HYBRID AIR IMMERSION MATTRESS
The hybrid air immersion mattress is a non-powered complete support system using an adjustable zoned air/foam filled cells and self inflating automatic pressure relief system that surrounds the patient and conforms to an individual's shape to provide skin/soft tissue injury protection and assist in wound healing providing greater immersion and comfort. The air/foam filled cells conform to an individual's shape to provide skin/soft tissue injury protection and assist in wound healing. The air immersion mattress stimulates a fluid environment which enhances the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, skin flaps, and grafts. The hybrid air immersion mattress is designed for comfort and enhanced circulation utilizing adjustable air bladders together with high density support foam. The apparatus includes a low friction mattress cover top, memory foam topper, mattresses air bladder containing air and foam elements, foam foundation, mattress bottom, inflation valve for the bolsters, and adjustable valves for the air bladders.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/654,431 filed on Apr. 8, 2018 and incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to the field of air mattresses made to provide varying amounts of support to selected parts of the body to reduce bed sores, increase the likelihood of healing of wounds to the skin and body structure, and to provide lateral support which helps to prevent a patient from rolling or slipping off the mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of mattresses are used in the medical field which provide patients with comfort, and with varying degrees of support, that is soft or firm, for different areas of the body. Inflatable mattresses have been used which have separate areas which can be inflated to a selected pressure, thus providing soft support in some areas and firmer support in other areas. Preferred mattresses include one or more inflatable chambers. Further, inflatable mattresses can be deflated to facilitate easy storage in a small space or an unobtrusive location. These mattresses may be easily and quickly deployed when needed.
Patients who spend most or all of each day in bed often develop bedsores due to particular spots of the body which may be damaged due to situations such as wounds or to lack of blood flow in those areas. These spots generally require special attention and need to be free from excess pressure which may be caused by too much contact with a mattress. Normal mattresses provide the same amount of support to all parts of the body which contact the mattress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe hybrid air immersion mattress is a non-powered complete support system using an adjustable zoned air/foam filled cells and self inflating automatic pressure relief system that surrounds the patient and conforms to an individual's shape to provide skin/soft tissue injury protection and assist in wound healing providing greater immersion and comfort. The air/foam filled cells conform to an individual's shape to provide skin/soft tissue injury protection and assist in wound healing. The air immersion mattress stimulates a fluid environment which enhances the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, skin flaps, and grafts. The hybrid air immersion mattress is designed for comfort and enhanced circulation utilizing adjustable air bladders together with high density support foam. The apparatus includes a low friction mattress cover top, memory foam topper, mattresses air bladder containing air and foam elements, foam foundation, mattress bottom, inflation valve for the bolsters, and adjustable valves for the air bladders. The air immersion mattress stimulates a fluid environment which enhances the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, skin flaps, and grafts. The hybrid air immersion mattress is designed for comfort the use of foam limits the deformation of individual sections of the mattress to maintain shape and rigidity.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a patient's air mattress comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of at least a base pad assembly including a two multi-density foam pads in fire sock, a plurality of lateral inflatable foam filled cross members, two lateral bolsters attaching and supporting the cross members, and a top high density SERENE visco elastic high density foam pad covered by a anti-sheer silicon sheet all wrapped in a mattress cover having a stretchable top cover and vinyl bottom cover connecting with a zipper. The silicone sheet covered foam pad comprises a high density foam using a more compact foam typically made from polyurethane which has a higher density than memory foam and sold under the brand name of SERENE foam from Carpenter Co., which is made from billions of microscopic air capsules providing open cells packed tightly together which act to enhance the support properties while reducing pressure on critical body parts.
The high density foam resist motion transfer, dissipates heat and is self adjusting relieving pressure points. The SERENE high density foam mattress pad measuring 36×80×2 inches is placed on top of the air bladder support which measures about 24×80 inches and consists of twelve parallel generally rectangular cells covered with a contiguous 20 mil poly-film. The first nine cells measure about 6×3×24 inches and contain two foam cell pads made from high density foam, each measuring about 6×3×10 inches. The cells have a three inch gap formed therebetween. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth cells measure about 7×2×24 inches and contain one foam pad made from high density foam which measures about 7×2×20 inches. The twelve cells are divided into three pneumatically independent sections. The first four of the twelve section form an upper torso section. The middle four of the twelve sections form a lower torso section, and the last four sections form a leg section. Each of the three pneumatically independent sections has an infeed nipple connected to an air tube which is then connected to a control valve. Each of two lateral edges of the second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, ninth and eleventh cells has and elastic strap fixed thereto. The left bolster and a right bolster are each made of 20 mil ploy-film and measure about 80 inches long with a diameter of about 5 inches and contain a high density foam pad measuring about 80×5×4 inches. Both bolsters are pneumatically fed by a common control valve. The elastic straps are sized to receive and firmly hold the bolsters against the lateral edges of the foam filled inflatable cross members. The cross members and the bolsters rest on the top surface of the fire-sock with the 36×80×2 inch pads inside and are self centering so the patient can scoot. A fire sleeve surrounds the high density foam pad measuring about 20×80 inches wherein the bottom surface of the sleeve has spaced apart patches of hook and/or loop material. The top surface of the bladder has spaced apart corresponding patches of loop and/or hook material. The sleeve is placed on the bladder so that the spaced apart patches of hook material become fixed to the spaced apart patches of strap material, thereby fixing the sleeve to the bladder. The fire-sock, the bladder, the bolsters and the sleeve are placed inside a zippered seven way stretch mattress top cover having a vinyl bottom.
