INFLATABLE CELL FOR ANTI-ESCHAR MATTRESSES
The invention relates to an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, including an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as several oblong welds that have a main longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, which are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and which connect two main opposed side surfaces of the housing together.
The present invention relates to the field of inflatable anti-eschar mattresses used in hospitals or similar settings or in individual homes, for people confined to bed rest for long periods of time. The object of the invention is a new inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, as well as an anti-eschar mattress including a plurality of inflatable cells.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWhen a person is bedridden for a long time on a traditional mattress, the parts of the person's body that are in prolonged contact with the mattress undergo compressions, which ultimately cause eschars to form.
With the aim of offsetting this problem of eschar formation, one solution known to date consists of proposing anti-eschar inflatable mattresses, which include a plurality of juxtaposed inflatable cells. This type of mattress is for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,084.
The cells of an anti-eschar mattress can be inflated individually using a compressor or equivalent means and according to a so-called “dynamic” mode characterized by an inflation sequence and cycle that are predefined, so as to reduce the compression time of the body parts in contact with the cells of the mattress. For example, the inflation of every other cell is done cyclically. The characteristics of this dynamic mode are generally configurable so as to best adapt them to the bedridden person.
In this type of anti-eschar mattress inflatable cell, for the comfort of the bedridden person and for effective draining of the eschars, it is important to optimize the support surface of the cell designed to be in contact with the bedridden person. In particular, if the width of the support surface of each cell of a mattress is too large, in dynamic mode there is a risk of tourniquet effect on the bedridden person. Conversely, if the width of the support surface of each cell is too small, the dynamic relief effect is no longer felt by the bedridden person.
Another problem encountered during confinement to bed of a person in a hospital or similar setting is related to accidental falls by the bedridden person. This problem is magnified and becomes critical when the bedridden people have reduced motor abilities, such as for example people having undergone surgery, people who are completely or partially paralyzed, or the elderly.
With the aim of reducing these risks of accidental falls, in French patent application FR 2 883 728, a fall prevention inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses has already been proposed. This cell comprises two outer sheets welded on the periphery thereof so as to form an inflatable housing, and which are fastened by circular welding spots to an inner sheet making it possible to limit the expansion of the housing. Once inflated, the housing includes a support surface having a basin-shaped fall prevention profile with raised ends.
With this type of cell including circular welding spots, there is, however, a risk, under the repeated effects of inflation/deflation cycles, of two adjacent individual cells sliding vertically, relative to each other, resulting in poor alignment and positioning of the cells, which is detrimental to the proper operation of the anti-eschar mattress.
The positioning flaw is even more pronounced in the case where inflatable cells with horizontal oblong welds are used as described and illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,560. With this type of cells, to prevent this positioning flaw, one is thus forced to fasten each individual cell on a support, which complicates the structure and production of the anti-eschar mattress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONOne aim of the invention is to propose a new inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses making it possible to obtain proper operation, in dynamic mode, while preventing the aforementioned risks of sliding and poor positioning of the cell, relative to an adjacent cell, during repeated inflation/deflation cycles, and without it being necessary to fasten the cell on a support.
The first object of the invention is therefore an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses defined in claim 1. This cell comprises an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as several oblong welds that have a main longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, which are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and which connect two main opposed side surfaces of the housing together.
Another aim of the invention is to propose a new inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses that makes it possible to reduce, for bedridden people, both the risk of eschar formation and accidental fall risks.
