Pressure detection and measurement sensor incorporating at least one resistive force-detector cell

• US 7,752,926 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill - Rom Industries SA
• Original Assignee: Hill - Rom Industries SA
• Inventors: Coupard, Olivier, Basilio, Jean-Marie, Caminade, Jean-Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US12/199,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 738/626.25, 737/80, 738/623.91, 177/210.C, 280/734, 280/735, 340/666, 340/667
• US Class Current: 73/862.625
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a pressure sensor, in particular for detecting and measuring at least one bearing pressure applied to a support device, in which said pressure sensor comprises at least one resistive force-detector cell placed between at least two protective plates suitable for avoiding any pressure bearing at a point or along a line directly against a surface of the resistive cell and for converting such a pressure into uniform pressure over the entire area of the resistive cell. The present disclosure also relates to a support device including such a pressure sensor and to a method of measuring pressures applied to such a support device by an object to be supported such as the body of a patient.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor, in particular for detecting and measuring at least one bearing pressure applied against a support device, wherein said pressure sensor comprises at least one resistive force-detector cell applied against a rigid backing plate, said backing plate being received inside a recess formed in a first compressible intermediate layer, which recess has a shape complementary to the outline of an outer edge of said backing plate, said first intermediate layer being placed between at least two rigid or semi-rigid protective plates, wherein said protective plates are made of a metal or synthetic rigid material.

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second intermediate layer made of a compressible material, and disposed between one of said protective plates and said resistive cell, and in contact with said protective plate and with said resistive cell.

3. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said protective plates are made of a plastics material chosen from PVC, PP, PE, or ABS.

4. The pressure sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said intermediate layer is formed of at least one compressible material suitable for undergoing a reduction in thickness of 40% under a pressure lying in the range 100 N/cm² to 250 N/cm².

5. The pressure sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said intermediate layer is made of a cellular material, and preferably of a polyurethane foam, and is of a thickness lying in the range 3 mm to 30 mm.

6. The pressure sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said intermediate layer comprises a material structured in three dimensions, preferably a material based on woven polyester.

7. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said rigid backing plate of at least said resistive cell is constituted by a metal plate, in particular based on aluminum.

8. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein said rigid backing plate of at least said resistive cell is constituted by a plate of resin, in particular of epoxy resin.

9. The sensor according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said resistive cells.

10. A pressure sensor, in particular for detecting and measuring at least one bearing pressure applied against a support device, wherein said pressure sensor comprises at least one resistive force-detector cell applied against a rigid backing plate, said backing plate being received inside a recess formed in a first compressible intermediate layer, which recess has a shape complementary to the outline of an outer edge of said backing plate, said first intermediate layer being placed between at least two rigid or semi-rigid protective plates, wherein said protective plates are made of an expanded or cellular synthetic material.

11. A pressure sensor, in particular for detecting and measuring at least one bearing pressure applied against a support device, wherein said pressure sensor comprises at least one resistive force-detector cell applied against a rigid backing plate, said backing plate being received inside a recess formed in a first compressible intermediate layer, which recess has a shape complementary to the outline of an outer edge of said backing plate, said first intermediate layer being placed between at least two rigid or semi-rigid protective plates, wherein, at least, said resistive cell is constituted by a printed circuit on a rigid plate, in particular on a plate of epoxy resin.

12. A pressure sensor, in particular for detecting and measuring at least one bearing pressure applied against a support device, wherein said pressure sensor comprises at least one resistive force-detector cell applied against a rigid backing plate, said backing plate being received inside a recess formed in a first compressible intermediate layer, which recess has a shape complementary to the outline of an outer edge of said backing plate, said first intermediate layer being placed between at least two rigid or semi-rigid protective plates, wherein the at least one resistive force-detector cell comprises a plurality of said resistive cells, the plurality of said resistive cells being placed in an array and uniformly distributed between said protective plates, in a plurality of said recesses in a said intermediate layer, said resistive cells being connected together in series or in parallel.