Device for preventing and treating toxemia in pregnant women

• US 3,988,793 A
• Filed: 09/16/1975
• Issued: 11/02/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abitbol M. Maurice
• Original Assignee: Abitbol M. Maurice
• Inventors: Abitbol, M. Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Calvert, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US05/613,812
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 R, 128/28, 128/31, 128/297-301, 128/361, 5/348, 5/90, 5/91, 5/365, 138/361, 138/1 R
• US Class Current: 601/11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/025 Supports specially adapted for pregnant women
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/93 for pregnant user

Abstract

A mattress device designed for treating a pregnant woman by releasing the pressure ordinarily produced by the pregnant uterus and the abdominal wall on the abdominal aorta, thereby helping to prevent complications of pregnancy, such as toxemia and fetal distress. The device comprises a thick mattress-like member having an inflated ring extending through the mattress with a chamber formed on the central portion of the ring. The chamber is open at the top for receiving the pregnant uterus of a woman lying in the prone position, with her abdominal wall floating freely in the chamber. The inflated ring is filled to an air pressure which provides a body support that compensates for the heavier weight around the midsection. The combination of the variable air pressure of the ring and different sizes and shapes of such ring permit a mattress support well adapted to the varied sizes and shapes of the pregnant uterus while also enabling the abdominal wall to float freely in the chamber. The bottom of the chamber is closed by a wall in air-tight relation with the side walls of the ring. The top, outside surface of the ring is made of a rubber-like or plastic material that can form an air-tight seal with the skin of the woman around the area adjacent the pregnant uterus. In this fashion, an enclosed chamber is formed which is connected in fluid communication with a vacuum pump. The negative pressure in the chamber further relieves the pressure of the pregnant uterus and the abdominal wall on the abdominal aorta.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating a pregnant woman, comprising:

a resilient mattress body for accommodating the woman lying in the prone position;

an inflatable ring located in an opening in the central portion of said mattress body, said inflatable ring forming a chamber which is open at the top surface of the mattress body and is of sufficient size and depth for receiving the expanded abdomen of said woman with the abdominal wall in a free floating condition in said chamber;

fluid pressure supply means for filling said inflatable ring to a pressure that provides sufficient body support for the heavier weight around the woman'"'"'s midsection;

a bottom wall for enclosing the bottom of said inflatable ring such that said chamber is completely enclosed by the skin of the woman around the area adjacent the abdomen,

a vacuum pump means connected to said chamber for producing a vacuum or partial vacuum therein; and

fluid pressure supply adjustment means connected to said fluid pressure supply means for setting the fluid in said inflatable ring to a pressure which maintains the abdominal wall out of contact with said bottom wall of said chamber;

whereby the pregnant woman can rest or sleep comfortably in the prone position on said mattress body substantially without the pressure of the pregnant uterus and the abdominal wall on the abdominal aorta.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said inflatable ring has a general oval configuration.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said mattress body and said inflatable ring have a depth of about 12 inches.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable ring is removable from said mattress body to permit substitution of another inflatable ring having a different sized chamber opening in its center.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is formed as a part of said inflatable ring.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall comprises a rigid plastic sheet.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflatable ring is comprised of flexible plastic or rubber which forms an air-tight relation with the skin of said woman.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flexible plastic or rubber rim attached to the top of said inflatable ring and extending around in a ring to provide an additional sealing area with the skin of said woman.

9. Apparatus for treating a pregnant woman while resting or sleeping, comprising:

a resilient mattress body for accommodating the woman lying in the prone position;

two or more concentric, inflatable support rings located in an opening in the central portion of said mattress body, with the innermost support ring encircling a chamber which is open at the top surface of the mattress body and being of sufficient size and depth for receiving the expanded abdomen of said woman lying face downward with the abdominal wall in a free floating condition in said chamber, said support rings being individually removable from said mattress body and said support rings providing additional body support for the heavier weight around the woman'"'"'s midsection;

fluid pressure supply means for filling said inflatable support rings to a pressure that provides sufficient body support for the heavier weight around the woman'"'"'s midsection;

a bottom wall for enclosing the bottom of said inflatable support rings such that said chamber is completely enclosed by the skin of the woman around the area adjacent the abdomen,

a vacuum pump means connected to said chamber for producing a vacuum or partial vacuum therein; and

fluid pressure supply adjustment means connected to said fluid pressure supply means for setting the fluid in said inflatable rings to a pressure which maintains the abdominal wall out of contact with said bottom wall of said chamber;

whereby the pregnant woman can rest or sleep comfortably in the prone position on said mattress device substantially without the pressure of the pregnant uterus and the abdominal wall on the abdominal aorta.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said inflatable rings have a general oval configuration.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said support rings have a depth of about 12 inches.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising an air tight flexible material lining the top edge of said inflatable support rings for forming a seal around the abdominal area of a woman lying face down on said mattress body.