Bolstered mattress
A medical bed having a frame with a mattress support surface. A mattress having a central portion, which has an upper surface adapted to support a patient's body, and a lower surface to interface with the support surface of the frame. The mattress has a right and a left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion, each bolster extending above the upper surface. Each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster height in relation to the upper surface of the central portion of the mattress. The mattress has a mattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattress assembly.
This invention relates to beds, such as hospital or medical/surgical beds, and mattresses for such beds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHospital beds or medical/surgical beds are used by patients during a hospital stay, and are also employed for in-home care. A typical hospital bed has a bed frame and a mattress positioned upon the bed frame. The bed frame usually has bilateral side rails positioned on the upper and lower portion of the bed frame that are designed to keep mentally or physically impaired patients from accidentally rolling off of the bed and falling on the floor, possibly resulting in an injury to the patients. The side rails can be positioned in an up position, where they block patients from rolling off the bed, or positioned in a down position that allows patients freedom to enter or exit the mattress arranged upon the bed frame.
Unfortunately, the design of the hospital bed does not prevent and, in fact, contributes to other injuries to a certain group of patients, for example patients with pre-existing conditions such as altered mental status (organic or acquired), confusion, restlessness, or lack of muscle control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, a medical bed has a frame with a mattress support surface and a mattress supported on the support surface. In another aspect, a mattress is designed for use in conjunction with a medical/surgical bed frame, which has a surface for receiving the mattress. The mattress has a central portion with an upper surface adapted to support a patient's body and a lower surface that interfaces with the support or receiving surface of the frame. The mattress has a right and left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion, such that each bolster extends above the upper surface. Each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster height in relation to the upper surface of the central portion of the mattress. A mattress cover extends about the central portion and both bolsters such that the mattress and the cover together form a single mattress assembly.
One or more of the following features may also be included. A side rail mounted on the frame and a control panel mounted on the side rail. In some embodiments, the recess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel. In other embodiments, the recess can be sized and positioned to enable the patient ingress and egress to and from the upper surface. The central portion and the bolsters are formed of foam. The left and right bolsters have upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of the central portion at the recesses. The central portion includes a head section, a body section, a foot section, and a top section, which covers the head, body and foot sections. The foot section has a thickness that decreases with distance from the body section. The foam for each section has a shape, a density and an indentation load deflection (ILD) selected to inhibit formation of pressure sores on the skin of the patient. (A piece of foam can be described in terms of its density and it's ILD. The density of the foam is the mass per unit of volume, typically pounds per cubic foot of foam. The ILD refers to the amount of force, in pounds, required to compress or indent, using a 50 inch disc, a piece of foam measuring 15 in. wide, 15 in. long, and 4 in. high to 75% of its unloaded thickness (or height), and is an indication of firmness). The foam for each bolster has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to provide a passive reminder to the patient of a lateral edge of the mattress, for example the density of the foam bolster can be 1.8 PCF and the ILD can be 50.
These general and specific aspects may be implemented using a system, a method, or a combination thereof.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReferring to
As seen if
Mattress 11 has bilateral raised sides 16. These raised sides/bolsters 16 extend above a non-raised surface of the mattress by between 1-6 inches, for example 2 inches. The raised sides 16 thus provide a boundary on opposite sides of the mattress serving as a passive reminder to the patient as to the lateral extent of the mattress. The raised sides 16 abut the lateral edge of the central portion 19 (the central portion 19 being shown in
As can be seen in
In other embodiments as shown in
The length “l” of cutout section 15 (see
Depending on the bed frame, raised sides 16 can also be configured (height and firmness) to help ameliorate potential entrapment areas of the bed 10. For example, the raised sides 16 can be configured to make access the area between the side rails 13 and the mattress more difficult. Moreover, the bed 10 can be used with the side rails down for some patients because raised sides 16 serve as a passive reminder of the lateral extent of the mattress without creating possible entrapment areas for the patient. This also removes the need for the patient to climb over the side rails or the foot of the bed when entering or exiting the mattress at night if they cannot lower the side rails.
Mattress 11 is constructed in such a way that, in addition to the raised sides 16 providing a passive reminder to the patient about the lateral extent of the mattress, mattress 11 provides a surface that helps to reduce the chance of a bed ridden patent developing ischemic ulcers of the skin. The mattress 11 has a pressure-relieving surface that redistributes the pressure on the patient's skin reducing ischemic injury and ulcer formation. The mattress has one or more components made out of a foam material or similar material that are secured together, for example by gluing, and covered with a mattress cover.
