GB2562039A

GB2562039A - Inflatable mattress and systems

Info

Publication number: GB2562039A
Application number: GB1706582.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shams Iden; Scott James
Original assignee: Gbuk Group Ltd
Current assignee: Gbuk Group Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-25
Filing date: 2017-04-25
Publication date: 2018-11-07
Also published as: GB201706582D0

Abstract

Disclosed is an inflatable mattress 1 comprising an inflatable perimeter portion 3-6, and an inflatable inner portion, each portion having one or more inflatable chambers. The perimeter portion is separated from the inner portion by one or more boundary walls. The perimeter portion has a greater height than the inner portion, and the height of the perimeter portion itself is greater than its lateral dimension. A second aspect of the invention further comprises a plurality of perforations, disposed on an underside of the mattress to provide a gaseous cushion underneath the mattress. The perimeter and inner portions of the mattress may each comprise an inflation port to allow separate inflation of each portion. The one or more boundary walls may comprise at least one one-way valve. The inner portion may comprise a pair of longitudinal chambers 10,11 extending from a head end of the mattress to a foot end, and plurality of lateral tubular chambers 12-16.

Description

INFLATABLE MATTRESS AND SYSTEMS

Technical Field.

The invention relates to inflatable mattresses and lifting and transfer systems incorporating these.

Backmnmd to the Invention

Recovery of a fallen patient either within or outside of a medical facility is a high risk situation posing potential risk of further injury to the patient and/or the staff invol ved, In particular, mechanic hoists are not suitable for the recovery of post resuscitation patients that must be kept in a supine position whilst being lifted.

Inflatable patient mover systems have been used for more than 20 years. US5067189 describes such a system of multiple chambers and. bat Jt ’ Various modifications to the basic system have been proposed subsequently in US6073291, US7373680, and US771217Q.

More recently, air inflated lifts and jacks have been developed to allow caregivers to safely lift patients that have fallen without the need io gather large teams of staff together to manage a single incident. Air jacks used in combination with transfer sheets or mattresses allow patients to be raised to a designated height and transferred to a. bed.

Summary of the Invention

In a first broad, independent aspect, the invention provides an inflatable mattress comprising a perimeter inflatable portion with one or more optionally independently Inflatable chambers extending about the perimeter of said mattress and an inner inflatable portion with one or more Inflatable chambers; wherein said perimeter inflatable portion is separated from said inflatable inner portion by one or more boundary walls, and the perimeter inflatable portion has a greater height than the height of said inner inflatable portion but is itself a greater dimension in height, in cross section than it is In width. As such the perimeter inflatable portion adds both width to the mattress for the transport of bariatric patients and comfort and security to cradle the patient. This Is in contrast to the disclosure of US 7712170 where the perimeter is wider in cross-section than it is in height.

This configuration Is particularly advantageous because it allows advantageous lifting and. transportation of subjects, in particular patients, when considering a medical embodiment, since tire towered inner inflatable portion in combination with, the elevated perimeter inflatable portion serves to advantageously cradle the patient which allows a safer and more robust transportation from one location to the other. It also allows the perimeter and the inner portion to be employed to fb.lfll different functions, For example, the pressure in tire inner portion m&y be different to the pressure in the perimeter inflatable portion. Similarly, the order of fee inflation may be adapted to particular circumstances, and therefore advantageous flexibility of use is provided. Furthermore, great resistance to bending is provided by the provision of boundaries which in certain embodiments maybe in the longitudinal direction between the neighbouring chambers of fee perimeter and inner portions.

In certain embodiments, multiple layers of mattress may be connected to achieve fee required height for a patient lift for transport and/or transfer. in a subsidiary aspect, the perimeter inflatable portion and the inner inflatable portion each comprise an inflation port allowing the separate inflation of tire or each chamber of each inflatable portion. This facilitates potentially a particularly rapid inflation of the mattress when being deployed. It also allows greater flexibility of deployment and for any deflation that may be required subsequent to use.

Independent Inflation of the perimeter potion also allows, in certain embodiments, for the mattress to be used effectively in the transportation of bariatric patients that may not fit comfortably on the inner inflatable portion alone.

In a further subsidiary aspect, a boundary' wall incorporates at least a one way valve configured to allow the passage of inflation fluid in. only' one direction between a chamber of the perimeter portion and a chamber of the inner portion. This configuration allows a potential for the sequential inflation by the perimeter portion which provides advantageous cradling of a patient.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the one way valve is configured to only allow the passage of inflation fund Irons a chamber of the perimeter portion to a chamber of the inner portion once the internal pressure of tire perimeter portion reaches a l evel sufficient to open the one way valve. This configuration provides advantageous sequential deployment of the perimeter portion followed by the inner portion.

