GB2558745A

GB2558745A - Improvements to bed and mattress therefore and use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2558745A
Application number: GB1718808.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Owens Thomas
Original assignee: Essential Healthcare Solutions UK Ltd
Current assignee: Essential Healthcare Solutions UK Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-14
Filing date: 2017-11-14
Publication date: 2018-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-14
Also published as: GB201718808D0; GB2558745B

Abstract

The invention relates to a mattress and a bed including the mattress. The mattress has at least one zone 22 & 26 including a plurality of cells 52 connected to a gas supply to allow the selective supply of gas to the cells in order to vary and fine tune the support provided to a patient on the mattress. Each cell 52 may include a core of foam material (58, figure 4b) located in a cavity defined by an enclosure (54). Also disclosed is a cell for use in the formation of a mattress for a bed. Further disclosed is a method of using the disclosed mattress by the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells to provide a positive movement force to move the patient.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Essential Healthcare Solutions (UK) Limited Essential Enterprise Village, Field Head Lane, BIRSTALL, Yorkshire, WF17 9BN, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

A61G 7/057 (2006.01) A47C 27/78 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2508187 A US 5152021 A US 20070186349 A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CL A61G Other: WPI, EPODOC

A47C 27/10 (2006.01)

US 5815865 A US 20100180384 A1 US 20020129448 A1 (72) Inventor(s):

Thomas Francis Owens (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Bailey Walsh & Co LLP

York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Improvements to bed and mattress therefore and use thereof Abstract Title: Mattress including an array of inflatable cells (57) The invention relates to a mattress and a bed including the mattress. The mattress has at least one zone 22 & 26 including a plurality of cells 52 connected to a gas supply to allow the selective supply of gas to the cells in order to vary and fine tune the support provided to a patient on the mattress. Each cell 52 may include a core of foam material (58, figure 4b) located in a cavity defined by an enclosure (54). Also disclosed is a cell for use in the formation of a mattress for a bed. Further disclosed is a method of using the disclosed mattress by the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells to provide a positive movement force to move the patient.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Improvements to Bed and Mattress therefore and use thereof

The invention to which this application relates is to improvements for a bed, and a mattress therefore. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the invention relates to beds and mattresses which are provided for use by persons who are patients in a hospital or are recovering in another environment.

The use of beds for patients is an important aspect in the recovery of those patients from operations and/or the alleviation of discomfort and provision of comfort to those patients who may be suffering from long term or permanent debilitating illnesses which require the patient to spend long periods of time in bed. If the beds are not appropriate then there is a risk of general discomfort, and also pressure damage to the patient, resulting in development of a pressure ulcer, and this can affect any individual, although it is more prevalent in older people. This can result in a reduction of mobility and activities of daily living, poor nutritional status, increased pain, and an increased financial cost to the care sector. This, in turn can lead to an increased stay in hospital, increased community nurse visits and/or a reduction in health-related quality of life for those who have a pressure ulcer, and/or general discomfort compared to those without.

Pressure ulcers are areas of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue, believed to be caused either by pressure, or by a combination of pressure and shear (European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel & National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2014). The costs of treating and managing pressure damage is dependent on severity of skin damage and in 2010 the Department of Health in the UK stated that the cost of treating a category 1 pressure ulcer (superficial damage) to be approximately £1,214 rising to £14,108 for a category 4 pressure ulcer (damage to the skin that extends to the bone). The prevalence of pressure ulcers in patients in European hospitals is believed to range from 8.3% to 23% and it will therefore be appreciated that this will have significant impact on patient comfort, treatment and resources. Furthermore, the presence of pressure ulcers in a patient has been associated with a two to four-fold increase in risk of death in older people in intensive care units.

It has therefore been identified that there is a need to reduce the prevalence of pressure ulcer occurrence in patients and there are several known designs of mattress which are intended to attempt to provide this solution and which can be selectively purchased and used. One such mattress is disclosed in W02014/080196 which discloses a mattress structure in combination with an air supply. While this form of mattress may provide some improvement, it is found that there are still problems caused by the occurrence of pressure ulcers and the level of comfort is often not satisfactory.

