US20110203053A1

US20110203053A1 - Inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses

Info

Publication number: US20110203053A1
Application number: US13/126,295
Authority: US
Inventors: Thaddée Mulliez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-06
Filing date: 2009-11-04
Publication date: 2011-08-25
Also published as: WO2010052389A1; EP2500005A1; EP2500004A1; EP2341883B9; EP2500004B1; EP2341883A1; EP2341883B1; WO2010052389A8; EP2500005B1

Abstract

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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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 INVENTION

When 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 INVENTION

One 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, made according to a first alternative embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in transverse cross-section of the cell of FIG. 1 in cutting plane II-II,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic and partial top view of the cell of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic flattened lateral view of the cell of FIG. 1 (deflated state),

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic flattened front view of an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, done according to a second alternative embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic flattened front view of an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, done according to a third alternative embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a cell of an anti-eschar mattress, inflated and done according to a fourth alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 8 is a flattened diagrammatic illustration of the cell of FIG. 7 in the deflated state,

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic transverse cross-section of the cell of FIG. 7 in plane IX-IX,

FIG. 10 is a top view of the cell of FIG. 7,

FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-section in plane XI-XI of the cell of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-section in plane XII-XII of the cell of FIG. 6,

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic side view of a set of cells according to the invention that are juxtaposed, so as to form an anti-eschar mattress,

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic side view of a set of cylindrical cells of the prior art that are juxtaposed, so as to form an anti-eschar mattress,