The second aim of the invention is therefore an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell comprising an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as an upper surface which, in the inflated state of the housing, forms an upper support surface; the two main opposed side surfaces of the cell are welded to each other on at least three sides of their periphery using at least one lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, and said lower longitudinal weld has a curve profile that is made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
The third object of the invention is an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell including an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as an upper surface which, in the inflated state of the housing, forms an upper support surface; said housing is either (i) formed by a sheet folded in two lengthwise, and welded on three sides of its periphery using a lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, and the support surface being free from welds, or (ii) formed by two separate sheets welded to each other over the entire periphery thereof using at least four welds: a lower longitudinal weld, two side welds, and an upper longitudinal weld, said cell including one or more additional welds that are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and that make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing to each other, the distance (e1) between each additional end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, being greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said additional end weld and (i) the upper bend line of the sheet forming the housing, or (ii) the upper longitudinal weld, such that when the housing is inflated, the support surface (SP) is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
The fourth object of the invention is an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell includes an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, an upper surface that forms an upper support surface when the housing is inflated, and one or several oblong welds, the main longitudinal axis of which is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, and which make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing to each other, so as to define, in the housing, at least two superimposed inflation chambers that communicate with each other; the upper support surface of the deflated housing has a substantially rectilinear profile over the entire length of the housing, and the oblong weld(s) are made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
The invention also relates to an anti-eschar mattress comprising a plurality of the previously cited inflatable cells, which are positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, and which are juxtaposed along said longitudinal axis.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly upon reading the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments of the invention, this description being provided as a non-limiting and non-exhaustive example of the invention, and in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
This cell 1 includes an inflatable housing 2 having an elongate shape and a longitudinal main axis 2a. In the illustrated example, this housing 2 is made up of a substantially rectangular sheet 20 made from a heat-weldable material, and for example polyurethane. When the cell is deflated, this sheet 20 is folded over in two lengthwise along a substantially rectilinear longitudinal upper bend line 20a (diagrammed by a broken line in
The folded sheet 20 is heat-welded on three sides of its periphery using a lower longitudinal weld 4 (opposite the upper weld 20a) with length L2, smaller than length L1 of the sheet 20, and two side welds 5 that extend said longitudinal weld 4 at both of its two, and that extend to the upper longitudinal bend line 20a of the sheet 20.
The two surfaces 20d, 20e of the sheet 20 (
The lower longitudinal weld 4 has a particular curved bowed profile whereof the apex 4a is oriented towards the upper bend line 20a. In reference to
The housing 2 also contains an inner sheet 6 made from a heat-weldable material, and for example polyurethane, that has been positioned between the two surfaces 20d, 20e of the sheet 20 folded one on top of the other, before heat-welding of the two surfaces 20d, 20e.
Each main surface 20d, 20e of the housing 2 is fastened to the inner sheet 6, using vertical oblong heat welds 7A and 7B, with main longitudinal axis 7a, length L3 and width l3 (L3>l3). The main longitudinal axis 7a of the welds 7A, 7B is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis 2a of the housing 2, and the welds 7A, 7B are spaced apart along the length of the housing 2. Each weld 7A, 7B includes a peripheral edge 7b forming a closed oblong contour.
Preferably, for better solidity, at a weld 7A or 7B, the surface 20d or 20e of the sheet 20 is welded on the entire surface situated inside the peripheral edge 7b. In another alternative, the surface 20d or 20e of the sheet 20 can be welded only along a thin weld corresponding to said oblong peripheral contour 7b.
In reference to
The welds 4 and 5 and the oblong welds 7A, 7B are for example made by high frequency welding.
In the alternative of
In the alternative of
The invention is not limited to the particular number of welds 7A, 7B of
In one 20d of the main surfaces of the housing 2, an opening 3 is formed to allow air to pass. The cell 1 includes an inflation stem 8, for example made from plastic, that can integrate a valve, and that allows fast inflation and deflation of the housing 2. This stem 8 is fastened, for example by gluing, on the housing 2 at the opening 3. This stem 8 is intended to be connected to a compressor (not shown), for example using a flexible tubing to allow the inflation and deflation of the housing 2 of the cell 1.
When the cell is inflated, the upper surface of the inflated cell that extends on either side of the bend line 20a forms an upper support surface SP (
In the particular alternative of
To make an anti-eschar and fall prevention mattress M according to the invention, a plurality of cells 1 are juxtaposed against each other along longitudinal axis X, each cell 1 being positioned perpendicular (axis Y) to this longitudinal axis X, and the main surface 20d of a cell being in contact with the main surface 20e of an adjacent cell.
Also, preferably fastened on the housing 2 of the cell is a means 9, for example snap fasteners, making it possible, if necessary, to quickly assemble two adjacent cells 1 together, when the mattress is formed. The cells 1 are placed on a support plane such as a box spring, without being fastened to said planar support.
In a known manner, when the mattress M is used, all of the cells 1 are not inflated at the same time, but are inflated and deflated individually according to a programmed cycle, so as to cyclically modify the compression points on the body of the person lying on the mattress, which makes it possible to reduce the risk of eschar formation.