It is an object of this invention to provide a patient's air mattress which includes separated areas which can provide selected firmness based on the amount of air in the air cells in that area.
It is an object of this invention to provide a patient's air mattress which includes bolsters on each side of the mattress which provide lateral support preventing a patient from rolling or sliding off the mattress, and wherein the bolsters on each side of the mattress can be inflated to a higher pressure than the middle portion of the mattress.
It is an object of this invention to provide a patient's air mattress which includes self inflating cells which are grouped into three areas including an upper torso area, a lower torso area, and a leg area. Self inflation is performed when the control valve for the particular area is opened and the foam fill expands within the air cells causing air to be sucked into the cells.
It is an object of this invention to provide a patient's air mattress which is about 36 inches wide, about 80 inches long, and about 10 inches high and includes two base layers of foam rubber, one above the other, two air filled lateral tubes which are 5″×4″×80″ with foam pieces, one on the left side and one on the right side, a central bladder including twelve parallel contiguous air filled cells divided into three groups: an upper torso area, a lower torso area, and a leg area, and a top matt covering the central bladder.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressure reducing and relief mattress to decrease the pressure to less than 30 psi, (32 mm of Hg), placed upon capillaries and tissue due to reduced mobility of a patient and preventing capillary closure.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein:
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
As used herein, the term “about” can be reasonably appreciated by a person skilled in the art to denote somewhat above or somewhat below the stated numerical value, to within a range of +10%.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a patient hybrid air immersion mattress 100 as shown in
A therapeutic air mattress assembly is a non-powered self inflating, pressure relief system that surrounds a patient with air allowing greater immersion and comfort, simulating a fluid environment to reduce pressure ulcers, skin flaps, and grafts. The mattress design provides an adjustable amount of support in selected areas for maximum comfort and ease of movement of the patient and minimum likelihood of bedsores. The assembly includes a pair of spaced apart parallel inflatable longitudinal members or bolster having a plurality of inflated memory foam filled cross cylinders or cells positioned therebetween and perpendicular thereto, secured thereto by a plurality of spaced apart releasable sleeves. The foam in the foam filled inflatable cross member cells of the central bladder 62 collapses under pressure and has pocket of air for distribution of the air pressure. Patient movement will depress bladders but the resilient memory foam expands pulling air back into the original inflated dimensions of the cell when movement occurs.
The air pressure of the longitudinal members or bolsters and cross members is adjustable and includes one-way check valves for inflation and deflation and adjustment of pressure for the head, body, and foot sections. The air pressure can be adjusted for individual cells or more preferably for selected cells for creating pressure zones. In addition, shut off valves may be used to overinflate the bolster or selected cross cells. The memory foam dissipates the weight of the patient and a low friction sleeve comprising parachute material enables the patient to shift their weight sliding over the mattress surface without binding and allows positioning of the patient by an assistant with a minimum amount of lifting due to the low friction sleeve. The self inflating cell foam cushions in fluid communication with the one way valves lets air into cell to re-inflate to atmospheric pressure when the downward pressure exerted from the patient is removed. Sensors show how much pressure is in each section. A dial setting on regulator valve is used to set pressure for different settings.
