Inflatable mattress and method for positioning a patient

• US 20070094805A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DT Davis Enterprises Limited (ETAC AB)
• Original Assignee: Woodlark Circle
• Inventors: Davis, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/706
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1026 Sliding sheets or mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1028 by a support moving on air cushion

Abstract

An inflatable mattress having an inflated torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a first portion of the inflated torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from the first leg and extending out from a second portion of the inflated torso support pad. The first leg and the second leg define a gap between them to allow the legs to be spread apart for toileting or cleaning of the patient, or deflated and rolled upon themselves so as to provide easy access to the patient during clinical procedures. A method is provided for positioning a patient with the inflatable mattress.

Claims

1. A mattress comprising;

a torso support pad;

a first leg extending out from a portion of said torso support pad;

a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, and (ii) a second spaced-apart position.

2. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said torso support pad are substantially simultaneously inflatable.

3. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said first leg and said second leg are inflatable independently from said torso support pad.

4. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein said inflated torso support pad includes an air inlet valve.

5. A mattress according to claim 3 wherein said inflatable torso support pad includes a first air inlet valve and at least one of said first leg and said second leg include a second air inlet valve.

6. A mattress according to claim 3 wherein said first leg and said second leg are changeable from a substantially fully inflated state to a substantially deflated state while said inflatable torso support pad remains fully inflated.

7. A mattress according to claim 6 wherein said first leg and said second leg are rolled upon themselves while in a substantially deflated state.

8. A mattress according to claim 3 wherein said first leg and said second leg are arranged in air flow communication with one another.

9. A mattress according to claim 3 wherein said first leg and said second leg are arranged in air flow communication with one another and said torso support pad is inflatable independently of said first leg and said second leg.

10. A mattress according to claim 2 wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said torso support pad each comprise a bottom panel that defines a plurality of perforations so as to form a transfer-capable inflatable mattress.

11. A mattress according to claim 1 including a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge;

a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations; and

a perimeter band having a top edge and a bottom edge so that said peripheral edge of said top panel is sealingly fastened to said top edge of said perimeter band and said peripheral edge of said bottom panel is sealingly fastened to said bottom edge of said perimeter band, and further including an air inlet port positioned in a portion of said perimeter band.

12. A mattress according to claim 11 wherein said bottom panel defines a plurality of perforations so as to form a transfer-capable inflatable mattress.

13. A mattress according to claim 1 further defining a crotch between said first leg and said second leg at a terminal end of said gap.

14. A mattress according to claim 13 wherein said crotch comprises a shape comprising at least one of circular, trapezoidal, and oval.

15. A mattress according to claim 1 including a retaining strap extending from an end surface of said first leg to an end surface of said second leg so as to limit spreading of said legs during transport.

16. A mattress according to claim 12 including a retaining strap extending from an end surface of said first leg to an end surface of said second leg so as to limit spreading of said legs during transport.

17. A toileting mattress comprising;

an inflated torso support pad having a torso inflation port;

a first leg extending out from a portion of said inflated torso support pad and having a leg inflation port;

a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said inflated torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them and are arranged in flow communication with one another.

18. A toileting mattress comprising;

an inflated torso support pad having an inflation port;

a first leg extending out from a portion of said inflated torso support pad;

a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said inflated torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg are in air flow communication with said inflation port and define a gap between one another.

19. A toileting mattress according to claim 18 wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said torso support pad are deflated so that said first leg and said second leg may be rolled upon themselves toward said torso support pad.

20. A toileting mattress according to claim 18 each of said torso support pad, said first leg and said second leg include a bottom panel having a plurality of perforations so as to form a transfer-capable toileting mattress.

21. A toileting mattress according to claim 18 further defining a crotch between said first leg and said second leg at a terminal end of said gap.

22. A toileting mattress according to claim 21 wherein said crotch comprises a shape comprising at least one of circular, trapezoidal, and oval.

23. An inflatable mattress comprising;

an inflated torso support section having an end;

a deflated first leg support section extending out from a portion of said end;

a deflated second leg support section spaced from said deflated first leg support section and extending out from said portion of said end, wherein said deflated first leg support section and said deflated second leg support section may be rolled upon itself toward said inflated torso support pad.