When a cell is inflated, each portion 20f of the main surface 20d (20e, respectively) of the housing 2 situated between two adjacent welds 7A (7B, respectively) advantageously forms, owing to the implementation of vertical oblong welds 7A (7B, respectively), a mat whereof the outer surface is only convex over the entire height of the housing 2, and does not include a concave portion, unlike what can be obtained with a cell according to FIG. 1 of application FR 2 883 728, for example, or from the cells according to FIGS. 2 and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,560. The risks of vertical sliding and poor height positioning of a cell 1 relative to an adjacent cell are thus avoided during repeated inflation/deflation cycles of the cells of the mattress.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the oblong welds 7A, 7B are substantially centered between the lower longitudinal weld 4 and the upper longitudinal edge of the deflated housing 2, i.e. in the alternative of
The length L3 of each weld 7A, 7B is chosen so as in particular to obtain the formation of the aforementioned mats 20f with the solely convex surface. Preferably, but not necessarily, the length L3 of each weld 7A, 7B is at least equal to 30% of the maximum height H1 of the deflated housing 2 (
In the alternative of
In another alternative embodiment, the cell could be provided without an inner sheet 6 and the main surfaces 20d, 20e could be welded to each other directly using vertical oblong welds 7A, 7B in a manner comparable to the cell of
In the alternative of
The larger the height difference ΔH between the heights H1 and H2 (ΔH=H1−H2), the greater the deformation of the basin-shaped support surface SP. To obtain an effective fall prevention effect, the height difference ΔH between the heights H1 and H2 is preferably, but not necessarily at least equal to 3 cm, and still more preferably at least equal to 5 cm.
The longitudinal weld 4 may have another curve profile making it possible to obtain the basin-shaped fall prevention profile for the support surface SP, when the housing 2 is inflated. In particular, the longitudinal weld 4 could have another curve profile making it possible to obtain a height H2 at the center of the housing smaller than the height H1 at the ends of the housing 2.
In the particular embodiment of
In the alternative of
This dimensional characteristic (e1≧e2) is, however, optional to obtain the fall prevention profile, when a lower weld 4 having the curve profile of
The table below provides, as an example of an embodiment, specific values (in mm) for the main dimensions of the cells shown in
More particularly, the alternative of
Identically to the cell 1 of
The folded sheet 20 is heat-weldable on three sides of the periphery thereof using a lower longitudinal weld 4′ with length L2, smaller than length L1 of the sheet 20, and two side welds 5 that extend said longitudinal weld 4′ at both ends thereof, and which extend to the upper longitudinal bend line 20a of the sheet 20.
Unlike the cell 1 of
Unlike the cell 1 of
Preferably, for better solidity, at a weld 7, the two surfaces 20d, 20e of the sheet 20 are welded over the entire surface situated inside the peripheral edge 7b. In another alternative, the two surfaces 20d, 20e of the sheet 20 can be welded only along a thin weld corresponding to said oblong peripheral contour 7b.
The welds 7 are oriented so that the main longitudinal axis 7a thereof is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis 2a of the housing 2. The welds 7 are also positioned relative to each other spaced apart and aligned along the main longitudinal axis 2a of the housing 2.
The welds 7 make it possible to define, in the housing 2, two superimposed chambers, i.e. a lower chamber 2b and an upper chamber 2c (
During inflation of the housing 2, the air that is blown into the lower chamber 2b, via the inflation stem 8, spreads in said chamber 2b and, owing to the spaces E (
Conversely, when the housing 2 is deflated, the air contained in the upper chamber 2c can be evacuated quickly through the stem 8 by passing through the lower chamber 2b, which allows fast deflation of the two cushions C1 and C2.
In the alternative embodiment of
In the alternative shown in
It is understood that the distance d between two adjacent welds 7 influences the ability of the air to pass more or less easily from one chamber 2b to the other 2c, and thereby influences the ease and speed of inflation of the cushions C1 and C2. The larger this distance d between two welds 7, the easier the inflation and deflation of the two cushions C1, C2. Conversely, the length of the welds 7 must be long enough to obtain a mechanical strength of the welds 7 that is both sufficient and reliable over time. It is therefore appropriate to select the length L3 of the welds 7 and the distance d between welds 7 taking these two contradictory constraints into account. In the alternative embodiment of
For reasons of vertical stability of the cell during inflation/deflation operations, it is preferable for the housing 2 of the cell 1 to include only two superimposed chambers 2b, 2c corresponding to the superimposed cushions C1 and C2. However, in the context of the invention, it is also possible to consider making a cell including at least two oblong welds 7, which are spaced apart along the height H of the cell, so as to define at least three superimposed inflation chambers (or three superimposed air cushions), each chamber communicating with the adjacent chamber via spaces between welds.