The bolsters are pneumatically fed by a common control valve. The elastic straps are sized to receive and firmly hold the bolsters against the lateral edges of the bladder. The bladder and the bolsters rest on the top surface of the fire-sock with the memory foam pads inside. Covering the bladder is a high density SERENE foam pad having a top surface covered by a low friction silicone sheet of parachute material. The outer bottom surface of the top silicone covered pad sleeve comprises a stretchable material and includes a plurality of patches of hook and loop material adhering thereto by an adhesive for cooperative engagement with a corresponding positioned hook and loop patch of material adhesively attached to the top surface of selected foam filled inflatable cross members. The top surface of the bladder has spaced apart patches of hook and loop material. The sleeve is placed on the bladder so that the spaced apart patches of hook material become fixed to the spaced apart patches of loop material, thereby removably affixing the sleeve to the bladder. The air bladder assembly is slidably supported on the surface of the fire-sock holding the base mattress pads of multi-density foam therein. The components are disposed inside a zippered mattress cover comprising a seven way stretch fabric top cover attached to an 18 oz vinyl bottom cover by a zipper extending along the side of the mattress cover.
The air immersion mattress includes a number of foam filled inflatable center cells secured between bolsters with elastic bands. The cells and or bolsters can be filled with a selected amount of air. Nursing homes no longer allow beds with rails so the mattress is designed to be firm in the center cell section, but the bolsters provide peripheral support and retain the patient in place while they sleep or if it is necessary to move the patient to one side to apply treatment the bolster is expanded so that a top portion extends above the center cells providing a side rail means. Moreover the space between the center cell and bolster forms a wedge shaped depression for holding a patient on the side locking the patient in position on the side of the mattress. The foam has memory and will re-inflate when ever the patient moves reducing pressure on the foam to eliminate or minimize bed sores which occur whenever over 30 psig is continually placed on skin for long periods of time which restricts capillary blood circulation. The foam may be formed in a single elongated rectangular block or two or more blocks arranged end to end.
The air immersion mattress includes the SERENE visco elastic high density foam covered with a high shear parachute fabric comprising a silicon sheet material which is slick having a low friction surface so the seven way stretch top cover does not bind due but rather slides with respect to the silicone material during patient movement. The next layer is the air mattress bladder assembly. The bottom layer comprises a cell filled foam mattress. The breathable polymer fabric top cover encloses the mattress assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an air immersion hybrid mattress assembly. The bottom layer comprises cell filled foam mattress pads. The middle layer of the air mattress assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart longitudinal bolsters resting on the top outer edges of the mattress. A plurality of adjustable inflatable cross cells containing memory foam are positioned side by side between the bolsters and supported by the bottom mattress pad layer.
The hybrid air immersion mattress 100 comprises multiple layers of support material covered with an outer mattress cover 60 having a bottom vinyl portion 63 and top stretch portion 62 including a zipper extending along a peripheral side.
A top layer 21 includes a high density visco elastic SERENE foam sheet 46 covered by a sleeve 40 of parachute material comprising a silicon based material having a slick low friction surface to prevent binding from patient movement. The top foam layer is placed on top of the foam filled inflatable lateral member air bladder mattress assembly 59 supported by a base mattress assembly 51 covered with a fire sock. The entire assembly is placed inside a zip mattress cover 60 having a top stretch cover 61 and bottom vinyl cover 63.
The base mattress assembly 51 comprises a multi density foams including a bottom sheet 52 comprising a two inch thick sheet of medium density base foam supporting a two inch top sheet or topper 54 comprising a high density foam material. It should be noted that while the multi-density foam pads is not critical and that while preferred a single pad of a selected density may provide a suitable base foam. The mattress base assembly 51 is covered by a fire sock 50.
The base mattress 51 supports the air bladder mattress assembly 59 which includes a right bolster 14, a left bolster 15, and a central bladder 62 including twelve generally rectangular contiguous parallel air tight cells 1-12, each one containing a foam pad 101-112, air, and an air valve for controlling flow communication of ambient air in and out of the cells. The middle layer or air bladder mattress assembly 59 is disposed on top of the base mattress assembly 51 fire sock 50 containing the foam rubber layer 54 and high density foam layer 52.
The central bladder 62 is formed from injecting a gas such as air in an elongated or tubular member comprising gas impermeable sheet material which includes twelve parallel generally rectangular cells 1-12. Cells 1-9 each contain two spaced apart 6×10×3 inch foam pads 47 and 48 made of high density foam material. Each pair of foam pads 47 and 48 are separated by a three inch gap 53. Cells 10-12 each contain one 7×20×2 inch foam pad 46 made of high density foam material. All of the cells are formed within one contiguous bladder made from 20 mil gray poly-film which is RF welded to form 12 generally rectangular contiguous parallel air cells. Thus, the central bladder is about 80 inches long by about 24 inches wide.
