JP3037924U - Air mat - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcer by preventing blood circulation and sweating of long-term occupants as much as possible. SOLUTION: A plurality of air cells arranged in parallel on an air mat main body are provided with exhaust holes consisting of fine holes, and a plurality of air cells divided into two parts are provided in an air pressure adjusting device for supplying air to these air cells. Each of the air cells is provided with a wave / continuous changeover switch for selecting whether to alternately or continuously supply air.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to an air mat that prevents pressure ulcers from occurring in long-term beds by adjusting the air pressure of an air mat that is divided into multiple parts and has irregularities on the upper surface.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Traditionally, the occurrence of pressure ulcers in long-term beds of sick people and the elderly has been a problem. Long-term sick people, elderly people, etc., who lie down on their futons with almost no movement, have poor blood circulation in their backs and waists, and their skin is warm and moist due to sweating from their backs and waists. , Which may accelerate the development of pressure ulcers.

A person who cares for a sick person who is in bed for a long period of time can prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcer by waking up the sick person and massaging the back and waist or wiping sweat with a towel etc. in a timely manner. However, waking up a sick person and performing massage or wiping imposes a heavy burden on the caregiver. In addition, for sick people who do not have nursing care, in order to prevent pressure ulcers themselves, it is necessary to wipe their backs etc. in a timely manner. I didn't get it. Therefore, futons and mats for the purpose of preventing pressure ulcers have recently been demanded.

As a mat that meets this demand, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper surface of the main body 1 is covered with an air mat main body 1 and a pillow 6 installed on one side of the upper surface of the air mat main body 1. A sheet 7 made of a flexible synthetic resin, and a plurality of cylindrical air cells 2 made of a shrinkable and inflatable material, each of which is arranged in the short side direction of the upper surface of the sheet 7 in a freely replaceable manner. An air mat comprising an air pressure adjusting device for adjusting the amount of air supplied into each air cell 2 and a controller 4 having an air pump (not shown), the air pressure adjusting devices being adjacent to each other at regular intervals. There is an air mat having a configuration in which a timer 5 for setting a wave duration is provided to set the wave duration by alternately adjusting the air pressure of each air cell 2 by supplying and exhausting air. In the figure, 8a and 8b indicate air supply pipes that connect the controller 4 and the air cell groups 2 in the even rows and the controller 4 and the air cell groups 2 in the odd rows in communication.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In such an air mat, expansion and contraction of adjacent air cells are alternately performed, and a weight distribution effect is obtained, so that poor circulation of blood in the back of a sleeping person is somewhat improved, and pressure ulcers are less likely to occur. There are advantages.

However, since this type of conventional air mat only supports a person lying on the surface or line of each air cell, it sufficiently improves poor blood circulation of a bedded person. However, the prevention of pressure ulcers was not sufficient because the effect of preventing sweating was insufficient.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention includes an air mat body, and a plurality of tubular air cell groups made of a contractible and inflatable material, each of which is arranged in a lateral direction on the upper surface of the air mat body so as to be individually replaceable. An air mat comprising an air pump equipped with an air pressure adjusting device for adjusting the amount of air supplied to each air cell, wherein each air cell is provided with an exhaust hole consisting of fine pores. Is equipped with a wave / continuous changeover switch that alternately adjusts the supply of air into each air cell of a specific air cell and a non-specific air cell that is appropriately selected, or that continuously supplies air. Even in the long-term bed, it is possible to prevent poor blood circulation in the bed and prevent sweating as much as possible.

[0008]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 In the air mat according to the present invention, a rectangular air mat body made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is wrapped in a flexible synthetic resin sheet together with a pillow provided at one end, and a large number are arranged in the short side direction. The closed cylindrical air cells are arranged side by side in contact with each other. The air cell is made of a shrinkable and expandable material, such as a flexible synthetic resin material, in which an unevenness is formed on the upper surface and an exhaust port made of fine holes is formed on the lower surface, and the lower surfaces of both ends are hooks etc. It is detachably attached to the sheets so that if one of the air cells is lost, it can be easily replaced with another new air cell.

The air cell is detachably connected to an air supply pipe in which even-numbered row air cells and odd-numbered row air cells are connected to an air pressure adjusting device. The air pressure adjustment device has an air pump that supplies air to both air supply pipes and a wave that supplies air to both air supply pipes alternately, or whether to supply air continuously to both air supply pipes. Continuous changeover switch, air pressure adjustment dial to adjust the amount of air supplied to both air supply pipes, and when supplying air to both air supply pipes continuously or alternately, set the continuous supply time and wave supply time It is equipped with a wave and continuous supply time setting timer.

The exhaust holes formed in the air cell are such that the exhaust amount per unit time is smaller than the amount of air supplied by the air pump regardless of the weight of the patient or the like. It is good. The exhaust hole may be formed on either the lower surface or the side surface of the air cell, but it is preferably formed downward to prevent the air from being directly blown to the body. Further, the number and size of the unevenness on the upper surface of the air cell, the shape of the unevenness, and the like are appropriately determined according to the purpose of use.

Generally, in an air cell, an even number of air cells and an odd number of air cells are specially connected to an air pressure adjusting device. However, it is not limited to the even number and the odd number of rows, and the physical condition of a patient or the like is not limited. You may decide the position and the number in consideration. Alternate supply of air into each air cell of the specified air cell and the non-specific air cell may be one supply and the other may be exhaust, but avoid exhaustion of body pressure suddenly and exhaust air from the exhaust hole by body weight. It is preferable to supply one of them and stop the supply of the other for the natural exhaust.

When using the air mat configured as described above, for example, a patient or the like is laid on the air cell, and the wave / continuous supply changeover switch of the air pressure adjusting device is adjusted to the wave, and the wave / continuous supply time setting timer is set. Is set to 5 minutes, and the air pressure adjustment dial is set to the desired pressure (liters / second) according to the purpose of the patient's weight and the effect of acupressure, and then the operation switch is turned on to operate the air pump. Air is supplied to the air cell until it reaches the set pressure, and the air is continuously maintained so that the pressure is maintained for 5 minutes and the amount of air exhausted from the air cell exhaust hole is added. Supplied.

When 5 minutes have passed, the air supply is switched to the odd air cell side by the operation of the wave / continuous supply time setting timer, and the air supply to the even air cell side is stopped. Air is supplied into the odd number of air cells. Since the supply / stop of this air is repeated, the operation switch is turned off after a desired time elapses, either artificially or by a timer, or at night, etc., the wave / continuous changeover switch of the air pressure adjustment device is continuously switched over. The air pressure adjusting dial may be adjusted so that the amount of air supplied is approximately equal to the amount of air exhausted from the air cell.

When air is supplied to even-numbered air cells, the patient is supported by even-numbered air cells, and when air is supplied to odd-numbered air cells, the patient is supported by odd-numbered air cells. Therefore, the patient is supported on the back of the body at different parts every 5 minutes to disperse the body pressure, and at the same time, air is constantly discharged from the exhaust holes on the bottom surface of the air cell due to the weight of the patient, etc. Air is exuded upward from the air and prevents perspiration on the back of the patient's body.

If the air feels cold in the winter or the like, a heating effect can be obtained by connecting a known simple warm air device to the air pressure adjusting device.

[0016]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an air mat according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5, as in the conventional example, a rectangular air mat main body 10 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam has a pillow 11 provided at one end in the longitudinal direction and a sheet made of a flexible synthetic resin. Wrapped by 12. In the short side direction of the sheet 12 on the upper surface of the air mat main body 10, a concave portion 13a and a convex portion 13b are continuously formed on the upper surface, and an exhaust port 14 formed of a fine hole is formed on the lower surface to allow the contraction and expansion. A large number of closed cylindrical air cells 13 made of a flexible synthetic resin material are in contact with each other, and both ends thereof are juxtaposed to the sheets 12 by hooks 21 so as to be detachable.

Among the large number of air cells 13, the even-numbered row air cells 13 and the odd-numbered row air cells 13 are detachably connected to a pair of air supply pipes 16 a and 16 b connected to the air pressure adjusting device 15, respectively. It The air pressure adjusting device 15 includes an operation switch 20 for turning the power on and off, a known air pump (not shown) for supplying air to the air supply pipes 16a, 16b, and both air supply pipes 16a, 16b. Adjusts the wave / continuous switching switch 17 for alternately supplying air or continuously supplying air to both air supply pipes 16a and 16b, and the amount of air supplied to both air supply pipes 16a and 16b. When supplying air to the air pressure adjusting dial 18 and the air supply pipes 16a and 16b continuously or alternately, the continuous supply time and the wave / continuous supply time setting timer 19 for setting the wave supply time are set. And are provided.

[0018]

[Effect of the invention]

 The air mat according to the present invention is embodied in the form described above, and has the effects described below. Since the air cell has exhaust holes consisting of fine holes, a gentle breeze is constantly blown to the lower surface of the body, so it is possible to suppress sweating on the lower surface of the body even in summer and the like, and to cause pressure ulcers as much as possible. It can be prevented.

By providing the wave / continuous changeover switch for supplying the air into each air cell of the appropriately specified air cell and the non-specific air cell alternately or simultaneously, If the switch is set to the wave side, the specific air cell and the non-specific air cell will alternately expand and contract, so the weight will be distributed and it will help prevent pressure ulcers.If it is set to the continuous side, the air cell will not wave. , Since only air is constantly blown to the underside of the patient's body as a breeze, it is possible to sleep well during sleep. In the case where the exhaust holes of the air cell are drilled downward, the air does not directly blow on the body, but it exudes convectively from the lower surface of the air cell to the upper surface, so discomfort such as dryness of the nasal cavity and oral cavity can be eliminated. You can get to bed and get a good night's sleep.

In the case where the air cell has unevenness formed on the upper surface, since it supports a patient or the like at a number of points, the acupressure effect is obtained, and the weight distribution and the air breeze are combined. Excellent effects of preventing sweating and preventing pressure ulcers are obtained. If the air pressure control device is equipped with a wave and continuous supply time setting timer that sets the wave supply time and continuous supply time of air, various conditions such as the physical condition and time zone of the occupant should be taken into consideration. It is convenient to use because the usage conditions of the air mat can be set.

When a plurality of air cells are divided into two and air is alternately supplied to them, when one is supplied, the other is stopped, so that the waves of the two divided air cells are slowly performed, and the patient etc. Since it does not give a rapid weight distribution to the body, it is less irritating, has a good feeling of use for the in-bed person in bed, and is suitable as an air mat.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of an air mat according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an air cell.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air cell.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air cell in the short side direction.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a connection state of a plurality of air cells and a pair of air supply pipes with a part omitted.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operating portion of the air pressure adjusting device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional air mat.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an air cell, and FIG. 8B is a sectional view of a central portion thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Air mat main body 13 ... Air cell 13a ... Recessed portion 13b ... Convex portion 14 ... Exhaust port 15 ... Air pressure adjusting device 17 ... Wave / continuous switch 19 ... Wave / continuous Supply time setting timer

Claims (5)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. An air mat main body (10) and a plurality of tubular members made of a contractible and inflatable material, each of which is arranged in a lateral direction on the upper surface of the air mat main body (10) so as to be replaceable. Air cell (13) group and each air cell (1
3) An air mat comprising an air pump equipped with an air pressure adjusting device (15) for adjusting the amount of air supplied to the inside, wherein each air cell (13) has an exhaust hole (14) consisting of fine holes. Perforated air pressure adjusting device (15)
Is a wave / continuous changeover switch for supplying air into each air cell (13) of an appropriately specified air cell (13) and a non-specific air cell (13) alternately or simultaneously. An air mat characterized in that (17) is provided. 2. An exhaust hole (14) for each air cell (13).
Is formed so as to face downward. Air mat as described. 3. The unevenness (13a, 13b) of an appropriate shape is formed on the upper surface of each air cell (13).
And claim 2. Air mat described in either. 4. The air pressure adjusting device (15) is provided with a wave / continuous supply time setting timer (19) for setting a wave supply time and a continuous supply time of air. To claim 3. Air mat described in either. 5. The alternate supply of air supply is supply and stop. To claim 4. Air mat described in either.