24. An inflatable mattress according to claim 23 each of said torso support section, said deflated first leg and said second deflated leg include a bottom panel having a plurality of perforations so as to form a transfer-capable mattress.

25. An inflatable mattress according to claim 23 further defining a crotch between said deflated first leg and said second deflated leg at a terminal end of a gap defined therebetween.

26. An inflatable mattress according to claim 23 wherein said crotch comprises a shape comprising at least one of circular, trapezoidal, and oval.

27. A toileting transfer mattress comprising:

an inflated torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a portion of said inflated torso support pad and a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said inflated torso support pad each formed by a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge wherein said inflated torso support pad includes a first air inlet valve and at least one of said first leg and said second leg include a second air inlet valve and further wherein said first leg and said second leg change from a substantially fully inflated state to a substantially deflated state while said inflated torso support pad remains fully inflated;

a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations; and

a perimeter band having a top edge and a bottom edge so that said peripheral edges of said top panel is sealingly fastened to said top edge of said perimeter band and said peripheral edge of said bottom panel is sealingly fastened to said bottom edge of said perimeter band wherein said first leg portion of said top and bottom panels and said second leg portion of said top and bottom panels define a longitudinally oriented gap between them, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them.

28. A mattress according to claim 27 including a retaining strap extending from an end surface of said first leg to an end surface of said second leg so as to limit spreading of said legs during transport.

29. A mattress according to claim 27 including a retaining strap extending from an end surface of said first leg to an end surface of said second leg so as to limit spreading of said legs during transport.

30. A method of positioning a patient for treatment comprising:

(A) positioning said patient upon a selectively inflatable mattress;

(B) inflating a torso support section, a first leg support section and a second leg support section so as to fully support said patient;

(C) repositioning said selectively inflated mattress;

(D) deflating said first leg support and said second leg support; and

(E) rolling said deflated first and second leg supports upon themselves and toward said inflated torso support section.

31. A method according to claim 30 including:

(F) unrolling said deflated first and second leg supports so as to be repositioned under said patient'"'"'s legs; and

(G) reinflating said deflated first and second leg supports.

32. A method of positioning a patient for treatment comprising;

(A) positioning said patient upon an inflatable mattress comprising;

a deflated torso support section having an end;

a deflated first leg support section extending out from a portion of said end; and

a deflated second leg support section spaced from said deflated first leg support section and extending out from said portion of said end, wherein said deflated first leg support section and said deflated second leg support section define a gap between them;

(B) inflating said torso support section, said first leg support section and said second leg support section so as to fully support said patient;

(C) repositioning said inflated mattress;

(D) deflating said first leg support and said second leg support; and

(E) rolling said deflated first and second leg supports upon themselves and toward said inflated torso support section.

33. An inflatable mattress comprising;

an inflated torso support pad;

a first leg extending out from a portion of said inflated torso support pad;

a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said inflated torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, (ii) a second spaced-apart position, and (iii) a deflated and rolled position.

34. An inflatable mattress according to claim 33 wherein said first leg and said second leg are in a substantially inflated and unrolled position prior to being deflated and rolled upon themselves.

35. An inflatable mattress according to claim 33 wherein at least one of said inflated torso support pad and said first leg and said second leg includes an air inlet valve.

36. An inflatable mattress according to claim 33 wherein said first leg and said second leg change from a substantially fully inflated state to a substantially deflated state while said inflated torso support pad remains fully inflated.

37. An inflatable mattress according to claim 36 wherein when said first leg and said second leg are rolled upon themselves while in a substantially deflated state.

38. An inflatable mattress according to claim 37 wherein said first leg and said second leg are arranged in air flow communication with one another.

39. An inflatable mattress according to claim 37 wherein said first leg and said second leg are arranged in air flow communication with one another and said torso support pad is inflatable independently of said first leg and said second leg.

40. An inflatable mattress according to claim 39 wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said torso support pad each comprise a bottom panel that defines a plurality of perforations so as to form a transfer-capable inflatable mattress.