It is also important to provide improvements to mattresses in terms of handling, cleaning, temperature control and the like as these all lead to improvements in the comfort of the patient.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a bed, and a mattress for the same which has a composition and structure which provides improvements in the provision of comfort to the patient in comparison to conventional mattresses.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mattress including a body, said body including an assembly of cells which, in combination, form at least one zone of the body to support a person, a base with respect to which the cells are located and wherein said assembly of cells which define the at least one zone are connected to gas supply means to allow the selective supply of gas to the cells in the said at least one zone.

Typically the said gas supply is a supply of air and is referred to hereonin in a non-limiting manner.

In one embodiment three zones are provided and at least the top surfaces of the zones are provided with a contoured shape, a first shape provided by the cells of the assembly which define the first zone and a second shape which is provided to define the second zone and a third shape, which may be the same or different to the second shape, to form the third zone.

In one embodiment the second and/or third zones are also formed of an assembly of cells connected to air supply means or, alternatively may be formed by a portion of foam material in which the contours are provided.

In one embodiment at least some but typically all of the cells in the assembly of cells include one or more foam material units located in a cavity defined by an enclosure.

In one embodiment the foam material portion in the cells and when provided, as portions to form the top surface of a zone of the mattress body, is of a density of at least 35kg/m³, preferably the said density is greater than 40kg/m³ and yet further preferably the density is at least 49.5 kg/m³.

In one embodiment the foam material is a polyether/viscoelastic polyurethane material.

In one embodiment the said cell assembly in the first zone is located intermediate the ends of the mattress body on which the persons torso is located, a second zone is located at the end of the mattress body to specify the zone on which the persons lower legs, and feet and heels in particular, are to be located and a third zone at said opposing end at which the person’s head is located.

In one embodiment the contours are provided in the form of castellations in the foam units in the cells which form the first zone, as narrower castellations in the foam units in the cells or foam portion which form the second zone and as castellations again narrower in width than those of the first zone, in the foam units in the cells or foam material portion which forms the third zone.

The provision of different zones on the mattress top surface allow appropriate support zones to be provided for the heels, body torso and head respectively which are the parts which impact most on the mattress and therefore represent vulnerable areas for pressure ulcer occurrence, and so be provided with the form of support by the mattress which best matches the requirements at that location. This therefore reduces the need for supporting accessories such as heal offloading aids.

In one embodiment the mattress body includes side wall portions of foam material along the side walls of the mattress body which form the opposing side edges of the mattress body.

In one embodiment the portions of foam material are different to the foam material used in the cells.

In one embodiment the top surface of the side wall portion is angled downwardly towards the free end of the second zone so as to act as an aid for the movement of the person’s heels onto and from the mattress body.

The use of foam in the form as specified for at least the top surface of the mattress body means that the contact area of the top surface of the mattress is maximized which, in turn reduces the occurrence of relatively concentrated pressure point areas. Typically the foam has an open cell structure which improves air flow through the same.

In one embodiment the foam material used for the cell units and/or other parts of the mattress includes graphene.

In one embodiment the mattress includes a cover which is formed so as to enclose the said mattress body therein and form contact surfaces with bed sheets and the bed frame.

In one embodiment the cover is of a multi-layered structure including an outer layer with an external contact surface and an internal surface to which a polyurethane coating is applied, a foam layer, a bonding layer and an inner layer.

In one embodiment the cells in the said cell assembly are each connected by an air tube supply manifold connected to a pump which allows the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells, typically in a predesignated sequence, so as to provide a positive movement force on portions of the mattress and hence provide positive movement to the user of the mattress at that time. The foam units within the cells are air permeable and therefore allow the air to pass through the units as well as around the space defined between the units and the inner wall of the otherwise airtight enclosure to allow the inflation and deflation of the cell.

