Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
  • A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
  • A61G7/057—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor
  • A61G7/05769—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers
  • A61G7/05776—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Definitions

• the invention essentially relates to a method and an apparatus for rapid deflation and for substantially complete emptying of an inflatable chamber, in particular a chamber of a support device, such as a mattress.
• the invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the prevention and treatment of complications related to bed rest and prolonged immobilization, in particular pressure sores.
• inflatable chambers which constitute a preferred application of therapeutic surfaces, pose a problem when transported.
• the main object of the present invention is to solve the new technical problem consisting in providing a solution which makes it possible to achieve a maximum reduction in volume and in a relatively short time of an inflatable chamber, in particular a chamber. a support device such as a mattress.
• the main object of the present invention is also to solve the aforementioned new technical problem according to a solution which makes it possible to carry out this reduction in volume of an inflatable chamber in less than 10 min, preferably in less than 5 min, and even better in less than about 2 min.
• the main object of the present invention is also to solve the aforementioned new technical problem by providing a solution which makes it possible to avoid any contamination for the technical or nursing staff, that is to say by avoiding or eliminating any direct contact between the staff.
• technical or caregiver and the inflatable chamber in particular a chamber of a support device, such as a mattress and advantageously a therapeutic mattress.
• the present invention provides a method for rapidly reducing the volume of an inflatable chamber with an inflation fluid, said chamber having a given inflation volume, comprising a prior step of inflating the chamber to a pressure of predetermined inflation, characterized in that, at the time of deactivation of the inflatable chamber, in particular with a view to its transport, rapid deflation is carried out by suction at high flow rate of the inflation fluid present in said chamber for a sufficient period of time to obtain a substantially complete emptying of the inflation fluid from said chamber, thereby obtaining a minimized volume of said inflatable chamber in the deflated state.
• the aforementioned chamber is part of a support device, in particular for supporting the body of a patient, this support device comprising preferably a mattress.
• the large flow rate used for rapid deflation of the chamber is produced at a flow rate equal to or greater than 50 l / min, better equal to or greater than 100 1 / min, more preferably still more than 200 1 / min and more preferably still more than 300 1 / min.
• the rapid deflation at high flow rate is carried out at a low pressure which can be less than about 20 mbar.
• the total duration of the deflation of the chamber is equal to or less than approximately 10 min, preferably equal to or less than approximately 5 min, and even better less than approximately 2 min, in particular of the order of 1 min.
• the present invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the context of a method of supporting an element to be supported, in particular the body of a patient, comprising the provision of at least one support device comprising at least one flexible chamber. , inflatable, closed or with controlled exhaust, means for filling or evacuating a filling fluid from said chamber being provided as well as means for controlling a filling or evacuation of said inflation fluid as a function of various parameters retained, in particular the insertion distance of an element to be supported such as the body of a patient, the support element of which comprises said chamber and / or the inflation pressure in said chamber, characterized in that it further comprises means for rapid deflation by suction at high flow rate of the inflation fluid.
• the parameters for adjusting the insertion distance or the inflation pressure in the chamber are well known to those skilled in the art and allow, in particular in the case of patient support expected performance in terms of prevention or treatment of the patient, in particular complications related to prolonged bed rest or immobilization, in particular bedsores, as well as avoiding relatively high pressures at the various parts of the element to be supported, in particular the body of a patient, which are detrimental to the treatment and comfort of certain types of patients, in particular patients who have undergone a skin graft or patients subject to acute pain resulting from certain diseases.
• the method more particularly aims at reducing the maximum volume of the support device and in particular of the inflatable chamber to obtain a minimum volume, without manipulation.
• the present invention also relates to a device for rapidly inflating a chamber inflatable by an inflation fluid, said chamber having a determined inflation volume, comprising means for inflating said inflatable chamber by an inflation fluid to a predetermined inflation pressure, characterized in that it further comprises means for rapid deflation of said chamber by suction of said inflation fluid at high flow rate, these rapid deflation means being used during deactivation of said chamber in particular for its transport with a volume reduced to a minimum.
• the aforementioned rapid deflation means at high flow rate comprise at least one turbine or miniturbine, for example delivering a flow rate equal to or greater than 50 l / min, better still equal or greater than 100 l / min, better still greater than 200 l / min and more preferably greater than 300 l / min.
• control means which may advantageously include a control unit usually comprising an electronic or electromechanical or electropneumatic central unit managing the automatic operation of deflation of the chamber by said deflation means.
• the aforementioned rapid deflation means can be at least temporarily connectable to the inflation fluid supply pipe of the inflatable chamber, at the suction inlet of these means of deflation, for example at the suction inlet of a turbine or miniturbine which is the currently preferred means of deflation.
• the rapid deflation means will then be controlled until essentially complete suction of the inflation fluid contained in the inflatable chamber.
