GB2460218A

GB2460218A - Pressure relieving mattress and chair cushion

Info

Publication number: GB2460218A
Application number: GB0808328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patricia Mchugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2008-05-08
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-08
Also published as: GB2460218B; GB0808328D0

Abstract

A static pressure relieving mattress and chair cushion adapted to provide full pressure relief at localized pressure points of a subject's body to prevent or correct pressure sores. The mattress/cushion has removable sections, which, when removed provide pressure free sites and when replaced provide a full mattress or full chair cushion. Sections can be removed at individual pressure points, or alternatively, all sections can be removed to provide full pressure relief. There are 8 removable sections in the mattress corresponding to the pressure points at the shoulders, elbows, hips, sacral area (tail of spine) and the heels. The chair cushion has two removable sections corresponding to the sacrum and ischium areas of the body. The mattress/cushion is made of slow release foam and may have a covering sheet.

Description

A Pressure Relieving Mattress and Chair Cushion

Background

This invention relates to a pressure relieving mattress and chair cushion.

People with health problems who have to spend most of their day lying in bed or sitting in a chair and are unable to reposition themselves are in great danger of developing pressure sores/ulcers. Removing pressure allows blood to flow normally and keeps skin cell oxygen at correct levels promoting healthy skin. To prevent or correct pressure sores all pressure points at boney prominences on the body should be pressure free, however some of the existing pressure relief mattresses and cushions can be problematic, for example, gel and water mattresses are heavy and whilst relieving pressure in one area can produce pressure in another, also there is a danger of shear friction due to movement of the mattress. Air mattresses can under or over inflate and both of these problems could put a person at risk of developing pressure sores, furthermore, air mattresses require a pump or motor to distribute air at correct levels, they are electronically powered and noisy.

Correct pressure care equipment is an essential component of any pressure relief management programme as pressure sores, if not treated correctly, can become infected and could lead to death.

Summary of Invention

To overcome the above problems this invention provides a mattress that is static, made of slow release foam which has removable sections at all pressure points on the body to provide localized pressure point relief i.e. two at shoulder blades, two for elbows, two at the ischium areas, one at the sacrum area, which also provides pressure relief to the hipbone when a subject is lying on their side and one section at the anckles. Sections can be removed individually to treat one area or all sections can be removed to provide full pressure free sites at all pressure points or alternatively, sections can be replaced to provide a full working mattress. The mattress resembles a jigsaw puzzle in appearance.

The chair cushion, although one component, has a seating section and a back section, there are two removable sections, one in the seat and the other at the lower part of the back. These sections when removed provide full pressure relief to the tail of the spine, known as the sacral area. The removable sections being the essential and key features of these inventions, each section having three slits at the top and one at the bottom to provide finger and thumb grips for easy removal and replacement. The Mattress can be cut and sculptured to individual needs and sizes i.e. two separate' heel' removable sections to allow for various heights.

Advantages: One very important advantage of both inventions are that they are static therefore providing safety, particularly the Mattress, as, if a subject has to be resuscitated nursing staff need to have the patient lying flat and steady.

Both mattress and cushion do not require maintenance as there are no pumps or motors needed for operation.

Examples of the inventions will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Pages 4 and 5 of 8-Mattress. Pages 6 and 7 of 8-Cushion.

Pages 4 and 5 of 8, figures 1 and 2 show two removable sections being lifted out of their housing units to provide pressure free sites for the shoulder blades.

* Figures 3 and 4 show two removable sections being lifted out to provide pressure free sites for a subjects elbows * Figures 5 and 6 show two removable sections being lifted out to provide pressure free sites for the ischjum areas (one of the three sections of the hipbone) * Figure 7 shows one removable section being lifted out to provide a pressure free site for the Sacrum area of the body, this section can also be used to provide pressure relief to the hip bones when a subject is lying on their side * Figure 8 shows a removable section to provide pressure relief for a subjects heels, this section is cut straight at the heel site but wedged at the toe site to provide a footrest section for comfort. This section when, removed, provides a " cushion" to be placed between a subjects knees to prevent friction when they are lying on their side.

* Page 6 of 8 shows a cushion with two removable parts housed, one in the seat area and one at the bottom of the back area. The cushion being one component.

* Page 7 of 8 shows the cushion with the two sections removed to provide a pressure free site to the Sacrum and Ischium areas of a subjects body.

Claims

Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: I A support for providing pressure relief at localized pressure points on a subject's body, the support being a mattress comprising of at least one discrete removable element which when removed provides a full pressure free site.
2 A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of discrete removable elements at all pressure points on a subject's body.
3 A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in claims I and 2 being a mattress having a plurality of discrete removable elements at all pressure points on a subject's body being shoulders, elbows, hips, sacral area and heels.
4 A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 comprising of a plurality of removable elements in a mattress being two at shoulders, two at elbows, two at hips, one at the sacral area/tail of spine and one wedged removable element at the heels.
A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in all preceding claims Comprising of a plurality of discrete removable elements providing pressure free sites at all pressure points on a subjects body, one support being a mattress with a plurality of eight removable elements and another support being a cushion, said cushion comprising of a seat section and a back section but being one component with two discrete removable elements, one at the lower part of the back section another being at the back section of the seat providing pressure relief at the sacralItail of the spine area.
6 A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in all preceding claims comprising of a plurality of discrete removable elements with a specifically adapted covering sheet to allow for elements to be removed and replaced, adapted sheets being one for mattress and one for cushion.
7 A support for providing pressure relief as claimed in claim 5, one support being a Mattress and another being a cushion, both supports having a plurality of removable elements, each element having three slits at the top and one at the bottom to provide fmger and thumb grips for easy removal and replacement.