JP2004222986A - Knee raising air mat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knee raising air mat responding to the body position changing action. <P>SOLUTION: This knee raising air mat is provided with a central partition sheet 2 provided in a longitudinal central part, regulating the thickness of the central part of the air mat 1 to a preset value, dividing the mat into left/right air cells 3a and 3b with air communicated therebetween and capable of bending the air mat at the divided part; and intermediate partition sheets 4a and 4b provided longitudinally in the intermediate parts of the respective left/right cells and regulating the thickness to a value thicker than that of the central part. The left/right air cells are inclined so that the front part becomes lower than the rear part and recess parts 7a and 7b for stably holding the legs mounted thereon are formed in the intermediate partition sheet part of the left/right air cells. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a knee-lifting air mat that is placed under the knee of a bedridden patient to lift the knee.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a patient whose knee joint is still bent due to contracture or the like, compression force is concentrated on the buttocks at bedtime, which may cause a pressure sore. Therefore, it is conceivable to place an air mat under the bent knee joint in order to avoid this local concentration of compression force. Patent Literature 1 describes that a bolster is spread under the knee to relieve pain in the lower back.
[0003]
In addition, in bedridden patients, it is necessary to turn over from time to time to prevent pressure sores, and an automatic repositioning air mat is used. This is because the left and right air mats laid under the patient are alternately inflated to alternately lift the right or left side of the patient's body, and the body is alternately tilted left and right to obtain the same effect as rolling over. Such a structure is disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-510681 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-126013
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The bolster according to Patent Literature 1 cannot be bent at a central portion in a state where air is sealed and inflated. When the bolster is laid on a postural change air mat disclosed in Patent Literature 2, It is expected that the bolster will slip down and will not be able to maintain the knee lifted.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when laid on a postural change air mat, the center position is bent according to the expansion and contraction of the postural change air mat, and the left and right air cells are used. This enables the body position to be changed while maintaining the knee in a bent state.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention (Claim 1) provides a knee-lifting air mat that is formed of a flexible sheet, is inflated by air supply, is arranged below a knee of a bed patient, and maintains the knee in a bent state. A central partition sheet provided in the center, which regulates the thickness of the central portion of the air mat to a preset value, divides the air mat into left and right air cells in an air communication state, and allows the air mat to be bent at this portion, the right air cell The right air cell intermediate partition sheet, which is provided in the longitudinal direction at the middle of the right air cell and regulates the thickness of the middle part of the right air cell to a value larger than the center part, and is provided in the longitudinal direction at the middle of the left air cell. A left air cell middle partition sheet that regulates the thickness of the middle portion of the left air cell to a value greater than the center portion and allows air communication. It is inclined so that the front is lower than the rear, to the left and right air cells intermediate partition sheet part, in which recess for maintaining the loaded was leg stably is formed.
[0008]
In such a configuration, at the time of repositioning, the postural change air mat laid under the knee raising air mat operates, and, for example, when the right portion of the postural change air mat is inflated, the right side of the patient's body is pushed up and the patient's body is pushed up. The body leans. At this time, the knee-lifting air mat is pushed by the right air cell of the posture-changing air mat, and bends in the shape of a `` ku '' at the center, the right air cell rises, and the patient's right foot placed on To rise. Since the position of the left air cell of the knee-lifting air mat does not change, the left foot placed in the recess does not move either.
[0009]
In the present invention (claim 2), the center partition sheet is composed of two sheets arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval, and when bent at the center, the left and right air cells are separated at the center. In such a configuration, even when the knee-lifting air mat is bent at the central portion during the posture changing operation, the left and right air cells at the bent portion do not rub against each other, and no rubbing noise or abrasion of the air mat sheet occurs.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a knee lifting air mat according to the embodiment will be described. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a knee-lifting air mat (hereinafter, simply referred to as an air mat) having a sealed structure, which is formed of an air-impermeable flexible sheet such as a polyurethane film. Reference numeral 2 denotes two central partitioning sheets provided in parallel in the center in the longitudinal direction (the direction along the body of the bed patient), which are made of the same material as the sheets constituting the air mat 1, And is welded to the lower surface. The center partition sheet 2 regulates the thickness of the central portion of the air mat 1 to a predetermined value, for example, 4 cm, and divides the air mat 1 into left and right air cells 3a and 3b. The left and right air cells 3a and 3b are symmetric with respect to the center. The size of the two center partition sheets 2 is 4 cm in length and 26 cm in width, and the interval between them is about 2 cm. The space between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sheet 2 and the inside of the air mat 1 is open, so that the spaces between the left and right air cells 3a and 3b are in a communicating state.