In a known manner, when the mattress M is used, all of the cells 1′ are not inflated at the same time, but are inflated and deflated individually according to a programmed cycle, so as to cyclically and dynamically modify the compression points on the body of the person lying on the mattress, which makes it possible to reduce the risks of eschar formation, and makes the bedridden person feel a dynamic relief effect. In this particular example of
The weld 7 of each cell 1′ advantageously makes it possible to limit the lateral expansion of the cell 1, i.e. in the longitudinal direction X of the mattress, and advantageously to obtain a cell 1 that, once inflated, has an upper support surface SP with a small maximum width Lmax (
By using cells 1′ whereof the maximum width Lmax of the support surface SP of the inflated cell is small, it is advantageously possible, for a same mattress length M, to use a larger number of juxtaposed cells, compared to inflatable cells C, for example (
It should be noted that the maximum width Lmax of an inflated cell 1′ must preferably also not be too small. Indeed, if this width Lmax is too small, the total contact surface in each cycle between the bedridden person and the support surfaces SP of the inflated cells can become too large, and eliminate the dynamic relief effect for the bedridden person. In practice, it is preferable for this total contact surface to be between 50% and 75%.
For information and non-limitingly, the cell 1′ according to the invention is preferably designed to have a maximum width Lmax when inflated between 6 cm and 9 cm. More particularly, in one preferred embodiment, the cell 1′ has been designed to have an optimized maximum width Lmax in the vicinity of 7 cm to 8 cm.
In reference to
In the particular alternative embodiment shown in
As a non-limiting example of the invention, in one specific embodiment, the cell 1′ had the following main dimensions:
L1=100 cm; L2=90 cm; L3=10 cm; l3=1.8 cm; d=11 cm; H=26 cm; H′=18 cm; H″=23 cm; Lmax=8 cm; Lmin=7 cm; e1=11.5 cm; e2=11 cm.
Similarly to this alternative of
In this alternative, the housing of the cell also includes outer reinforcing welds S (shown in thicker lines) that, at the two end surfaces F′ of the cell, have a -shaped profile and allow the cell to be shaped. When the housing of the cell is inflated, the inner sheet 6′ is substantially horizontal, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the two main side surfaces 20d, 20e, and the housing forms two superimposed cushions C1, C2.
The oblong side welds 7 do not extend to the two end surfaces F′ and each have a length L3 small enough that when the housing is inflated, the upper support surface SP is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention profile with raised ends 20g (smaller volume at the center of the housing than the volume of the housing at its ends). More particularly, to obtain this fall prevention profile, the distance e1 separating each end of a longitudinal weld 7 from the adjacent end surface F′ and that is measured along the longitudinal axis 2a of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance e2 separating said end of the weld 7 and the support surface SP, and which is measured along direction (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2a.
The cell of
Claims
1. An inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell comprises an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as several oblong welds whereof the main longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, which are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and which connect two main opposed side surfaces of the housing together.
2. The cell according to claim 1, comprising an inner sheet that is positioned between the two main surfaces using said oblong welds, and which makes it possible to limit the expansion of the cell.
3. The cell according to claim 2, wherein the length (L3) of each oblong weld is at least equal to 50% of the height (H4) of the inner sheet.
4. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the two main opposed side surfaces are welded directly to each other using said oblong welds.
5. The cell according to claim 1, comprising an upper surface that, when the housing is inflated, forms an upper support surface, wherein the two main side surfaces of the cell are welded together over at least three sides of the periphery thereof using at least one lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, said lower longitudinal weld having a curve profile made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
6. The cell according to claim 5, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a bowed curve profile whereof the apex is oriented towards the support surface, so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevented curve profile with raised ends.
7. The cell according to claim 6, wherein when the housing is deflated, the height H1 between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the housing.
8. The cell according to claim 5, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a curve profile such that the height at the center H1 of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the deflated housing.
9. The cell according to claim 7, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H1−H2) between the heights H1 and H2 is at least equal to 3 cm, and preferably at least equal to 5 cm.
10. The cell according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made up of a sheet folded in two lengthwise, and welded on three sides of the periphery thereof using at least one lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, the support surface being free of welds.
11. The cell according to claim 10, wherein the distance (e1) between each oblong end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said oblong end weld and the upper bend line of the sheet forming the housing.
12. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made up of two separate sheets welded together over the entire periphery thereof using at least four welds: a lower longitudinal weld, two side welds, and an upper longitudinal weld.
13. The cell according to claim 12, wherein the distance (e1) between each oblong end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) said oblong end weld and the upper weld line.
14. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the upper support surface of the deflated housing has a substantially rectilinear profile over the entire length of the housing.
15. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the oblong welds are substantially centered over the height (H1) of the housing of the cell.
16. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the length (L3) of each oblong weld is at least equal to 30% of the maximum height (H1) of the deflated housing.
17. An inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell comprising an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as an upper surface which, in the inflated state of the housing, forms an upper support surface, the two main opposed side surfaces of the cell being welded to each other on at least three sides of their periphery using at least one lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, and said lower longitudinal weld having a curve profile that is made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
18. The cell according to claim 17, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a bowed curve profile whereof the apex is oriented towards the support surface, so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
19. The cell according to claim 18, wherein when the housing is deflated, the height H1 between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the housing.
20. The cell according to claim 17, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a curve profile such that the height at the center H1 of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the deflated housing.
21. The cell according to claim 19, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H1−H2) between the heights H1 and H2 is at least equal to 3 cm, and preferably at least equal to 5 cm.
22. The cell according to claim 17, comprising one or more additional welds that make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing together.
23. The cell according to claim 22, wherein the additional weld(s) are oblong.
24. The cell according to claim 23, wherein the additional oblong weld(s) are oriented so that their main longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, and define at least two superimposed inflation chambers that communicate with each other.
25. The cell according to claim 17, comprising several additional oblong welds, whereof the main longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, which are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and which make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing together.
26. The cell according to claim 25, wherein the length (L3) of each additional oblong weld is at least equal to 30% of the maximum height (H1) of the deflated housing.
27. The cell according to claim 22, comprising an inner sheet positioned between the two main side surfaces of the housing, which is welded to said main side surfaces via said additional welds, and which makes it possible to limit the expansion of the cell.
28. The cell according to claim 25, wherein the length (L3) of each additional oblong weld is at least equal to 50% of the height (H4) of the inner sheet.
29. The cell according to claim 22, wherein the two main opposed side surfaces are welded together directly via said additional welds.
30. The cell according to claim 22, wherein the additional welds are substantially centered on the height of the housing of the cell.
31. The cell according to claim 17, wherein said housing is made up of a sheet folded in two lengthwise, and welded on three sides of the periphery thereof via the lower longitudinal weld and said side welds, the support surface being free of welds.
32. The cell according to claim 31, wherein the distance (e1) between each additional end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said additional end weld and the upper bend line of the sheet forming the housing, so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
33. The cell according to claim 17, wherein the housing is formed by two separate sheets welded together on the entire periphery thereof via at least four welds: a lower longitudinal weld two side welds, and an upper longitudinal weld.
34. The cell according to claim 33, wherein the distance (e1) between each additional end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said additional end weld and the upper weld, so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
35. The cell according to claim 17, wherein the upper support surface of the deflated housing has a substantially rectilinear profile over the entire length of the housing.
36. An inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell including an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, as well as an upper surface which, in the inflated state of the housing, forms an upper support surface, said housing being either (i) formed by a sheet folded in two lengthwise, and welded on three sides of its periphery using a lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, and the support surface being free from welds, or (ii) formed by two separate sheets welded to each other over the entire periphery thereof using at least four welds: a lower longitudinal weld, two side welds, and an upper longitudinal weld, said cell including one or more additional welds that are spaced apart along the length of the housing, and that make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing to each other, the distance (e1) between each additional end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, being greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said additional end weld and (i) the upper bend line of the sheet forming the housing, or (ii) the upper longitudinal weld, such that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
37. The cell according to claim 36, wherein the upper support surface of the deflated housing has a substantially rectilinear profile over the entire length of the housing.
38. The cell according to claim 36, wherein the additional weld(s) are oblong.
39. The cell according to claim 38, wherein the oblong additional weld(s) are oriented so that their main longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, and define at least two superimposed inflation chambers that communicate with each other.
40. The cell according to claim 38 wherein the main longitudinal axis of the oblong additional welds is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the housing.
41. The cell according to claim 40, wherein the length (L3) of each additional oblong weld is at least equal to 30% of the maximum height (H1) of the deflated housing.
42. The cell according to claim 36, comprising an inner sheet positioned between the two main side surfaces of the housing, which is welded to said main side surfaces via said additional welds, and which makes it possible to limit the expansion of the cell.