Typically the air pump is operated by a user controlled control means which allows the selective supply of air, the pressure of air and the sequence of inflation and deflation. It should be noted that the use of the mattress body and bed in accordance with the invention is of advantage when the air supply is switched off. In either case, the cells provide, independently and in conjunction, a cushioning effect to be created but without rapid adjustment, and the provision of the foam unit allows a relatively consistent comfort and support.

In one embodiment the cells are located with respect to the mattress by a plurality of straps. In one embodiment the straps are attached to a mattress base which includes a foam material layer and a fabric sheet to which the straps are attached.

Typically the straps form a loop which substantially surrounds the cell to locate the same in position independently of other cells in the assembly.

Typically the cell assembly is modular in that a selected cell can independently be removed and replaced without altering the condition of the other cells in the assembly, typically by sliding the same with respect to the straps in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cell.

In one embodiment the foam material layer has one or more passages formed therein for the reception and location of the air supply tubes.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a cell for use in the formation of a mattress for a bed, said cell comprising an enclosure which defines a space therein in which is received a foam material unit, and wherein said enclosure includes therein at least one gas supply connection means to allow the controlled passage of gas into and from the space of the enclosure so that the foam unit, and gas present within the enclosure at a given time provide a required level of support.

Typically the foam unit provides a first level of adjustable support and the selective flow of air allows further adjustment of the support provided by the cell.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bed, said bed including a mattress as defined herein.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using a mattress provided for a bed, said method comprising the steps of connecting a number of cells in a cell assembly provided as part of the mattress to an air tube supply manifold connected to a pump which allows the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells, in a predesignated sequence, so as to provide a positive movement force on portions of the mattress and hence provide positive movement to the user of the mattress at that time, wherein provided in said cells are one or more air permeable foam material units to allow the air to pass through the units as well as around the space defined between the units and the inner waE of the otherwise airtight enclosure to allow the inflation and deflation of the ceE.

In one embodiment the air pump is operated by a user controlled control means which allows the selective supply of air, the pressure of air and the sequence of inflation and deflation.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying Figures; wherein

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a bed frame and mattress in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a side and top surface of the mattress in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of the base of a mattress body in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4a and b illustrate end and side views of a cell in connection with a mattress body in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrate a cell assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates in a schematic manner a bed 2 comprising a mattress 4 and a support frame 6 which has a support base 8 on which the mattress body base 10 is located. The mattress has a top surface 12 provided to support the patient thereon and the frame has a head end 14 and a foot end 16 with respect to the expected orientation of the person when using the bed. The mattress 4 is provided with an external cover which is typically provided as a protective cover for the mattress body which is located within the cover. For ease of illustration, in the remaining Figures the mattress cover has been removed to show the mattress body.

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Referring now to Figure 2 there is illustrated a view of the top surface 12 and side wall 20 of the mattress body 4 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The top surface 12 is formed with a series of contours of different shapes in different zones of the top surface. In this embodiment there is provided a first set of castellations but it should be appreciated that other shapes could be used. The castellations are formed of a first shape 18 at a first, torso, zone 22 of the mattress body, a second set of ridged castellations 24 at a second, leg and foot, zone 26 of the mattress body and a third set 28, of castellations of a narrower shape than castellations 18 at a third, head, zone 30 of the mattress body.

The top surface 12 of the mattress body is formed by foam material which is of a greater density than the foam material which forms a base layer and the side portions 32, 34 of the mattress. The provision of greater density foam material perhaps with a density of 60 kg/m³ ,for the top surface 12 provides a comparatively greater contact area and this, in conjunction with the selective contour shapes for the different zones of the mattress top surface are found to provide improved resistance to the creation of pressure ulcers on patients when lying on the bed mattress.

In addition, there is provided an air supply system in the form of a pump 36 connected by air supply tubes to a manifold interface 38 which leads to a manifold of air supply tubes as will be further described.