[0011]
The reason why the center partition sheet 2 is made of two sheets and spaced apart is that when the air mat 1 is bent at the center portion, the left and right air cells 3a and 3b rub against each other at the bent portion, causing a rubbing sound or rubbing. This is to prevent the air mat sheet from being worn.
[0012]
Reference numerals 4a and 4b denote intermediate partition sheets provided in the longitudinal direction between the left and right air cells 3a and 3b to regulate the thickness of the intermediate portion between the left and right air cells 3a and 3b to a value larger than the central portion. The size of each intermediate partition sheet 4a, 4b can be a trapezoid having a base of 21 cm, a height of the rear side (foot side) in the longitudinal direction of 18 cm, and a height of 7 cm on the front side (head side) in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the air mat is inclined from the rear to the front. The inclined surface of the thigh is supported by the inclined portion. The bottom and upper sides of the intermediate partition sheets 4a and 4b are welded to the upper and lower surfaces inside the air mat 1. The spaces between the rear and front sides of the intermediate partition sheets 4a and 4b and the inside of the air mat 1 are open, and the spaces on both sides of the sheets 4a and 4b are in air communication.
[0013]
An air supply / exhaust tube 5 is connected to an air pump (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a welding line for the air mat 1, and the edges of the two sheets are welded by high frequency welding or the like to form a sealed bag structure. The size of the air mat 1 in the inflated state can be about 30 cm in length in the longitudinal direction, about 65 cm in width in the vertical direction, and about 16 cm in the maximum thickness. Further, the air mat pressure of the air mat 1 can be adjusted arbitrarily, whereby the elevation of the knee is adjusted. It is changed according to the patient's physique, degree of contracture, feeling of softness and the like. Furthermore, the air mat pressure can be changed periodically to change the elevation height and the feel.
[0014]
In the inflated state of the air mat 1, the air mat 1 is thinnest at the central partition sheet 2 and can be bent at this portion. In each of the left and right air cells 3a, 3b, an intermediate portion where the intermediate partition sheets 4a, 4b are located has concave portions 7a, 7b recessed from the periphery. The patient's knee or thigh is placed in the recesses 7a and 7b.
[0015]
Next, the usage state of the air mat 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the air mat 1 is placed under the knee and thigh of the patient 8 on the upper surface of the air mat 9 on which the patient 8 has laid in a state where the air supply is inflated. Note that, instead of the air mat 9, a mattress made of sponge foam or a normal futon can be used. By placing the knee on the air mat 1, in the case of a contracted leg, the knee joint is maintained in a bent state, and the pressing force on the buttocks is reduced. Further, even for patients without contracture symptoms, the burden on the lower back can be reduced.
[0016]
The air mat 1 can be laid under the air mat 9. In beds with the function of raising the upper body, it is common to raise the knees at the same time as raising the upper body to prevent the body from slipping. Some beds do not have them, and in such beds the air mat 1 is laid under the air mat 9. In this case, when raising the body, the air mat 1 is supplied with air to raise the knees, and the air pump of the air mat 1 is driven in conjunction with the drive source of the body raising mechanism. That is, the body raising drive source (hydraulic cylinder, air pump, etc.) is turned on to start the body raising operation, and at the same time, drives the air pump of the air mat 1 to supply air to the air mat 1 and exhaust the air mat 1 in synchronization with the power off. Do it.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows a state at the time of postural change, 10 is a postural change air mat laid under the mattress 9 and has left and right air cells 10a and 10b symmetrical in the longitudinal direction. Is expanded and the right side of the patient 8 is lifted and inclined. The mattress 9 and the air mat 1 are bent by the inflation of the right air cell 10a of the postural change air mat 10. The center of the air mat 1 is bent, and the thigh of the patient 8 is placed in the concave portions 7a and 7b of the left and right air cells 3a and 3b.
