoring the air cushions 3 to a bar 6 extending the length of each section of the bed by means of loops of material 7. For clarity, the air sacs 1 are not shown in Figure 2. These loops 7 are conveniently completed by press-studs 8 or connected by 'Velcro' material (Velcro is a registered trade mark) to enable the cushions 3 to be releasably attached to the bed bar6.

As described in our above-mentioned British Patent No. 1474018 and PCTapplication No. PCT/GB84/ 00196, the posture or contour of the surface ofthe support appliance can be varied by inflating bellows beneath the baseboard of the bed, the baseboard being articulated as shown in our British patent and PCTapplication. It is convenient to utilise the airsupp lytubewhich feeds the head orfoot bellows two inflate the transit mattress via the manifold 4.

One method ofachieving this is shown in Figure 4.

Referring particularly to Figure 4, reference numeral 12 represents a conduit for supply of air from the blower or pump unit to the head or foot bellows via conduit 13.

An air supply for the transit mattress is taken from conduits 12 and 13 via a T' junction fitting at 14. A side branch offitting 14can be connected to a conduit 16 one way valve 15 and a manual air valve assembly 15A. Valve 15 is biassed in the closed position, e.g. by means of a ball orflap normally pressed against its seat in its closed position by pressure of air in conduits 12 and 13. Valve 15Aon conduit 16 includes a projection 15B which opens the ball orflap in valve 15anon insertion into valve 15A. At the other end of conduit 16 a socket fitting 17 is provided for connec tin to nozzle 5 of manifold 4.

Thus the arrangement is such that on pressing the valve assembly 15A of conduit 16 into valve 15and socket fitting 17 onto the end of nozzle 5, airwill pass at blower pressure into manifold 4 and hence inflate the air cushions 3.

In operation, the patient will normally be lying on the air sacs 1, and the transit mattress will be in deflated condition, sandwiched between the inflated sacs 1. On pushing the valve assembly 1 5a of conduit 16 into valve 15 and the socket 17 onto nozzle 5, air is admitted to the transit mattress. Simultaneously, the operator gradually reduces the airsupplyto the air sacs 1 with the resultthatthe patient'sweightwill be progressively transferred to the air cushions 3 of the transit mattress. The socket fitting 17 may include a non-return valve so that once the transit mattress has been inflated the blower can be switched off and the air supply hoses to the bed disconnected, leaving the transit mattress inflated.However, it is preferred that the valve 1 5A includes a manually operated cock (as shown in Figure 4) which can be closed to maintain the air in the transit mattress after disconnecting valves 15 and 15A. Thus, in the eventthatthe patient suffers cardiac arrest whilst supported on the transit mattress, the fitting 17 can be pulled off the nozzle 5 (all the air connections are of the push-pull type), whereupon thetransit mattress will exhaust rapidly through the nozzle 5 and the patient will be left resting on the firm baseboard of the bed. When the bed is returned to the normal location and reconnected to a power supply, the air sacs 1 can then be inflated gradually while the transit mattress is corresponding- ly deflated. The transit mattress can be left in position between the air sacs 1 for use on the next occasion when the bed is moved or alternatively, can be slid out from between the air sacs 1 and used on another bed. The cushions of the transit mattress are manufactured from an airtight material, which preferably has a smooth, lowfriction character so as to facilitate the slipping of the cushions between the air sacs.

Claims

1. Atransit mattress for use with air support ap- pliances of the kind in which a plurality of elongated inflatable air sacs are arranged transversely of the bed structure, said mattress comprising a plurality of inflatable cushions, each of which is adapted to be interposed between a pair of air sacs (or between a head or foot board and a sac), said air cushions being inflatable via conduit means from a source of pressurised air.

2. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein said air cushions are inflatable via a manifold which extends lengthwise ofthe mattress and linksthe cushions.

3. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein the manifold is flexible and is welded to the cushions.

4. A mattress according to any one of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the manifold is connected to an air supply via an air supplytube which includes a quick release connection.

5. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cushions include means for releasably attachingthem to the base structure ofthe bed.