Turning now to Figure 3 there is illustrated a plan view of the base foam layer 40 of the mattress body 2 with the top layer of foam material portion for zone 30 and the cells assemblies for zones 22 and 26 removed. In addition to the foam base layer 40 there are shown the side portions 32, 34 and an air supply manifold which comprises a first set of air supply connections 42 and a second set of air connections 44. The manifold is located in a channel 46 formed in the base foam layer. Also provided is a sheet material layer 48 which is located with the base foam layer and extends along the length of the mattress body and engaged with the said sheet material layer are first and second rows of straps in the form of loops 50.

Referring now to Figures 4a and b there is illustrated a cell in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for use to form the cell assembly of zone 22. Each cell 52 is provided with an enclosure 54 formed of a plastic material in which is provided first and second apertures 56 for connection with an air supply connection 42 or 44. In addition, located within the enclosure 52 is one or more foam material units 58 so that, in conjunction with the air in the envelope, a varying level of support can be provided by each cell 52, with the variance depending on the level of air present in the cell at an instant in time. The level and type of support can be selected by the provision of the form of contour on the top surface 12 of the foam unit so that as shown in the zone 26 the contour shape 24 is different to that for the cell shown in Figures 4a and b such that the degree and type of support is altered even though the remainder of the cell structure remains the same. The selective provision of air to the interior of the cells also adjusts the support provided at an instant of time.

The connection of the cells in combination to form a cell assembly is illustrated in Figure 5, which is a partial side elevation of the mattress body and which shows some of the cells 52 which form part of the cell assembly of the zone 22 and some of the cells 52' which form part of the cell assembly of the zone 26. Each of the cells 52 is located with the sheet material layer 48 by first and second loops 50, one of which is shown. In order to remove a cell 52 from the loops and hence the body the same is moved as indicated by arrow 60 in Figure 3. With the cells 52, 52' held in position the same are connected to either a connection 42 or a connection 44 of the air supply manifold. In one sequence of operation the air supply control means supplies air to the cells connected to connections 42 so that they will inflate and provide greater support and pressure as indicated by arrows 62 than the cells connected to the connections 44 and after a period of time this is reversed with air supplied instead to the cells 52, 52' connected to the connections 44 and so on in a repeating sequence for a predetermined or user determined period of time. Thus there is provided a mattress arrangement which has at least one zone including a plurality of cells which include a first support means in the form of one or more foam material units and a second support means in the form a of a selected quantity of air which is present in the cell at that time thereby allowing, via the selection of the air supply, a greater opportunity to vary and fine tune the support provided to a patient on the mattress.

Claims

1 A mattress including a body, said body including an assembly of cells which, in combination, form at least one zone of the body to support a person, a base with respect to which the cells are located and wherein said assembly of cells which define the at least one zone are connected to gas supply means to allow the selective supply of gas to the cells in the said at least one zone.

2. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein the said gas supply is a supply of air.

3. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein three zones are defined in the mattress.

4 A mattress according to claim 3 wherein at least the top surfaces of the zones are provided with a contoured shape, a first shape provided by the cells of the assembly which define the first zone, a second shape which is provided to define the second zone and a third shape, which may be the same or different to the second shape, to form the third zone.

5 A mattress according to claim 3 wherein the second and/or third zones are also formed of an assembly of cells connected to air supply means.

6 A mattress according to claim 3 wherein the second and third zones are formed by portion of foam material in which the contours are provided.

7 A mattress according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the said cells in the assembly of cells include one or more foam material units located in a cavity defined by an enclosure.

8 A mattress according to claim 7 wherein the foam material units in the cells form the top surface of a zone of the mattress body.

9 A mattress according to claim 7 where in the foam material is of a density of at least 35kg/m3, preferably fhe said density is greater than 40kg/m3 and yet further preferably the density is at least 49.5 kg/m3.