The twelve cells 1-12 of the central bladder 62 are separated into three pneumatically independent sections. The upper torso section 64 consists of cells 1-4. The lower torso section 66 consists of cells 5-8. The leg section 68 consists of cells 9-12. Each of the three sections of the central bladder 62 is fed by one of three independent air inlet nipples 32, 34 and 36 which are connected to tubes which terminate at control valves. The upper torso section 64 is fed by nipple 32 and controlled by valve 22. The lower torso section 66 is fed by nipple 34 and controlled by valve 24. The leg section 68 is fed by nipple 36 and controlled by valve 26. Thus, the three independent sections of the central bladder 62 can be inflated to different levels.
To store the central bladder 62, the three control valves may be opened and the bladder is then folded or rolled up to press the air out and compress the foam pads within the twelve cells. Then the control valves are closed. To re-inflate the bladder, the control valves are opened and the foam pads will expand to cause air to be sucked into the cells, thus filling the bladder. The user can close the valve to each section when that section is inflated at the preferred level.
There is a gas “air” inlet opening which is used for inflating the head, foot, and body supporting air bladders of the mattress and the left and right bolsters. The mattress may be inflated by blowing into a tube connected to the gas inlet opening, by using a foot pump (not shown), by connecting a bottle of compressed gas, hand pump, compressed gas cartridge or by any known inflation means. The gas inlets are in fluid communication with all the inflatable chambers of each section.
The left and right lateral edges of the cells 2-4, 6, 7, 9, and 11 include straps (4 inches×18 inches) large enough to receive and hold elastic bands securing the right bolster 14 and the left bolster 15 attached adjacent and parallel to on each side of the central bladder cell whereby the bolsters are secured tightly against the sides of the central bladder. Adjustable holding means such as an elastic band 16 may be used to secure each end edge of a selected cell of the central bladder to a bolster or the elastic bands may be spaced apart to provide support at selected bolsters depending upon the size and weight of the user. The bolsters 14 and 15 are also made from 20 mil poly-film which is RF welded into an eighty-six inch long tube which has a diameter of about five inches. The bolsters 14 and 15 are connected pneumatically with tubes joined at a Y connection which then terminates at a control valve. Each of the bolsters contains a foam pad which is 80×5×4 inches made from 18036CFR foam providing additional structural support thereto.
The bladder 62 with bolsters 14 and 15 rest on top of a fire sock 50 containing two foam pads 52 and 54 one pad above the other. The pads are 36×80×2 inches. The bottom pad 54 is made of high density foam and the bottom pad 52 is made of a selected high or medium density foam. A silicone sleeve 40 has a top surface made from parachute like material which is silky an eases maneuvering of a patient on the mattress and contains a SERENE high density foam sheet and the bottom surface is a stretchable fabric material. The silicone sleeve foam pad is supported by the foam filled inflatable air bladder assembly 62. The bottom surface of the top foam pad 40 contains patches of hook material adhered thereto for cooperatively engaging and the top surface of the bladder 62 containing patches of loop material so that when the sleeve 40 is placed on the bladder 62, the hook patches align with and adhere to the loop patches and the sleeve will not slide on the bladder. Finally, the entire assembly described above is placed inside a zip mattress cover.
To inflate the mattress simply turn the red and yellow valves counter clockwise to allow air to fill the mattress for five minutes, “with the patient off of the mattress”; close off the red and yellow valves by turning them clockwise. With the patient on the mattress, the red valve can be turned to adjust the air pressure of the head section, and the yellow valve can be turned to adjust the air pressure in the mid “body” section of the mattress. A hand pump can be used to fill the side air bolsters by connecting the quick connect valve on the pump to the inflation valve on the mattress and inflating the bolsters until the desired pressure is obtained therein. The quick release button on the quick connect valve is used to disconnect the pump.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A hybrid air immersion mattress, comprising:
- a base pad comprising a high density foam pad enclosed by a fire sock;
- an inflatable air bladder assembly consisting of a plurality of high density foamed filled inflatable cross member cells comprising a gas impermeable polymer supported by said base pad, at least some of said inflatable cross member cells including air bladder hook and loop material adhering to a top surface thereof;
- an inflatable left bolster and an inflatable right bolster supporting said plurality of high density foamed filled inflatable cross member cells disposed therebetween supported by said base pad;
- a top pad comprising a high density visco elastic foam including a top cover comprising a low friction silicone sheet connecting to a stretchable fabric covering a bottom surface of said top pad and said bottom surface of said sleeve having spaced apart patches of top pad hook and loop material adhering thereto for cooperative engagement with said air bladder hook and loop material; and
- a cover comprising a top sheet of stretchable air permeable fabric connecting to a vinyl bottom sheet of material connecting thereto by a zipper.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 8, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 10, 2019
Inventor: John Keesaer (Louisville, KY)
Application Number: 16/378,279