In a subsidiary aspect, the inner portion comprises two longitudinal tubular chambers extending from a bead region of the perimeter portion to a foot region of the perimeter portion. This reinforces the sides of the mattress for improved comfort, and to better withstand bending when fully inflated and used during lifting and transportation of a pxucnt.

In a subsidiary aspect, the inner portion comprises a plurality of lateral tubular chambers extending between the longitudinal tubular chambers. This configuration provides an increase in comfort tor support along toe spine of a patient. It also allows the pressure to be better distributed. Furthermore, ii increases the rigidity of the mattress.

In. a further subsidiary aspect, the perimeter portion is formed by a succession of at least Oise tubular loot chamber, at least one tubular side longitudinal chamber, at least one tubular head chamber, and at least one tubular side longitudinal chamber. This provides in certain embodiments an improved structure for the retention of a patient on tire mattress during transport in a subsidiary aspect, the loot chamber comprises an inflation port and ducting for facilitating the infl ation of the inner portion. This allows the inner portion to be inflated from the foot region of the mattress, which has the least impact on the use of the mattress,

In a further subsidiary aspect, the ducting comprises two internal passage ways tor inflation of two separate chambers of the inner inflatable portion. This allows in certain embodiments the rilling of two separate chambers which may be separated by lateral chambers so as to allow inflation from the outside in which may seme to advantageously cradle a patient. It also allows for a symmetrical inflation in certain, embodiments.

To provide for a transfer capability, the inflatable mattress may be accompanied in certain embodiments by an independent or detachable transfer mattress wife either a similar geometry or a similar construction as fee inflatable lifting mattress; comprising a perimeter inflatable portion with one or more optionally independently inflatable chambers extending about the perimeter of said mattress and an inner inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers; wherein said perimeter inflatable portion is separated from said inflatable inner portion by one or more boundary? walls, and fee perimeter inflatable portion has a greater height than the height of said inner inflatable portion but is Itself a greater dimension in height when viewed in cross-section than it is in width. As such the perimeter inflatable portion adds, in certain embodiments, both width to the mattress for the transfer of bariatric patients and comfort and security to cradle fee patient.

The underside of the transfer mattress may provide, in certain embodiments, a mechanism for reduced friction to aid transfer from the Hit consisting of multiple perforations through which the inflation gas can, in use, continuously flow. The arrangement of the perforation on the underside of the transfer mattress may, in certain embodiments, be such that they do not compromise the strength of the transfer mattress or its ability to cradle the patient. The perforations may in certain embodiments be limited to the inner inflation members of the transfer mattress to provide lift to the portion that supports the load on the mattress and he at a higher concentration pu square metre of material in a centred area of the transfer mattress. The perimeter inflatable portion remains, in certain embodiments, entire and provides a skirt-effect to the whole,

In a subsidiary aspect, the mattress comprises an underside and a top side; the mattress further comprising a plurality of perforations in the underside which are configured to allow the passage of gas to provide a gaseous cushion underneath said mattress.

In a further subsidiary'· aspect, the inflatable mattress comprises a plurality of individually inflatable layers which form a stack of layers to achieve a predetermined height on inflation of one or more of said layers.

In a further independent aspect, the invention provides an inflatable transfer mattress comprising a perimeter inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers extending about the perimeter of the mattress and an inner Inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers; wherein the perimeter inflatable portion is separated from the inflatable inner portion by one or more boundary walls, and the perimeter inflatable portion has a greater height than the height of said inner inflatable portion and the height of the perimeter inflatable portion is greater than the lateral dimension of the perimeter inflatable portion and wherein the mattress comprises an underside and a top side; the mattress further comprising a plurality of perforations in the underside which are configured to allow the passage of gas to provide a gaseous cushion underneath the mattress. bi a subsidiary aspect, the plurality of perforations are provided solely on the underside of the inner Inflatable portion. in a subsidiary aspect, the perimeter inflatable portion forms a skirt, to bound the gaseous cushion. hr a subsidiary aspect, the underside of the mattress comprises a first portion with a first density of perforations and a further portion with a lower density of perforations.

In a subsidiary aspect, the first portion is provided in a central portion of the underside of said mattress.

In. a subsidiary aspect, the mattress further comprising means for attaching said transfer mattress to an inflatable mattress according to any one of the preceding aspects.

In a further independent aspect, the invention provides a lifting and transfer system comprising an Inflatable mattress according to any of foe preceding aspects. It is in the specific context of lifting and transfer that the improvements in structure outlined above are particularly manifested.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an inflatable mattress,

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of an inflatable mattress in perspective view.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an inflatable mattress.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a sequential inflation process,

Figure 5 shows a plan and part cross-sectional view of an Inflatable mattress.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of figure 5 with an illustration of the inflation process for its inner portion.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the underside of the transfer mattress and fee regional distribution of perforations.