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic flattened side view of a cell in the deflated state, done according to a fifth alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic flattened front view of an inflatable cell for anti-eschar mattresses, done according to a sixth alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic flattened front view of an inflatable cell for an anti-eschar mattress, done according to a seventh alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 18 shows a cell, in the inflated state, made according to an eighth alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic side view of the cell of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 4 show an inflatable individual cell 1 for an anti-eschar mattress, according to a first alternative embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, the cell 1 is inflated. In FIG. 4, the cell 1 is shown flat, deflated.
This cell 1 includes an inflatable housing 2 having an elongate shape and a longitudinal main axis 2 a. 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 20 a (diagrammed by a broken line in FIG. 3). In FIG. 3, the two longitudinal edges of the sheet 20 that are folded one on top of the other are referenced 20 b, and the two side edges of the sheet 20 that are folded one on top of the other are referenced 20 c.
The folded sheet 20 is heat-welded on three sides of its periphery using a lower longitudinal weld 4 (opposite the upper weld 20 a) with length L₂, smaller than length L₁of 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 20 a of the sheet 20.
The two surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the sheet 20 (FIGS. 1 and 4) that are folded one on top of the other form the two main side surfaces of the inflatable housing 2.
The lower longitudinal weld 4 has a particular curved bowed profile whereof the apex 4 a is oriented towards the upper bend line 20 a. In reference to FIG. 4, the distance H₂between this apex 4 a of the weld 4 and the upper bend line 20 a that corresponds to the upper longitudinal edge of the deflated housing 2, is smaller than the height H₁of the side welds 5. Dimension H₂corresponds to the height at the center of the deflated housing 2, and dimension H₁corresponds to the height at the ends of the deflated housing 2.
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 20 d, 20 e of the sheet 20 folded one on top of the other, before heat-welding of the two surfaces 20 d, 20 e.
Each main surface 20 d, 20 e of the housing 2 is fastened to the inner sheet 6, using vertical oblong heat welds 7A and 7B, with main longitudinal axis 7 a, length L₃and width l₃(L₃>l₃). The main longitudinal axis 7 a of the welds 7A, 7B is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis 2 a 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 7 b forming a closed oblong contour.
Preferably, for better solidity, at a weld 7A or 7B, the surface 20 d or 20 e of the sheet 20 is welded on the entire surface situated inside the peripheral edge 7 b. In another alternative, the surface 20 d or 20 e of the sheet 20 can be welded only along a thin weld corresponding to said oblong peripheral contour 7 b.
In reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the oblong heat welds 7A correspond to the welds of the surface 20 d of the housing 2 with the inner sheet 6, and the oblong heat welds 7B (in broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 4) correspond to the welds of the other surface 20 e of the housing 2 with the inner sheet 6. These welds 7A and 7B alternate along the length (direction Y) of the housing 2.
The welds 4 and 5 and the oblong welds 7A, 7B are for example made by high frequency welding.
In the alternative of FIG. 4, the welds 7A and 7B are all identical. This feature is not, however, essential.
In the alternative of FIG. 4, the welds 7A (7B, respectively) of a surface 20 d (20 e, respectively) are substantially equidistant along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the cell. This feature is not, however, essential.
The invention is not limited to the particular number of welds 7A, 7B of FIG. 4, the cell according to the invention being able to include more welds 7A, 7B or fewer welds 7A, 7B than the alternative of FIG. 4. The number of welds 7A, 7B and their spacing depends in particular on the length of the inflatable housing.
In one 20 d 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 20 a forms an upper support surface SP (FIGS. 1 and 2) with which the body of the bedridden person comes into contact.
In the particular alternative of FIGS. 1 to 4, this support surface SP is for example free from welds, and is advantageously smooth.
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 20 d of a cell being in contact with the main surface 20 e 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 20 f of the main surface 20 d (20 e, 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 FIG. 4, the upper weld 20 a.
The length L₃of each weld 7A, 7B is chosen so as in particular to obtain the formation of the aforementioned mats 20 f with the solely convex surface. Preferably, but not necessarily, the length L₃of each weld 7A, 7B is at least equal to 30% of the maximum height H₁of the deflated housing 2 (FIG. 4) and/or preferably at least equal to 50% of the height H₄of the inner sheet 6 serving to limit displacement.
In the alternative of FIGS. 1 to 4, the inner sheet 6 serves to limit the expansion of the housing 2 in direction X, which is perpendicular to the two main surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the housing 2, and thereby makes it possible to limit the width of the inflated housing 2. It also makes it possible, combined with the oblong welds 7A, 7B, to obtain a cell 1 that is mechanically robust, and whereof the welds 7A, 7B are not altered after intensive use.
In another alternative embodiment, the cell could be provided without an inner sheet 6 and the main surfaces 20 d, 20 e could be welded to each other directly using vertical oblong welds 7A, 7B in a manner comparable to the cell of FIG. 7 described below whereof the two main surfaces 20 d, 20 e are welded together using horizontal oblong welds 7.
In the alternative of FIGS. 1 to 4, owing to the use of a bowed lower longitudinal weld 4 with a height H₂smaller than the height H₁, when the housing 2 is inflated, the upper support surface SP is advantageously automatically deformed so as to have a curved fall prevention profile forming a basin oriented along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the cell with raised ends 20 g (FIG. 1). This basin-shaped profile with raised ends 20 g advantageously makes it possible to hinder the sliding in direction Y of a person lying on a mattress M including cells juxtaposed in direction X, and thus to laterally stabilize said person in a central position on the mattress M. The risk of accidental fall is thereby greatly reduced.
The larger the height difference ΔH between the heights H₁and 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 H₁and H₂is 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 H₂at the center of the housing smaller than the height H₁at the ends of the housing 2.
In the particular embodiment of FIG. 4, the apex 4 a of the lower longitudinal weld 4 is substantially centered relative to the housing 2 along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing. This feature, although preferable, is not, however, essential.
In the alternative of FIG. 4, the smallest distance e₁between each end weld 7A and the adjacent side weld 5 of the housing, measured along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing, is greater than or equal to, and preferably greater than, the smallest distance e₂between said weld 7A and the upper bend line 20 a of the housing 2. This advantageously results in increasing the raising of the ends 20 g of the basin-shaped support surface SP, when the housing 2 is inflated. In FIG. 4, the distance e1 is substantially equal to the distance e2. If one wishes to more substantially increase the raising of the ends 20 g of the support surface SP, one will preferably use a distance e1 greater than the distance e2, as is done for example for the alternative of FIG. 16 described below.
This dimensional characteristic (e1≧e2) is, however, optional to obtain the fall prevention profile, when a lower weld 4 having the curve profile of FIG. 4 is used. As an example, FIG. 5 shows another alternative embodiment in which the distance e1 is smaller than the distance e2, and which nevertheless makes it possible to obtain a basin-shaped fall prevention profile for the support surface SP of the cell, owing to the use of the curved longitudinal lower weld 4.
The table below provides, as an example of an embodiment, specific values (in mm) for the main dimensions of the cells shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. These specific values are not limiting for the invention. For these specific dimensions, the inner sheet 6 used is for example a rectangular sheet with a length L₄of 950 mm, a width H₄of 180 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 mm.


