Beds – Mattress – Having confined gas
Patent
1999-03-08
2000-12-05
Melius, Terry Lee
Beds
Mattress
Having confined gas
5710, 5706, A47C 2708, A61G 7057
Patent
active
06154907&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a pneumatic cushion having individually deformable cells for use in particular in the medical field to prevent bed sores.
BACKGROUND OF HE INVENTION
This type of cushion usually comprises a base sheet from which there project a plurality of adjacent inflatable cells that are individually adjustable in height.
When in good condition and appropriately inflated, such a cushion gives satisfaction. Nevertheless, for a patient who does not feel pain, it is not possible to determine whether the cushion is appropriately inflated. In particular, if there is a loss of pressure because a valve has been torn off, because of a puncture, etc., then the effectiveness of the cushion diminishes without the patient being aware of it.
Furthermore, it is difficult to adjust the inflation pressure of the cushion since the pressure depends on each patient and on the patient'position when installed on the cushion. The greater the weight exerted by the patient on the cushion, the greater the extent to which the cushion should be inflated.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to design a cushion of the above-specified type, that makes it possible detect any under- or over-inflation of the cushion and that facilitates adjusting the inflation pressure.
According to the invention, at least some of the cells are fitted internally with respective individual sensors of their deformation that deliver electric signals representative of the degree of cell deformation. Each sensor thus detects excess deformation, if any, of the cell with which it is associated. By monitoring cushion deformation instead of pressure, it is possible to monitor inflation pressure indirectly regardless of the user and the user's configuration on the cushion.
According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the sensor comprises an elastically compressible element disposed inside the cell to cause an electric switch to engage at a certain degree of deformation of the cell. The sensor is thus flexible and exerts no additional pressure on the user.
In a particular embodiment, the elastically compressible element is made of foam material.
The elastically compressible element is shorter in height than the cell.
The switch is disposed between the elastically compressible element and the base sheet.
In another embodiment of the sensor for sensing height deformation of the cells, the sensor comprises at least one photoelectric sensor operating in reflection to measure the deformation of the cell. The photoelectric sensor is fixed on the base sheet to emit a vertical incident light ray and to receive a vertical reflected light ray derived from the incident ray reflecting on the inside face of the top of the cell. The photoelectric cell(s) indicate(s) when two thresholds of deformation of the cell are crossed, a maximum threshold and a minimum threshold.
The sensors of the cells may advantageously be connected to an electronic processor unit which controls a compressed air feed unit connected to the cells to increase or decrease the pressure inside the cells when the sensors indicate that a maximum or a minimum threshold of deformation of the cells has been crossed. This automatically servo-controls inflation pressure to an optimum value that varies as a function of the user and of the user's position on the cushion, and that is determined by the sensors as a function of the deformation of the loaded cells.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of particular embodiments given by way of non-limiting example.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a pneumatic cushion of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a detail section view of a cell of the FIG. 1 cushion;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of zone III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view analogous to FIG. 3, the cell being loaded, i.e. being subjected to the weight of a user;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of zone V of
REFERENCES:
patent: 4542547 (1985-09-01), Sato
patent: 4694520 (1987-09-01), Paul et al.
patent: 4797962 (1989-01-01), Goode
patent: 4833457 (1989-05-01), Graebe, Jr.
patent: 4864671 (1989-09-01), Evans
patent: 4873737 (1989-10-01), Savenije
patent: 4949412 (1990-08-01), Goode
patent: 4953247 (1990-09-01), Hasty
patent: 4962552 (1990-10-01), Hasty
patent: 4989283 (1991-02-01), Krouskop
patent: 4995124 (1991-02-01), Wridge, Jr. et al.
patent: 5020176 (1991-06-01), Dotson
patent: 5062169 (1991-11-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 5142717 (1992-09-01), Everard et al.
patent: 5539942 (1996-07-01), Melou
patent: 5560374 (1996-10-01), Viard
patent: 5815864 (1998-10-01), Sloop
patent: 5848450 (1998-12-01), Oexman et al.
patent: 6009580 (2000-01-01), Caminade et al.
Melius Terry Lee
Poly System Injection
Santos Robert G.
LandOfFree
Pneumatic cushion having individually deformable cells does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pneumatic cushion having individually deformable cells, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pneumatic cushion having individually deformable cells will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-948985