JP2574120B2 - Low pressure air pad for pressure ulcer prevention - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcers which is effective for preventing bedsores which often occur due to long-term bed life.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, bedridden elderly people and patients undergoing long-term medical care tend to suffer from pressure sores, that is, so-called bedsores. It is said that pressure ulcers are caused by synergy such as moisture, body debris, etc., by congesting a part of the skin on the back, to which weight is particularly added, by lying in the same posture for a long time. That is, if the pressure in the part where the weight is particularly applied exceeds the blood flow inhibition pressure of the peripheral capillaries in that part, congestion occurs, causing necrosis of the tissue and resulting in pressure ulcer.

According to research, the body pressure applied to the back when sleeping on a mattress, for example, the body pressure applied to the vicinity of the sacrum,
At about 55 mmHg, the limit of pressure at which the peripheral capillaries on the back are occluded (peripheral capillary blood flow inhibition pressure) is approximately 32 mmHg.
It will be appreciated that this is Hg, and thus, as it is, exceeds the blood flow inhibition pressure of peripheral capillaries, leading to destruction of tissue and pressure ulcer. In order to prevent such pressure ulcers, it is effective to turn over from time to time to remove body pressure and eliminate congestion on the skin on the back, but the burden of caregivers' hand shortage is large. Furthermore, it may not be possible to turn over depending on the illness of the patient, which is not practical. So, conventionally,
The pad having the size of the floor portion is constituted by two sets of a large number of vacuoles communicating with each other, and air is supplied to each of the two sets of a large number of vacuoles by air supply means. An air pad (APP type) has been commercialized in which two sets of vacuoles are alternately inflated every time to distribute the body pressure applied to the back.

[0004]

However, while the APP-type air pad as described above is active, it is always the support of the body that is provided by any one set of a large number of vacuoles. Because the contact area is small compared to a flat pad, the body pressure is applied to the supporting part, and the body pressure is unevenly distributed depending on the body position. If it does not inflate, it may sink. In view of this background, the present invention does not alternately inflate two sets of vacuoles at regular intervals, but instead sets the body pressure applied to the back to a pressure lower than the above-mentioned blood flow inhibition pressure of the peripheral capillaries, while constantly supplying air. An object of the present invention is to provide a low-pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcer, which adjusts humidity at the time of bed of a patient by blowing out.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a bag-like body formed of a flexible sheet, comprising a first air chamber and a second air chamber. The first air chamber and the second air chamber are configured to continuously supply air at a predetermined pressure from the air supply means via an air supply pipe. There is a welding point in which a dividing surface for dividing the chamber into the second chamber and the first air chamber-side sheet, or the dividing surface and the second air chamber-side sheet are alternately welded in a narrow range at predetermined intervals. Then, the welding points between the first air chamber side sheet and the division surface and the welding points between the second air chamber side sheet and the division surface are alternately arranged to form a corrugated cross section in which the welding point is a valley. A support from the back to the waist of the patient's body at the welding point between the first air chamber side seat and the division surface At the location corresponding to the position, a fine hole for discharging air, which is communicated with the second air chamber, is formed, and the first air chamber is adjusted within a predetermined air pressure by an air supply means, while the second air chamber is adjusted to a predetermined pressure. The air is continuously supplied to blow out the air from the fine holes. In the above configuration, the air pressure in the first air chamber can be lower than the blood flow inhibition pressure of the peripheral capillaries.

[0006]