• the inflation fluid of the chamber consists of air, but it is naturally possible to use a liquid such as water or an aqueous solution.
• rapid deflation means which are provided to also serve for inflation of the above-mentioned inflatable chamber, the same means thus being used both for inflation and for rapid deflation of the inflatable chamber by a simple modification of connection of the inflation fluid supply duct of the inflatable chamber, as is well understood by a person skilled in the art and as will be easily understandable with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 which will be explained later.
• the device comprises unique pumping means used for inflating or deflating the above-mentioned inflatable chamber, these unique means comprising a fluid supply inlet, either from a supply of inflation fluid in the inflation position, or inflation fluid from the chamber, in the deflation position of said chamber, as well as an inflation fluid supply outlet, either leading to the fluid supply conduit inflation of the chamber in the inflation position of said chamber, either opening into the inflation fluid reserve or into the surrounding atmosphere in the deflation position thereof.
• the single rapid inflation or deflation means comprise a turbine or miniturbine comprising two access routes for inflation fluid, one access route from the reserve of inflation fluid, and an access path from the inflatable chamber, and two exit paths, an exit path at least temporarily in communication with the inflatable chamber and an exit path at least temporarily communicating with the fluid reserve or with the surrounding atmosphere .
• the fluid reserve is in fact constituted by the surrounding atmosphere.
• the two access routes to the turbine or miniturbine can be constituted on the one hand by a normal main route for connection with the fluid reserve, in particular the surrounding atmosphere, and a route secondary access comprising for example a venturi system temporarily communicating with the supply line of the inflatable chamber by means of a means authorizing or prohibiting communication, such as a valve, depending on whether one wishes to inflate or rapid deflation of said chamber.
• a route secondary access comprising for example a venturi system temporarily communicating with the supply line of the inflatable chamber by means of a means authorizing or prohibiting communication, such as a valve, depending on whether one wishes to inflate or rapid deflation of said chamber.
• the invention also makes it possible to rapidly deflate any type of chamber and in particular chambers for a support device, in particular for supporting the body of a patient.
• the support device or mattress can comprise a multitude of cushions or tubes communicating with each other, or communicating with each other only by zones, thus making it possible to define zones inflated to different pressures.
• the cushions or tubes can be deflated alternately individually, sequentially, in particular one in two, one in three, one in four or one in n, by a separate deflation means which, from preferably, will generally consist of an exhaust vent valve.
• the rapid deflation means is provided for carrying out a deflation carrying out a substantially total emptying of the inflation fluid, in particular the air, which is not achieved by a conventional deflation by a simple setting from the exhaust of the chamber to the open air. It is thus understood that the invention also finds application in any type of inflatable chamber.
• - Figure 1 is a schematic view of the principle of a rapid deflation apparatus according to the present invention, according to a first embodiment in which the inflatable chamber is an inflatable chamber of a support element of an element to be supported such that a patient's body, this support element in this case being of the mattress type;
• - Figures 2 and 3 show a second embodiment according to the present invention with a fluid pumping means alternately for rapid inflation (Figure 2) and rapid deflation (Figure 3); and
• FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, currently preferred, further comprising a single means of pumping fluid, according to a circuit for circulating inflation fluid with automatic control, the position of rapid inflation of these circuits being represented in FIG. 4 and the rapid deflation position being represented in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention represented by the number general reference 10.
• This device comprises an actual support device 12, comprising for example at least one closed or controlled exhaust zone 13, flexible, inflatable, which can, for example, be composed of a multiplicity of inflatable tubes communicating with each other.
• This chamber 13 is inflatable under a predetermined initial inflation pressure, adjustable.
• This support device 12 generally rests on a bed base 14 or equivalent means.
• this support device 12 can be subdivided into several inflatable chambers which can thus be inflated to a predetermined initial inflation pressure different from that of the other chambers.
• control means 40 which advantageously include a control unit 42 which usually includes an electronic or electromechanical or electropneumatic central unit managing the automatic operation of the inflation of the chamber 13.
• the line 16 for supplying inflation fluid of the chamber 13 is connected to the inlet 18 of the deflation means 20, as shown, the outlet 22 of the deflation means 20 being connected to a reserve of fluid.
• the deflation means 20 comprise a turbine or mini-turbine 24 carrying out a deflation at a high flow rate, which is generally also carried out at low pressure.
• Such turbines or miniturbines 24 are well known to those skilled in the art and available commercially. They are generally capable of delivering flow rates of the order of more than 200 l / min, in particular of the order of 350 l / min at a low pressure of around 8 mbar. The pressure here does not matter during deflation.
• FIG. 2 and 3 there is shown a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention for which the same reference numbers are used with respect to the mode of Figure 1, but increased by 100 for the identical parts or having the same function.
• the device has the general reference number 1 10, the support device the general reference number 112, the chamber is referenced 113, the bed base 1 14, the inflation fluid supply line 116, the means of control 140 and the control unit 142.
