Bed

• US 5,901,391 A
• Filed: 05/16/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Kato, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/857,901
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 5/665, 5/666, 5/655.5, 5/422, 5/905, 5/308, 362/130
• US Class Current: 5/666
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0636 Irradiating the whole body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0638 with a specially adapted support surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/905 with light emitting means

Abstract

A bed includes a bag filled with a transparent fluid and formed with a transparent portion at least at an upper surface portion thereof, and a light source for emitting light. The light emitted from the light source passes through the fluid and propagates to an outside of the bag through the transparent portion on an upper surface of the bag. As a result, a bedsore can be prevented, and a decrease in bone mass can be prevented, thus suppressing occurrence of osteoporosis.

Claims

1. A bed comprising:

a bag filled with a transparent fluid, said bag being flexible at least at an upper surface portion thereof, and formed with a transparent portion on a lower surface portion of said bag and on an upper surface portion of said bag;

a bed frame for holding said bag;

a light source, provided on a lower surface of said bag and arranged outside of said bed frame, for emitting light;

light-transmitting means for transmitting said light emitted from said light source to said lower surface of said bag;

an optical fiber, arranged on said lower surface of said bag, for radiating said light emitted from said light-transmitting means into said bag;

a power supply for supplying power to said light source,

wherein said light emitted from said light source passes through said transparent fluid and propagates outside said bag through said transparent portion on said upper surface portion of said bag.

2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said bed frame is provided with a drawer at a position corresponding to the lower surface of said bag, and said light source is arranged in said drawer.

3. A bed according to claim 1, further comprising temperature adjusting means for maintaining said fluid in said bag at a predetermined temperature.

4. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitter for emitting near ultraviolet rays.

5. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitter for emitting infrared rays.

6. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitters for emitting light rays having a plurality of types of wavelengths.

7. A bed according to claim 6 further comprising switching means for performing switching among said plurality of light emitters as required.

8. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

9. A bed according to claim 8 wherein a light-diffusing agent is dispersed in said water.

10. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is an inert gas.

11. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is an inert liquid.

12. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said bag is formed with a light-reflecting member on an inner side of a side portion thereof.

13. A bed comprising:

a bag filled with a transparent fluid, being flexible at least at an upper surface portion thereof, and formed with a transparent portion on an upper surface portion of said bag and on a lower surface portion of said bag;

a bed frame for holding said bag;

condensing means for condensing natural light; and

light transmitting means for transmitting light condensed by said condensing means; and

an optical fiber, arranged on a lower surface of said bag, for radiating said light transmitted from said light-transmitting means,

wherein said light transmitted from said light transmitting means passes through said fluid and propagates outside said bag through said transparent portion on said upper surface portion of said bag.