[0018]
FIG. 6 shows one practical example of the air mat 1 according to the present invention. Reference numeral 9 denotes an air mat corresponding to the above-mentioned mattress, and a two-system air mat to which air is supplied and exhausted from an air pump (not shown) can be used. Numeral 10 denotes a postural change air mat laid under the air mat 9. In the illustrated example, the right air cell 10a is supplied with air and inflated, and the patient (not shown, the head is located below the air mat in the figure). ) Shows the state of raising the right side of the body.
[0019]
Reference numerals 11a and 11b denote side air cells arranged on both sides of the air mat 1, which are always maintained in an inflated state and function to prevent the patient from falling. Reference numerals 12a and 12b denote stopper air cells arranged in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the left and right edge portions of the air mat 1 and work in conjunction with the body position changing air mat 10 to prevent the patient from shifting. That is, when the right air cell 10a of the postural change air mat 10 expands, the left stopper air cell 12b expands to support the patient's body. At this time, the left air cell 10b and the right stopper air cell 12a of the postural change air mat 10 are in the exhausted and contracted state.
[0020]
After a predetermined time elapses after the right air cell 3a is inflated, the air is exhausted. Thereafter, the air is supplied to the left air cell 3b to raise the left side of the patient's body. In response to this operation, the air mat 1 once returns to a flat state, and then bends again in a “C” shape. In this way, the posture change is automatically performed. The air mat 1 is disposed at a position on the air mat 1 where the patient's knee and thigh are located, and bends while the knee and thigh are stably supported when the postural change air mat 10 is activated.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention (Claim 1), the central portion is formed to be thin, and the central portion is configured to be easily bent. Therefore, when the air mat on which the patient is laid is bent by the operation of the body position changing air mat, it is responded to this. Bends and keeps the patient's knees and thighs stable. In addition, such an air mat can support the contracted leg in a bent state, reduce the compressive force applied to the buttocks, make the patient's sleeping posture easier, and perform the posture change in a stable posture. Furthermore, it goes without saying that a bed having a function of raising the upper body can be used as a general knee-lifting air mat that prevents the body from shifting when the body is raised.
[0022]
Further, according to the present invention (claim 2), since the left and right air cells are separated from each other with a space at the center, contact between the two air cells during bending is suppressed, and noise such as rubbing noise due to the contact is generated. Without doing so, wear due to rubbing can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a knee raising air mat according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a use state of the air mat.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a postural change operation state.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a practical use example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Knee raising air mat 2 ... Center partition sheet 3a, 3b ... Left and right air cells 4a, 4b ... Intermediate partition sheet 5 ... Air tubes 7a, 7b ... Concave part 8 ... Patient 9 ... Air mat 10 ... Body position changing air mats 11a, 11b ... Side Air cells 12a, 12b ... stopper air cells

Claims (2)

In a knee-lifting air mat formed of a flexible sheet and inflated by air supply, arranged below the knee of a bed patient, and maintaining the knee in a bent state,
The center partition sheet, which is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction, regulates the thickness of the center portion of the air mat to a predetermined value, divides the air mat into left and right air cells in an air communication state, and allows the air mat to be bent at this portion, A right air cell intermediate partition sheet that is provided in the middle of the right air cell in the longitudinal direction and regulates the thickness of the middle part of the right air cell to a value larger than the center part, and is capable of communicating with the air, and the middle of the left air cell in the longitudinal direction. And a left air cell middle partition sheet capable of communicating with air while regulating the thickness of the middle portion of the left air cell to a value greater than the center portion, and the left and right air cells are lower at the front than at the rear. A knee, wherein the knee is inclined, and a concave portion is formed in the left and right air cell intermediate partition sheet portion to stably maintain the mounted leg. On the air mattress. 2. The center partition sheet according to claim 1, wherein the central partition sheet is formed of two sheets arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval, and the left and right air cells are separated from each other at the center when bent at the center. Knee lift air mat.

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