Detailed, description of the figures hi figure 1, the inflatable mattress 1 incorporates a perimeter inflatable portion generally referenced 2 which is formed of a succession of: a side longitudinal tubular chamber 3, an end or foot tabular chamber 4, a itirtber side longitudinal or tubular chamber 5 and a further end or a head tubular chamber 6, The perimeter portion is substantially rectangular in this embodiment The cross-section of at least one if not each one of fee chambers 3 to 6 is ovoid. Preferably, in certain embodiments fire height of at least chambers 3 and 5 of the perimeter is greater than the height of the chambers of the inner portion, Furthermore,, in certain embodiments, as shown more clearly in figure 3, the height of chambers 3 or 5 Is greater than the width of these chambers. Other embodiments may envisage other forms of cross-section elliptical, triangular, and rectangular. as appropriate, for specific transportation requirements. Preferably, these other shapes of chambers when viewed in cross-section are higher than the chambers of the timer portion of the mattress and have a greater height than their width. The shape of chambers 4 and 6 may likewise possess these characteristics in certain, embodiments. As part of end portion 4, at least two ports 7 and 8 are envisaged. Pori 7 may facilitate the inflation of the perimeter portion by connecting an appropriate pump. Similarly, port 8 may facilitate the inflation of" the inner portion generally referenced 9.

The timer portion may comprise at least one longitudinal chamber such as longitudinal chambers 1(1 and. 11 and at least one laterally extending or cross chamber such as chambers .12,13,14, IS, and 16, These lateral chambers may be parallel to the head and foot chambers ibr end d. Similarly, longitudinal chambers 10 and 11 may be parallel to side longitudinal tubular chambers 3 and 5. The walls of fire chambers such as those provided between longitudinal chamber 10 and longitudinal chamber 3 provide a separation between inner and perimeter portions to facilitate their potential independent inflation. Furthermore, tubular head chamber 6 forms a wall against die upper ends 17 and lb of longitudinal chambers 10 and 11 to provide a further boundary wall between these respective chambers. A similar boundary is provided at the lower ends 19 and 20 between longitudinal chambers 10 and 11 and foot chamber 4. The junctions between respective tubular portions may either he present as part of a single layer construction or may incorporate welds or other joining mechanisms to form the mattress. In figure 2, identical numerical references have been retained for clarity.

Figure 3 shows bow the longitudinal tubular chambers ditfer from one another and how they are separated. In this embodiment the diameter of longitudinal chambers 1 ΰ and 11 is lower than the height of perimeter longitudinal chambers 3 and 5. In a preferred embodiment, the difference in the height between the perimeter chambers and the inner chambers may he of between one and five centimetres. Preferably, the difference is of two centimetres when both are fully inflated. This configuration, is particularly advantageous in terms of pushing foe patient lying on such a mattress towards the centre of the mattress, In preferred embodiments, the diameter of a lateral chamber such as chamber 14 may also he reduced when compared to the width of the chambers in the perimeter portion.

Figure 4 illustrates bow foe mattress may be inflated through port 7 in the foot, chamber 4. The inflation port 7 is in direct fluid communication with foe foot chamber 4 which allows the filling of fluid to be progressively evenly distributed between opposite perimeter longitudinal chambers 3 and 5. The head chamber 6 will also inflate since chambers 4, 5,6 and 3 together form the perimeter portion or outer ring. In preferred embodiments, one or more one way valves may be provided as shown in figure 5 through the wall formed between head chamber b and longitudinal inner chambers 10 and 11. In a preferred, embodiment, two one way valves 21 and 22 may he provided to facilitate the inflation of foe inner portion once the pressure in the perimeter portion exceeds tire pressure required for opening these. In this embodiment, it is possible to provide a single inlet or mtlation port such as inflation port 7 in order to sequentially inflate the perimeter pordon followed by the inner portion.

In preferred embodiments, as illustrated in figure 6, a secondary inflation port 8 is envisaged for the inflation o f the inner portion. A duct 23 may be provided within foot chamber 4 to communicate with the lower ends 19 and 20 of the longitudinal chambers 10 and 11, Duct 23 extends parallel to chamber 4 whilst being provided internally. It is equipped with passage ways 24 and 25 which are equidistant front the inlet port 8 and which feed Into the longitudinal inner chambers 10 and 11.