FIG.	L1	L2	H₁	H₂	L₃	l₃	e₁	e₂

4	990	910	300	250	102	20	90	90
5	990	910	300	250	102	20	70	90

FIG. 6 shows another alternative embodiment, which makes it possible to obtain a support surface having a basin-shaped fall prevention profile. In particular, this alternative of FIG. 6 uses a lower longitudinal weld 4 having a curve profile that makes it possible to obtain a support surface SP with a basin-shaped fall prevention profile, when the housing 2 is inflated.
More particularly, the alternative of FIG. 6 differs from the alternative of FIG. 4 mainly by the use of pairs of circular welds 7′A (7′B, respectively) replacing the oblong welds 7A (7B, respectively). Unlike the alternative of FIG. 4, this alternative does not, however, make it possible to obtain the aforementioned mats 20 f with a solely convex surface.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show an individual inflatable cell 1′ for an anti-eschar mattress, according to another alternative embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 7, the cell 1 is inflated. In FIG. 8, the cell 1′ is shown flat and deflated.
Identically to the cell 1 of FIG. 1, this cell 1′ includes an inflatable housing 2 having an elongate shape and a longitudinal main axis 2 a. This housing 2 is made up of a substantially rectangular sheet 20 made from a heat-weldable material, and for example polyurethane. This sheet 20 is folded over in two lengthwise following a longitudinal upper bend line 20 a. Out of a concern for simplification, the shared elements between this cell 1′ of FIG. 6 and the cell 1 of FIG. 1 use the same references.
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 L₁of 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 20 a of the sheet 20.
Unlike the cell 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower weld 4′ is not curved, but rather is substantially rectilinear.
Unlike the cell 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3, the cell 1′ does not have an inner sheet 6 serving to limit displacement, and the two main side surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the inflatable housing 2 are heat-welded directly to each other using an oblong weld 7, with longitudinal axis 7 a, length L₃and width l₃(L₃>l₃). Each weld 7 includes a peripheral edge 7 b forming a closed oblong contour.
Preferably, for better solidity, at a weld 7, the two surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the sheet 20 are welded over the entire surface situated inside the peripheral edge 7 b. In another alternative, the two surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the sheet 20 can be welded only along a thin weld corresponding to said oblong peripheral contour 7 b.
The welds 7 are oriented so that the main longitudinal axis 7 a thereof is substantially parallel to the main longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing 2. The welds 7 are also positioned relative to each other spaced apart and aligned along the main longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing 2.
The welds 7 make it possible to define, in the housing 2, two superimposed chambers, i.e. a lower chamber 2 b and an upper chamber 2 c (FIG. 10), which extend over the entire length L₂of the housing 2, and which communicate with each other owing to spaces E (FIG. 7 and FIG. 11) between the welds 7.
During inflation of the housing 2, the air that is blown into the lower chamber 2 b, via the inflation stem 8, spreads in said chamber 2 b and, owing to the spaces E (FIGS. 7 and 11) between the welds 7, this air also easily penetrates the upper chamber 2 c of the housing 2 while being advantageously distributed over the entire length of the housing 2. Once the housing 2 is inflated with air, said housing 2 forms two superimposed air cushions C1, C2 (FIG. 11) corresponding respectively to the two chambers 2 b and 2 c defined by the weld 7.
Conversely, when the housing 2 is deflated, the air contained in the upper chamber 2 c can be evacuated quickly through the stem 8 by passing through the lower chamber 2 b, which allows fast deflation of the two cushions C1 and C2.
In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the welds 7 are identical and the distances d between two adjacent welds 7, measured along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing, are identical. In another alternative, the welds 7 can have a different oblong shape, and can also not be identical; the spacing d between welds 7 is not necessarily constant. In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, four aligned and spaced welds 7 are used. This particular number of welds 7 is not limiting.
In the alternative shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the weld 7 is made substantially at mid-height H of the housing 2, such that the cushions C1, C2 advantageously have substantially the same volume. In another alternative of the invention, the height position of the weld 7 may nevertheless be different, and the volumes of the two cushions C1 and C2 may thus be different.