10 A mattress according to claim 7 wherein the foam material is a polyether/viscoelastic polyurethane material.

11. A mattress according to claim 3 wherein said cell assembly is located in the first zone located intermediate the ends of the mattress body on which the persons torso is located, a second zone is located at the end of the mattress body to specify the zone on which the persons lower legs, and feet and heels in particular, are to be located and a third zone at said opposing end at which the person’s head is located.

12 A mattress according to claim 11 wherein contours are provided in the form of castellations in the foam units in the cells which form the first zone, as narrower castellations in the foam units in the cells or foam portion which form the second zone and as castellations again narrower in width than those of the first zone, in the foam units in the cells or foam material portion which forms the third zone.

13 A mattress according to any of the preceding claims wherein the mattress body includes side wall portions of foam material along the side walls of the mattress body which form the opposing side edges of the mattress body.

14 A mattress according to claim 13 wherein the portions of foam material used to form the side edges is different to the foam material used in the cells.

15 A mattress according to claim 13 wherein the top surface of the side wall portions is angled downwardly towards the free end of the second zone so as to act as an aid for the movement of the person’s heels onto and from the mattress body.

16 A mattress according to any of the preceding claims wherein the foam material includes graphene.

17 A mattress according to any of the preceding claims wherein the mattress includes a cover which is formed so as to enclose the said mattress body therein and form contact surfaces with bed sheets and the bed frame.

18 A mattress according to claim 17 wherein the cover is of a multi-layered structure including an outer layer with an external contact surface and an internal surface to which a polyurethane coating is applied, a foam layer, a bonding layer and an inner layer.

19 A mattress according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cells in the said cell assembly are each connected by an air tube supply manifold connected to a pump which allows the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells.

20 A mattress according to claim 19 wherein the air is introduced and removed to respective cells in a predesignated sequence, so as to provide a positive movement force on portions of the mattress and hence provide positive movement to the user of the mattress at that time.

21 A mattress according to claim 19 wherein the foam material units within the cells are air permeable and therefore allow the air to pass through the units as well as around the space defined between the units and the inner wall of the otherwise airtight enclosure to allow the inflation and deflation of the cell.

22. A mattress according to claim 19 wherein the air pump is operated by a user controlled control means which allows the selective supply of air, the pressure of air and the sequence of inflation and deflation. It should be noted that the use of the mattress body and bed in accordance with the invention is of advantage when the air supply is switched off. In either case, the cells provide, independently and in conjunction, a cushioning effect to be created but without rapid adjustment, and the provision of the foam unit allows a relatively consistent comfort and support.

23 A mattress according to claim 1 wherein cells are independendy located with respect to the mattress body by a plurality of straps attached to a mattress base which includes a fabric sheet to which the straps are attached.

24. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein the cell assembly is modular in that a selected cell can independently be removed and replaced without altering the condition of the other cells in the assembly.

25 A cell for use in the formation of a mattress for a bed, said cell comprising an enclosure which defines a space therein in which is received a foam material unit, and wherein said enclosure includes therein at least one gas supply connection means to allow the controlled passage of gas into and from the space of the enclosure so that the foam unit, and gas present within the enclosure at a given time provide a required level of support.

26 A cell according to claim 25 wherein the material foam unit provides a first level of adjustable support and the selective flow of air allows further adjustment of the support provided by the cell.

27 A bed, said bed including a mattress as defined in any of claims 1-24.

28 A method of using a mattress provided for a bed, said method comprising the steps of connecting a number of cells in a cell assembly provided as part of the mattress to an air tube supply manifold connected to a pump which allows the selective introduction and removal of air to and from the cells, in a predesignated sequence, so as to provide a positive movement force on portions of the mattress and hence provide positive movement to the user of the mattress at that time, wherein provided in said cells are one or more air permeable foam material units to allow the air to pass through the units as well as around the space defined between the units and the inner wall of the otherwise airtight enclosure to allow the inflation and deflation of the cell.

29 A method according to claim 28 wherein the air pump is operated by a user controlled control means which allows the selective supply of air, the pressure of air and the sequence of inflation and deflation.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1718808.7 Examiner: MrPaulMakin