The foam material can be made from polyurethane foam, memory foam, polypropylene foam or latex foam, for example polyurethane foam. The glue can be n-propyl bromide based adhesives, water based spray adhesives (such as Simalfa™ liquid spray adhesive), and hot melt spray adhesives, for example hot melt spray adhesives. The foam can have a density of between 1.4 to 4.0 pounds per cubic foot (“PCF”) of foam, and an ILD of between 10 to 50. By selecting a density and ILD of the foam components, the properties of each component can tailored to a particular part of the anatomy that the section supports. Therefore, the foam supporting the torso can have a different density and ILD than the foam supporting the head or the distal extremities, thus providing greater comfort and support. The foam can be cut under certain anatomic zones, such as the ischium, heels, sacrum, shoulder, or torso in general, to help protect against pressure and shearing that can contribute to ischemic ulcers of the skin. Also, a section of the mattress supporting the feet can be sloped, such that the height of the mattress decreases distally, relieving pressure on the heels. Although described as being made of a foam material, the mattress components can be made out of any other material having similar support and pressure distribution properties.
Referring to
Referring to
The head section 42 and foot section 45 are glued to the body section 44 as shown in
Again referring to
Referring to
The size and shape of mattresses 11 and the components can be customized to fit the wide variety of hospital bed frames currently manufactured. The assembled mattress is placed upon the mattress supporting surface 31 of the hospital bed frame. Thus, a hospital bed with the mattress having a raised foam perimeter containing a cutout section that can provide access to controls on the side rails of the bed frame, or access for the patient to the mattress, and/or access to the patient for the caregiver is provided.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A medical bed comprising:
- a frame having a mattress support surface; and
- a mattress supported on the support surface, the mattress comprising:
- a central portion having an upper surface adapted to support a patient's body, and a lower surface interfacing with the support surface of the frame;
- a right and left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion, each bolster extending above the upper surface, wherein each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster height in relation to the upper surface of the central portion of the mattress;
- a plurality of channels in the upper surface extending between the opposite sides of the central portion;
- a mattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattress assembly;
- a side rail mounted on the frame; and
- a control panel mounted on the side rail;
- wherein the recess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel.
2. The medical bed according to claim 1 further comprising: wherein the recess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel.
- a side rail mounted on the frame; and
- a control panel mounted on the side rail;
3. The medical bed according to claim 1, wherein the recess is sized and positioned to enable patient ingress and egress to and from the upper surface.
4. The medical bed according to claim 1, wherein the central portion and the bolsters are formed of foam, and wherein the channels are approximately 0.25 inches wide and 0.75 inches high.
5. The medical bed according to claim 4, wherein the central portion comprises a head section, a body section, a foot section, and a top section that covers the head, body and foot sections.
6. The medical bed according to claim 5, wherein the foam for each section has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to inhibit formation of pressure sores on the skin of the patient.
7. The medical bed according to claim 4, wherein the foam for each bolster has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to provide a passive reminder to the patient of a lateral edge of the mattress.
8. The medical bed according to claim 7, wherein the density of the foam bolsters is 1.8 PCF and the ILD is 50.
9. The medical bed according to claim 5, wherein the foot section has a thickness that decreases with distance from the body section.
10. The medical bed according to claim 1, wherein the left and right bolsters have upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of the central portion at the recesses.
11. A mattress designed for use in conjunction with a medical/surgical bed frame having a surface for receiving the mattress and having one or more side rails containing a bed control panel, the mattress comprising:
- a central portion having a upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is adapted to support a patient's body and the lower surface is adapted to interface with the mattress receiving surface of the bed frame;
- a plurality of channels in the upper surface extending between the opposite sides of the central portion;
- a right and left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion, each bolster extending above the upper surface, wherein each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster height and wherein the recess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel; and
- a mattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattress assembly.
12. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the recess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel.
13. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the recess is sized and positioned to enable patient ingress and egress to and from the upper surface.
14. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the central portion and bolsters are formed of foam, and wherein the channels are approximately 0.25 inches wide and 0.75 inches high.
15. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the central portion comprises a head section, a body section, a foot section and a top section that covers the head, body, and foot sections.
16. The mattress according to claim 15, wherein the foam for each section has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to inhibit formation of pressure sores on the skin of the patient.
17. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the foam for each bolster has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to provide a passive reminder to the patient of the lateral edge of the mattress.
18. The mattress according to claim 17, wherein the density of the foam bolsters is 1.8 PCF and the ILD is 50.
19. The mattress according to claim 15, wherein the foot section has a height that decreases as the distance from the body section increases.
20. A method of supporting a patient, the method comprising:
- equipping a hospital bed with a mattress comprising:
- a central portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface resting on a mattress receiving surface of a frame of the bed;
- a right and a left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion between side rails of the bed, each bolster extending above the top surface, each bolster defining a recess of reduced bolster height, at least one of the recesses positioned to provide access to a side rail-mounted bed control panel from the mattress;
- a plurality of channels in the upper surface extending between the opposite sides of the central portion; and
- a mattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattress assembly; and
- placing a patient on the central portion of the mattress, between the bolsters.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 19, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 23, 2008
Inventor: Erik N. Larsen (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 11/788,196
International Classification: A47C 21/08 (20060101); A47C 27/00 (20060101);