The air within the predetermined pressure is previously injected into the first air chamber. Next, air supply means is connected to the first air chamber and the second air chamber via air supply pipes to supply air. The patient rides on the first air chamber, and the fluctuation of the air pressure at this time is adjusted by the air supply means. on the other hand,
Air is always supplied to the second air chamber, and air is constantly ejected from the fine holes. The first gas chamber surface supporting the patient, the welding point between the dividing plane is divided into a first air chamber and the second air chamber are present at predetermined intervals, the welding point is first air chamber Because it is formed at a lower position than the surroundings,
The patient's back does not adhere to the weld point , resulting in some clearance. As described above, since the patient is supported by the first air chamber having a nearly flat surface, the contact area of the patient with the first air chamber is large, and the patient is supported at a low pressure equal to or lower than the blood flow inhibition pressure of the peripheral capillaries. Blood flow is not impaired, tissue destruction does not occur, and pressure ulcers can be prevented. Further, since the welding point is formed at a position lower than the periphery of the first air chamber, it is possible to prevent the micropore at the welding point from being closed by the patient's back, and Air is constantly blown out from the fine holes at the welding point with the second air chamber, and the humidity at the time of bed of the patient can be adjusted.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a low-pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcer according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a low-pressure air pad 1 for pressure ulcer prevention.
The low pressure air pad 1 for pressure ulcer prevention is a bag-like body formed by welding a plurality of flexible sheets (for example, vinyl chloride), and comprises a first air chamber 2 and a second air chamber 3.
It is composed of In the first air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3, a peripheral portion 4 is welded, and the entire surface inside the peripheral portion 4 is divided into a first air chamber 2 and a second air chamber 3. (Described later) and the first air chamber 2 side seat,
Alternatively, welding points 5a, 5a are formed by alternately welding the divided surface and the second air chamber 3 side sheet in a narrow range at predetermined intervals.
b. Air supply pipes 6 and 7 are connected to the first air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3, respectively, so that air of a predetermined pressure is supplied from air supply means described later. Micro holes 8 for discharging air, which are communicated with the inside of the second air chamber 3, are formed at several places among the welding points 5a between the first air chamber 2 side sheet and the divided surface. The location where the micro holes 8 are provided corresponds to the support position from the back to the waist of the patient's body.

The welding points 5a between the first air chamber 2 side sheet and the division surface are formed at appropriate intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions. On the other hand, the welding point 5b between the second air chamber 3 side sheet and the division surface is located between the welding points 5a adjacent in the longitudinal direction. By these welding points 5a and 5b, as shown in FIG.
, The welding point 5a between the first air chamber 2 side sheet and the dividing surface 9 is defined as a valley, and the welding point 5b between the second air chamber 3 side sheet and the dividing surface 9 is defined as The valley has a wave shape. The first air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3 have a Y-Y cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 1 which is divided by a dividing surface 9 as shown in FIG. And the second air chamber 3 includes a welding point 5a and a welding point 5b.
Are not present and each is a single bag.

Next, an example of the air supply means for the low pressure air pad 1 for preventing pressure ulcer having such a configuration will be described.
FIG. 4 shows an air pump device 10 which is an air supply unit.
The air pump device 10 includes a pump unit 11, a control unit 12 that controls the operation of the pump unit 11,
It has an air supply circuit 13 for supplying air to the air supply pipes 6 and 7 in the air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3. The air supply circuit 13 includes a path from the pump unit 11 to the first supply tube 16 via the branch pipe 14 and the check valve 15, and a second supply from the pump unit 11 to the branch pipe 14 and the check valve 17 via the check valve 17. And a path through the tube 18. Further, the first supply tube 16,
Leak valves 19 and 20 are connected to the second supply tube 18 for releasing air when the pressure becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.

A check valve 15 in the branch pipe 14;
The check valve 17 is of a variable pressure type and has, for example, an inlet 22 at one end of a tubular case 21 and a discharge port 23 at a tube wall as shown in FIG. Is accommodated in the valve chamber 25, and the adjustment knob 27 is screwed through the spring member 26 so as to close the inflow port 22. By turning the adjustment knob 27, the spring member 26 is compressed to change the pressing force for blocking the inlet from the inflow port 22 of the ball-shaped valve 24 to the valve chamber 25. Only when the inflow pressure of the air becomes greater than this pressing force does the ball-shaped valve 2
4 moves against the pressing force of the spring member 26 to open the entrance, and the air is sent out from the discharge port 23.

The leak valves 19 and 20 release air when the air pressure in the first air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3 exceeds the blood flow inhibition pressure (about 32 mmHg) of the peripheral capillaries. Has become.

In the air pump device 10 having such a configuration, the first supply tube 16 in the air supply circuit 13 has a pressure sensor 28 for detecting an air pressure in the tube.
Is provided, and the control unit 12 is configured to cause the operation of the pump unit 11 based on a detection signal from the pressure sensor 28.

In addition to the above air pump device 10,
Although not shown, the pressure ulcer prevention low-pressure air pad 1 may include a manual auxiliary pump, and the user may inject the auxiliary pump into the first air chamber 2 before use. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a manual auxiliary pump is incorporated in the air pump device 10 described above.