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 2 b to the other 2 c, 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 L₃of the welds 7 and the distance d between welds 7 taking these two contradictory constraints into account. In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, this distance d between two adjacent welds 7 is slightly larger than the length L₃of a weld 7. In another alternative, this distance d between two adjacent welds 7 could be equal to or smaller than the length L₃of a weld 7. Preferably, but not necessarily, the total length of the welds 7 (sum of the lengths L₃) is at least equal to 40% of the total length L₂of the inflation chambers 2 b, 2 c.
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 2 b, 2 c 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.
FIG. 13 diagrammatically shows an anti-eschar mattress M according to the invention made using a plurality of cells 1′ that are juxtaposed against each other along the longitudinal axis X of the mattress, each cell 1′ being positioned perpendicular to said longitudinal axis X (longitudinal axis 2 a of each cell 1 perpendicular to axis X).
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 FIG. 13, but non-limitingly, during each cycle, every other cell 1 is inflated and the remaining cells 1 are deflated. This particular dynamic mode corresponds to a use of the mattress for anti-eschar preventive care with 50% lift. It is also possible in another dynamic mode to divide the mattress into several groups of n cells (n≧3), and during successive cycles to deflate, in each group of cells successively, one cell out of the n cells, the other cells in the group being inflated. This dynamic mode corresponds to a use of the mattress for curative care. In this particular dynamic mode, the use of cells according to the invention allows better vascularization of the cutaneous tissue of the bedridden person.
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 L_max(FIGS. 10, 11) and a height H′ when inflated that is larger than said maximum width L_max. Advantageously, the upper support surface SP is free from welds.
By using cells 1′ whereof the maximum width L_maxof 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 (FIG. 14), requiring the same volume of inflation air and forming cylindrical rolls when inflated. During each cycle, the width e of the spaces between two adjacent inflated cells 1 is advantageously reduced, and the total contact surface between the bedridden person and the support surfaces SP of the inflated cells is increased. A better distribution is thus obtained of the weight of the bedridden person over the entire length of the mattress M of cells 1′, and excessive localized compressions are avoided on the bedridden person. In this way, unlike the prior art solution shown in FIG. 14, the risks of “tourniquet effect” are advantageously eliminated at the bearing zones of the body on the cells 1. Moreover, owing to the use of at least two superimposed air cushions C1, C2 on each cell, the height H′ of the inflated cell 1 is increased, and one significantly improves the comfort of the bedridden person and the eschar treatment.
It should be noted that the maximum width L_maxof an inflated cell 1′ must preferably also not be too small. Indeed, if this width L_maxis 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 L_maxwhen 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 L_maxin the vicinity of 7 cm to 8 cm.
In reference to FIG. 7, according to another advantageous feature of the invention, the two main side surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the housing 2 are welded to each other so that once inflated, the housing 2 includes an upper support surface SP having a basin-shaped fall prevention profile with raised ends 20 g. These raised ends 20 g advantageously make it possible to hinder lateral sliding (FIG. 7/axis Y) by a person lying on the mattress M, and to laterally stabilize the person in a central position on the mattress M. Accidental fall risks are thereby very significantly reduced.
In the particular alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when deflated, the upper support surface SP of the housing 2 is substantially rectilinear (FIG. 7). The two main side surfaces 20 d, 20 e of the housing 2 are welded together so that the inflation of the housing 2 causes a deformation of the support surface SP of the housing 2 in the form of a basin with raised ends 20 g (FIG. 7). To obtain this deformation of the housing 2, the two end welds 7 should be carefully positioned as close as possible to the side welds 5, so that when the housing 2 is inflated, these end welds 7 exert, relative to the side welds 5, a traction making it possible to raise the upper ends 20 g, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this alternative, this is obtained in particular by providing, between each end weld 7 and adjacent side weld 5, a distance e₁measured along the longitudinal axis 2 a of the housing that is equal to or slightly larger than the distance e₂(measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 a) between said weld 7 and the upper bend line 20 a of the sheet 20 forming the housing 2.

Specific Example of Sizing of the Cell 1′

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; L_max=8 cm; L_min=7 cm; e₁=11.5 cm; e₂=11 cm.
FIG. 15 shows another alternative embodiment of a cell 1′ according to the invention including a single oblong weld 7.
FIG. 16 shows another alternative embodiment of a cell 1″ according to the invention, which, comparably to the alternative of FIG. 7, includes an oval oblong weld 7 whereof the longitudinal axis 7 a is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 a of the cell, and which differs from the alternative of FIGS. 7 and 8 mainly by the use of a lower longitudinal weld line 4 that has a curve profile similar to that of the alternative of FIG. 1, so as to obtain the basin-shaped fall prevention profile for the support surface SP. In this alternative, the distance e1 is also much larger than the distance e2 so as to increase the raising effect of the ends 20 g of the housing 2 during inflation thereof, and to improve the fall prevention effect.
FIG. 17 shows another alternative embodiment of a cell 1′″ according to the invention, which differs from the cell of FIG. 16 only by the use of two separate sheets 20 d, 20 e, instead of a single sheet 20 folded in two. These two separate sheets 20 d, 20 e are welded together over the entire periphery thereof using four welds: the three welds 4, 5 previously described, and an additional upper longitudinal weld 11, which replaces the bend line 20 a. When the housing 2 of this cell of FIG. 17 is inflated, the support surface SP extends on either side of this upper weld 11.
Similarly to this alternative of FIG. 17, the cells of FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 15 previously described may also be modified so as to replace the sheet 20 folded in two (with upper bend line 20 a) with two separate sheets 20 d, 20 e welded along a closed contour by a lower longitudinal weld 4 (or 4′) extended at both ends thereof by two side welds 5, which themselves are connected to each other by an upper longitudinal weld 11.
FIG. 18 shows another alternative embodiment of a cell according to the invention including an inflatable housing 2 having, when inflated, two main side surfaces 20 d, 20 e, an upper support surface SP, a lower bottom surface F, and two end surfaces F′. This cell also has a substantially rectangular inner sheet 6′, which makes it possible to limit the expansion of the thickness of the cell (direction X). The main surface 20 d of the cell is welded to one of the longitudinal edges of the inner sheet 6′ using an oblong longitudinal weld 7. The other main surface 20 e of the cell is welded to the other longitudinal edge of the inner sheet 6′ using an oblong longitudinal weld 7.
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 20 d, 20 e, 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 L₃small 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 20 g (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 2 a of the housing, is greater than or equal to the distance e₂separating said end of the weld 7 and the support surface SP, and which is measured along direction (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 a.
The cell of FIGS. 18 and 19 can also be modified by replacing a longitudinal weld 7 with several shorter longitudinal welds 7 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction 2 a of the cell, in a manner comparable to the alternative previously described in FIG. 7.

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 H₁between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H₂at 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 H₁of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H₂at the ends of the deflated housing.

9. The cell according to claim 7, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H₁−H₂) between the heights H₁and H₂is 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 H₁between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H₂at 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 H₁of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H₂at the ends of the deflated housing.

21. The cell according to claim 19, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H₁−H₂) between the heights H₁and H₂is 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 H₁between the apex of said lower longitudinal weld is smaller than the height H₂at 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 H₁of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H₂at the ends of the deflated housing.

50. The cell according to claim 48, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H₁−H₂) between the heights H₁and H₂is 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 (L_max) 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 (L_max) 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 H₂at 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 H₁of the deflated housing is smaller than the height H₂at the ends of the deflated housing.

68. The cell according to claim 66, wherein the height difference ΔH (ΔH=H₁−H₂) between the heights H₁and H₂is 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.