Beds – Bedclothing – And means to facilitate changing thereof
Patent
1986-12-15
1988-10-18
Grosz, Alexander
Beds
Bedclothing
And means to facilitate changing thereof
5455, A61G 704, A47C 2710
Patent
active
047776790
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a body support device, in the form of a cushion to cure or prevent bedsores on body parts of bedridden patients.
This invention aims at eliminating the inconveniences inherent in rubber or foam rubber cushions. This is accomplished principally in three ways: it alternates compression and decompression in tissues around a bedsore; it avoids compression of the bedsore itself; and it brings air in contact with the bedsore.
To this end, this body support device comprises three elements: a means of inducing the compression and decompression which acts as a massage and prevents constant pressure on the tissues around the bedsore; a means of avoiding contact with and around the bedsore; and a means of conducting air to the bedsore.
Here follows a description of the invention with reference to the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the first prototype of the body support cushion;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-section views of the cushion along lines A to A of FIG. 1 wherein;
FIG. 2 shows an inflation or compression phase and FIG. 3 shows a deflation or decompression phase;
FIGS. 4A-4E show partial cross-sections of cushions provided with central open-space or opening;
FIGS. 5A-5B show partial sectional views of cushions made up of two layers, of which the upper layer can be alternately inflated and deflated, The FIG. 5A showing deflation and FIG. 5B showing inflation;
FIGS. 6A-6B are partial cross-section views of one layer made up of two independent circuits of tubes running alongside each other and being alternately inflated-deflated, the FIG. 6A shows one of the circuits inflated and the FIG. 6B shows the other circuit inflated;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of another prototype of a cushion made of two independent inflatable circuits, the open-space or opening in the cushion being provided with an air-intake;
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section view along lines A--A of the cushion shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further prototype of a two-layer cushion, wherein the upper layer is made up of two independent inflatable circuits of tubes and the lower layer forms a fixed base;
FIGS. 10 and 11 show two types of cushions, honey-combed with air-pockets; FIGS. 10A-10C and 11A-11C diagram three phases of inflation-deflation of these air-pockets cushions;
FIG. 12A shows, on a large scale, two halves of an air pocket before it is assembled and FIG. 12B diagrams the installation of an air-pocket on an inflatable circuit;
FIG. 13 is a diagram in partial perspective of a portion of still another type of an air-pocket cushion.
In these various drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same parts, unless otherwise indicated.
The cushion shown on FIGS. 1-3 includes a fixed base 1 of polyurethene foam. This fixed base has an undulating surface 2 covered by a thin sheet of polyethelene 3. The undulations are concentric and continuous.
Bottoms of hollows 4 have a second sheet of polyethylene 5 which is attached to the first sheet 3 along its edges 6 only, so that when the cushion is inflated the sheet 5 takes the shape of air filled tubes 7.
Air is forced into the tubes by a pump 8 through a duct 9 which traverses the polyurethene base 1.
The pump 8 alternately forces the air in and out, thus bringing about inflation and deflation of the tubes 7.
In the middle of the cushion, there is an open space 10 which is fed by an air intake 11. An opening of this air intake is small enough not to bring about a loss of pressure in the tubes 7 while they are being filled with air. The air intake 11 has a valve (not shown) which closes when the pump starts to draw the air out of the tubes 7. This valve opens when the pump starts to force air into the tubes 7 and stays open when the tubes 7 are more or less inflaged.
FIGS. 4A to 4E show partial cross section diagrams of several ways to form the open space or opening: opening extending through the cushion (FIG. 4A); closed at the bottom, by a sheet 15 (FIG. 4B) or by a layer of material 16 (FIGS. 4C-4E).
In FIGS. 4C and 4D, the thickness of the bo
REFERENCES:
patent: 3297023 (1967-01-01), Foley
patent: 3681797 (1972-08-01), Messner
patent: 4206524 (1980-06-01), Cook
patent: 4225984 (1980-10-01), Corbett et al.
patent: 4267611 (1981-05-01), Agulnick
LandOfFree
Inflatable cushion with central opening does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inflatable cushion with central opening, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inflatable cushion with central opening will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1186692