• the apparatus 110 comprises unique means 120 for pumping inflation fluid which can either operate in the inflation mode of the chamber 113, as shown in FIG. 2, or in the deflation mode of the chamber 1 13, as shown in Figure 3, by a simple modification of the connection to the inlet 1 18 and to the outlet 122 of the supply line 116 of the chamber 113, as is understandable to the man of art and will be explained in more detail below.
• the apparatus 110 also comprises on the supply line 116 a non-return valve 130, for example with a valve calibrated to a few millibars.
• bypass pipe 132 constituting means of temporary communication with the surrounding atmosphere or a reserve of inflation fluid depending on whether the fluid consists of l air or not, comprising means such as a valve 134 allowing to put when desired, that is to say as shown in Figure 3, the outlet 122 of the pumping means 120 in communication with the surrounding atmosphere or with a reserve of inflation fluid.
• the chamber 1 13 can also communicate at least temporarily with the surrounding atmosphere or with a reserve of inflation fluid by a line 136 comprising temporary opening means 138 such as a valve, controlled electronically, electromechanically. or electropneumatic by the control means 140 and its control unit 142, as symbolized by the arrows corresponding to FIG. 2.
• a line 136 comprising temporary opening means 138 such as a valve, controlled electronically, electromechanically. or electropneumatic by the control means 140 and its control unit 142, as symbolized by the arrows corresponding to FIG. 2.
• control means 140 with its central 142 can control an initial rapid inflation by the pumping means 120, such as a turbine or miniturbine, of the chamber 1 13 up to 'at the predetermined inflation pressure sought.
• the pumping means 120 such as a turbine or miniturbine
• the temporary opening of the opening means 138 makes it possible to carry out limited controlled deflations of the chamber 113 in order to obtain regulation of the driving-in distance D of the patient P in the device for support 112 where a predetermined inflation pressure in the chamber 113.
• the structural modification shown in FIG. 3 is carried out, namely that the pipe 116 of supply to the chamber 113 is disconnected from the non-return means 130 so as to be connected to the inlet 118 of the pumping means 120.
• the temporary communication means 134 are then opened. Therefore, the start-up of the pumping means 120 achieves rapid pumping of the inflation fluid contained in the chamber 113 which is evacuated by the bypass line 132 either to the surrounding atmosphere when it comes to the air or a gas compatible with the atmosphere which could for example be nitrogen, or towards a reserve of inflation fluid when the fluid must be preserved and reused.
• the total deflation involving a substantially total emptying of the inflation fluid from the chamber 113 is carried out in an extremely short time as in the case of FIG. 1, with a minimum of handling in the device and without having to manipulate the support device 112 defining the chamber 113, for storage or transport, which limits or avoids contamination to technical personnel or carers.
• FIG. 4 and 5 there is shown a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention for which the reference numbers are further increased by 100.
• the apparatus has the general reference number 210, the support device reference number 212, room reference number 213, etc.
• This embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 is a variant of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, this variant is currently preferred.
• the modifications reside in the subdivision of the supply line 216 with inflation fluid for the chamber 213 which comprises a first subdivision 216a connected to the non-return means 230 themselves connected to the outlet 222 of the means of pumping 220, and a second branch 216b connected at least temporarily by temporary communication means 244, such as a valve, with a second inlet 218bis mounted as a branch of the main inlet 218 of pumping means 220.
• This second inlet 218bis in derivation can, for example, include a venturi.
• the means 234 and 244 constitute in a way unique means which can be controlled very simply manually or by electronic, electromagnetic or electronic means. electropneumatic by the central control unit 242 and the control means 240. Consequently, the inflation and inflation regulation by the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 are easily controlled by the control means 240 and the control unit 242 while the deflation with substantially complete emptying of the chamber 213 is controlled by the automatically modified arrangement of FIG. 5, by simple automatic control of the simultaneous opening of the temporary communication means 234 and 244.
• the invention thus makes it possible to achieve rapid deflation by a single command, without connection / disconnection, of the supply pipes of the inflatable chamber 213.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (31)

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• 1997
  • 1997-03-19 FR FR9703331A patent/FR2760967B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1998
  • 1998-03-19 JP JP54020998A patent/JP2001516241A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-03-19 AT AT98914947T patent/ATE206024T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-03-19 CA CA002283946A patent/CA2283946C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-03-19 WO PCT/FR1998/000549 patent/WO1998041128A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1998-03-19 AU AU69253/98A patent/AU6925398A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-03-19 DE DE69801817T patent/DE69801817T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-19 ES ES98914947T patent/ES2165153T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-19 BR BR9808618-9A patent/BR9808618A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-03-19 US US09/044,635 patent/US5947168A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-19 EP EP98914947A patent/EP0973425B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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