The inflatable mattress may preferably be incorporated Into a lilting and transfer system which may incorporate a fluid pump for connection to one or more inflation ports. In order to reduce the potential friction of the lower portion of die mattress on a surface during a transfer, it is possible to equip the lower portions of the chambers with arrays of perforations. The distribution of perforations may be more concentrated in a centred portion of the underside of the transfer mattress to counteract the load of the patient in this area (Figure 7), In ot her words, the underside of the mattress may be provided with a relatively central portion 26 with a higher area of density of perforation and a further portion 27 located outside of said central arsa with a lower density of perforations. In certain embodiments, the outermost portion 28 may be deprived of any perforations whatsoever. These may be pinholes or other micro apertures to facilitate the passage of fluid whereby provided the fluid pump maintains the pressure in fee mattress, a constant cushion of air may be provided underneath the mattress, In further embodiments, the array of perforations may be provided in the upper surface of the mattress, which may for certain applications increase fee comfort for the patient, Furthermore, in other embodiment, the array of perforations may be provided solely in the perimeter portion or solely in the inner portion. For example, by providing the perforation solely under the Inner portion, operators of fee mattress may more readily be able to grip the perimeter portion with a reduced likelihood of slippage whilst still having sufficient low friction contact between the inner portion and a surface on which the mattress may be standing.

Furthermore, fee mattress may be equipped wife one or more releasably secured handles which would further allow an operator to lift the mattress for transfer purposes with or without earrymg a patient. These handles may be releasably secured by appropriate releasable attachment means such as an arrangement of filamentary touch to close pads of known kind.

The material of the inflatable mattress may be primarily polymeric with a textile coating in order to provide evidence of staining should it be required.

Claims

ClaiiBS

1. An inflatable mattress comprising a perimeter inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers extending about the perimeter of said mattress and an inner inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers; wherein said perimeter inflatable portion is separated from said inflatable inner portion by one or more boundary walls, and the perimeter inflatable portion has a greater height than the height of said inner inflatable portion and the height of the perimeter inflatable portion is greater than Are lateral dimension of the perimeter inflatable portion.
2. An inflatable mattress according to claim 1, wherein said perimeter inflatable portion and said inner inflatable portion each comprise an inflation port allowing the separate inflation of the chambers of each inflatable portion.
3. An inflatable mattress according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a boundary wall incorporates at least a one way valve configured to allow the passage of inflation fluid in only one direction between a chamber of said perimeter portion and a chamber of said inner portion.
4. An inflatable mattress according to claim 3, wherein said one way valve is configured to only allow the passage of inflation fluid from a chamber of said perimeter portion to a chamber of said inner potion once the internal pressure of the perimeter portion reaches a level sufficient to open said one way valve,
5. An inflatable mattress according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said inner portion comprises two longitudinal tubular chambers extending from a head region of the perimeter portion to a foot region of the perimeter portion.
6. An inflatable mattress according to claim 5, wherein said inner portion comprises & plurality of lateral tubular chambers extending between said longitudinal tubular chambers. Ί. An inflatable mattress according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said perimeter portion is formed by a succession of at least one tubular foot chamber, at least one tubular side longitudinal chamber, at least one tabular head chamber and at least one tabular side longitudinal chamber.
8. An inflatable mattress according to claim 7, wherein said, foot chamber comprises an inflation portion and ducting for facilitating the inflation of said inner portion.
9. An inflatable mattress according to claim 8, wherein said ducting comprises two internal passageways for inflation of two separate chambers of said inner inflatable portion.
10. An inflatable mattress according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said mattress comprises an underside and a top side; said mattress further comprising: a plurality of perforations in said underside which are configured to allow the passage of gas to provide a gaseous cushion underneath said mattress. L An inflatable mattress according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of indi vidually inflatable layers which form a stack of layers to achieve a predetermined height on inflation of one or more of said layers,
12. An inflatable transfer mattress comprising a perimeter inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers extending about the perimeter of said mattress and an inner inflatable portion with one or more inflatable chambers; wherein said perimeter inflatable portion is separated from said inflatable inner' portion by one or more boundary walls, and the perimeter inflatable portion has a gr eater height than the height of said inner inflatable portion and the height of the perimeter inflatable portion is greater than the lateral dimension of foe perimeter inflatable portion and wherein said mattress comprises an underside and a top side; said mattress further comprising a plurality of perforations in said underside which are configured to allow the passage of gas to provide a gaseous cushion underneath said mattress. ] 3. An inflatable transfer mattress according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of perforations are provided solely on the underside of said inner inflatable portion,
14. An inflatable transfer mattes according to claim 13, wherein said perimeter inflatable portion forms a skirt to bound said gaseous cushion,
15. An inflatable transfer mattress according to any one of claims 12 to '14, further comprising means for attaching said transfer mattress to an inflatable mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
16. An infl atable transfer mattress according to any of claims 12 to 13, w herein, said underside of said mattress comprises a first portion with a first density of perforations and a further portion with a tower density of perforations. 17 An inflatable transfer mattress according to claim 16, wherein said first portion is provided in a central portion of the underside of said mattress. 18. A. lifting and transfer system comprising an inflatable mattress according to any of the preceding claim s.
19. A lifting and transfer system according to claim 18, further comprising one or more releasably secured handles.
20. An inflatable mattress substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures,