Beds – Bedclothing – And means to facilitate changing thereof
Patent
1990-08-23
1992-05-05
Luebke, Renee S.
Beds
Bedclothing
And means to facilitate changing thereof
5455, A47C 2708
Patent
active
051095610
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to alternating pressure pads, and in particular to alternating pressure pads of the kind used in the prevention and management of decubitus ulcers in bedridden patients.
The formation of decubitus ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, results from, amongst other things, the pressure applied to certain portions of the skin of a bedridden patient. In addition, it is well known that should the lower reflex arc be broken by, for instance, lesion of the spinal cord or of nerve roots then decubitus ulcers of unusual severity and rapidity of onset are likely to develop. It is known to meet the requirement for the prevention and management of decubitus ulcers with an alternating pressure pad comprising two sets of alternatively inflatable cells: the duration of the inflation and deflation cycles may last from under two minutes for a gentle massaging effect to over twenty minutes. Huntleigh Technology plc manufacture and supply such an alternating pressure pad system.
The comparative advantages of different sizes and shapes of inflatable cells are well known. Ideally, support provided by a given region of a pad should not be effected by the pressure applied by a patient to adjacent regions. Comfort therefore dictates a cell of small width. A small width cell is generally made as a cell which is small in both height as well as width. Such a cell, however, may not provide sufficient support for heavy patients or the larger bony protuberances of even relatively light patients unless pressurised to an uncomfortably high support pressure.
Consequently, in order to provide sufficient support it has been found necessary to use units which inflate to provide a pad of substantial thickness. Hitherto, this has been achieved by the use of large diameter units since, clearly, large diameter units inflate to a greater thickness than smaller diameter units. Patient comfort has, however, suffered.
Reconciling the advantages of small cells to large cells has hitherto been accomplished by providing a double layer pad, being essentially two alternating pressure pads laid one on top of the other to provide a maximum inflation height twice that of a single layer pad. This is particularly advantageous where there is a need for the lowest possible support pressure and greatest patient comfort, for instance with intensive care patients. There are, however, significant disadvantages in such known arrangements. For instance, it may be difficult to keep cells on top of one another properly aligned, there being a tendency for an inflated tube in the upper layer to slide into the void left by the adjacent deflated tube.
In accordance with the present invention, an alternating pressure pad comprises at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, each cell of height greater than width and comprising at least one internal membrane arranged to restrict the shape of said cell and divide the cell into two communicating regions characterised in that the width of the lower of the two regions is greater than the width of the upper of the two regions.
By providing an internal membrane in the cell which restricts the shape of the cell, the advantages hitherto associated with small cells as well as those associated with large cells are obtained. Further, the air supply system for inflating such a pad is considerably simpler than that of a double layer pad.
Preferably, the internal membrane is substantially parallel to the plane of the pad.
Such a cell structure has significant advantages since it provides improved stability of the upper region and ensures that the area of the patient's skin enjoying pressure relief is always greater than the supported area.
Preferably, the fluid for inflating each cell is supplied at one end of each cell and there is a gap in the membrane at each end to allow fluid to pass freely between the two regions.
Preferably, the membrane extends from the gaps over substantially the whole length of said cell.
Preferably, the alternating pressure pad further comprises a base sheet, at least one strap restra
REFERENCES:
patent: 3605145 (1971-09-01), Graebe
patent: 3909858 (1975-10-01), Ducker
patent: 4120061 (1978-10-01), Clark
patent: 4134166 (1979-01-01), Schuder
patent: 4694521 (1987-09-01), Tominaga
patent: 4944060 (1990-07-01), Peery et al.
patent: 4962552 (1990-10-01), Hasty
patent: 4979375 (1990-12-01), Nathans et al.
Huntleigh Technology PLC
Luebke Renee S.
Milano Michael
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