The low pressure air pad 1 for preventing pressure ulcer according to the present invention is constructed as described above. Next, the operation of the low pressure air pad 1 will be described. Initially, when using the air pad 1,
An auxiliary pump can be connected to the air supply pipe 6 of the first air chamber 2 to inject air. After injecting air, the first
The first supply tube 16 and the second supply tube 18 of the air pump device 10 are connected to the air supply pipes 6 and 7 of the air chamber 2 and the second air chamber 3, and the air pump device 10 is started. The air pressure in the first air chamber 2 can be detected by the pressure sensor 28, and the control unit 12 causes an appropriate display unit to display the air pressure based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor 28 or performs the operation of the pump unit 11. Can be made. Further, even when the patient gets on the first air chamber 2, the air pressure can be prevented from exceeding the blood flow inhibition pressure (about 32 mmHg) of the peripheral capillaries. For example, when the air pressure of the first air chamber 2 temporarily increases due to the impact when the patient rides on the air pad 1, the air inside the first supply tube 16 of the air pump device 10 communicating with the first air chamber 2 also becomes air. Pressure rises. Then, air is released from the leak valve 17 and the air pressure can be returned.

On the other hand, since air is not initially injected into the second air chamber 3, air is supplied from the pump unit 11 to the air supply pipe 7 via the branch pipe 14 and the check valve 17 via the second supply tube 18. To be injected. At this time, air is always injected so that the air pressure is in the range of 0 to 30 mmHg. That is, the injected air is
While spreading to the air chamber 3, the gas is ejected from the fine holes 8 at the welding point 5 a between the first air chamber 2 and the dividing surface 9. Note that the fine holes 8
Corresponds to the patient's back to waist, and the formed position is a welding point 5a located inside the surface of the first air chamber 2
As a result, an air passage is secured, and the humidity is adjusted from the back to the waist by the ejected air. Also, the second
By adjusting the air pressure in the air chamber 3 in the range of 0 to 30 mmHg, the amount of air jetted can be changed.

As described above, the air pad 1 can basically support the patient by the first air chamber 2. However, since the second air chamber 3 is always supplied with air, the air pad 1 can be used together with the humidity adjustment. The function of the cushion can be provided together with the one air chamber 2, and the patient can be stably supported. In addition, since the first air chamber 2 has a pressure equal to or lower than the blood flow inhibition pressure of the peripheral capillaries, the blood flow is not inhibited, the tissue is not destroyed, and pressure ulcers can be prevented.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a patient can be supported at a pressure lower than the blood flow inhibition pressure of peripheral capillaries, blood flow is not inhibited, tissue is not destroyed, and
A welded portion between the first air chamber side sheet and the divided surface serves as a recess to secure an air passage, while constantly blowing out air to adjust the humidity, thereby synergistically preventing pressure sores. .

[0018]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan explanatory view showing a low-pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the low pressure air pad for pressure ulcer prevention shown in FIG.
It is sectional explanatory drawing corresponding to a line.

FIG. 3 is a YY of the low pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcer shown in FIG. 1;
It is sectional explanatory drawing corresponding to a line.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view showing an example of an air pump device applied to the low-pressure air pad for preventing pressure ulcer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional explanatory view of a check valve in the air pump device shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Low-pressure air pad for pressure ulcer prevention 2 1st air chamber 3 2nd air chamber 4 Peripheral part 5a, 5b Welding point 6, 7 Air supply pipe 8 Micro hole 9 Division surface 10 Air pump device 11 Pump unit 12 Control part 13 Air supply circuit 14 Branch pipe 15, 17 Check valve 16 First supply tube 18 Second supply tube 19, 20 Leak valve 21 Case 22 Inlet 23 Discharge port 24 Ball-shaped valve 25 Valve chamber 26 Spring member 27 Adjusting knob 28 Pressure sensor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bag-like body formed of a flexible sheet, comprising a first air chamber and a second air chamber,
The first air chamber and the second air chamber are continuously supplied with air at a predetermined pressure from the air supply means via an air supply pipe. 2
The dividing surface and the first air chamber side sheet, or the dividing surface and the second air chamber side sheet, which are divided into air chambers, have welding points where narrow areas are alternately welded at predetermined intervals, respectively. 1
The welding points between the air chamber-side sheet and the dividing surface and the welding points between the second air chamber-side sheet and the dividing surface are alternately arranged to form a wave-shaped cross section with each welding point being a valley. At the welding point between the chamber-side sheet and the division surface, at a position corresponding to the support position from the back to the waist of the patient's body, a fine hole communicating with the second air chamber and ejecting air is formed, A pressure chamber for adjusting pressure of one air chamber within a predetermined air pressure by an air supply means, and continuously supplying air to a second air chamber to eject air from the micro holes. Low pressure air pad. 2. The air pressure in the first air chamber is lower than a blood flow inhibition pressure of peripheral capillaries.
The described low pressure air pad for pressure ulcer prevention.