43. The cell according to claim 40, wherein the length (L3) of each additional oblong weld is at least equal to 50% of the height (H4) of the inner sheet.
44. The cell according to claim 36, wherein the two main opposed side surfaces are welded together directly via said additional welds.
45. The cell according to claim 36, wherein the additional welds are substantially centered on the height of the housing of the cell.
46. The cell according to claim 36, wherein said lower longitudinal weld having a curve profile that is made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention profile with raised ends.
47. The cell according to claim 46, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a bowed curve profile whereof the apex is oriented towards the support surface, such that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
48. The cell according to claim 47, wherein when the housing is deflated, the height H1 between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the housing.
49. The cell according to claim 46, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a curve profile such that the height at the center H1 of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the deflated housing.
50. The cell according to claim 48, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H1−H2) between the heights H1 and H2 is at least equal to 3 cm, and preferably at least equal to 5 cm.
51. An inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, said cell includes an inflatable housing having an elongate shape and two main opposed side surfaces, an upper surface that forms an upper support surface when the housing is inflated, and one or several oblong welds, the main longitudinal axis of which is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the housing, and which make it possible to connect the two main opposed side surfaces of the housing to each other, so as to define, in the housing, at least two superimposed inflation chambers that communicate with each other, wherein the upper support surface of the deflated housing has a substantially rectilinear profile over the entire length of the housing, and the oblong weld(s) are made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped curved fall prevention profile with raised ends.
52. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the welds in a line are identical, and in that the spacing (d) between the welds of a line is substantially constant.
53. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the two main side surfaces are welded together via a single oblong weld whereof the main longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis of the cell.
54. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the superimposed inflation chambers have substantially the same volume.
55. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the total length of the welds of a line or the sole oblong weld is at least equal to 40% of the total length (L2) of the inflation chambers.
56. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the maximum width (Lmax) of the upper support surface of the inflated cell is between 6 cm and 9 cm.
57. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the maximum width (Lmax) of the upper support surface of the inflated cell is smaller than the height (H′) of the inflated cell.
58. The cell according to claim 51, comprising an inflation stem for inflating/deflating the superimposed chambers of the housing.
59. The cell according to claim 51, wherein the housing is formed by a sheet folded in two lengthwise, and welded on three sides of the periphery thereof using a lower longitudinal weld and two side welds, the support surface being free of welds.
60. The cell according to claim 59, wherein the distance (e1) between each end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said end weld and the upper bend line of the sheet forming the housing.
61. The cell according to claim 51, wherein said housing is formed by two separate sheets welded together over the entire periphery thereof via at least four welds: a lower longitudinal weld, two side welds, and an upper longitudinal weld.
62. The cell according to claim 61, wherein the distance (e1) between each end weld and the adjacent side weld of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) between said end weld and the upper weld.
63. The cell according to claim 51, wherein said inflated housing comprises two end surfaces, and the distance (e1) separating each end surface from the closest longitudinal weld and which is measured along the longitudinal axis of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance (e2) separating said longitudinal weld and the support surface.
64. The cell according to claim 59, wherein said lower longitudinal weld having a curve profile made so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
65. The cell according to claim 64, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a bowed curve profile whereof the apex is oriented towards the support surface, so that when the housing is inflated, the support surface is deformed so as to have a basin-shaped fall prevention curve profile with raised ends.
66. The cell according to claim 64, wherein when the housing is deflated, the height H1, between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the housing.
67. The cell according to claim 64, wherein said lower longitudinal weld has a curve profile such that the height at the center H1 of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H2 at the ends of the deflated housing.
68. The cell according to claim 66, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H1−H2) between the heights H1 and H2 is at least equal to 3 cm, and preferably at least equal to 5 cm.
69. An anti-eschar mattress, comprising a plurality of the inflatable cells according to claim 1, which are positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, and which are juxtaposed along said longitudinal axis.
70. An anti-eschar mattress, comprising a plurality of the inflatable cells according to claim 36, which are positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, and which are juxtaposed along said longitudinal axis.
71. An anti-eschar mattress, comprising a plurality of the inflatable cells according to claim 51, which are positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, and which are juxtaposed along said longitudinal axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 4, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2011
Inventor: Thaddée Mulliez (Marcq en Baroeul)
Application Number: 13/126,295
International Classification: A47C 27/10 (20060101);