METHOD OF INFLATING, IN ALTERNATING MANNER, A SUPPORT DEVICE HAVING INFLATABLE CELLS, AND A DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

• US 20090100604A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill - Rom Industries SA
• Original Assignee: Hill - Rom Industries SA
• Inventors: Coupard, Olivier, Basilio, Jean-Marie, Flocard, Thierry, Caminade, Jean-Luc
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A method of inflating, in alternating manner, inflatable cells of a support device for supporting an element to be supported is provided, which device is of the mattress type for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with a fluid, in particular air, and having at least one zone made up of first and second series of inflatable cells referred to respectively as “first” cells and as “second” cells, the cells of each series communicating fluidly with one another and with inflation means, in which method alternating deflation and re-inflation cycles are performed during which each of said series of cells is deflated and then re-inflated in alternation and in succession, said first cells being deflated and then re-inflated simultaneously respectively with the re-inflation and with the deflation of said second cells, the alternating deflation and re-inflation of said first and second cells of the support device taking place in a cycle controlled by said inflation means being switched on/off, wherein the switching on/off of said inflation means is controlled as a function of the values of the pressures of the fluid measured inside said cells and of comparison of said values with at least one reference pressure value determined as a function of the morphology of the patient.

Claims

1. A method of inflating, in alternating manner, inflatable cells of a support device for supporting an element to be supported, which device is of the mattress type for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with a fluid, in particular air, and having at least one zone made up of first and second series of inflatable cells referred to respectively as “

first”

cells and as “

second”

cells, the cells of each series communicating fluidly or preferably pneumatically with one another and with inflation means, it being possible for the cells of each series of cells to be either in a state in which communication is open with the pump and with the cells of the other series of cells, or in a state in which communication is closed with the pump and with the cells of the other series and is open with the outside, in which state the cells are connected to the surrounding air, in which method alternating deflation and re-inflation cycles are performed during which each of said series of cells is deflated and then re-inflated in alternation and in succession, said first cells being deflated and then re-inflated simultaneously respectively with the re-inflation and with the deflation of said second cells, the alternating deflation and re-inflation steps for deflating and re-inflating, in alternation, said first and second cells of the support device including at least one step of inflating said cells to a value of at least one reference pressure whose value is determined on the basis of a substantially continuous measurement taken by means of a “

morphology”

sensor measuring the stress generated by the patient'"'"'s body on the cells, wherein the alternating deflation and re-inflation steps for deflating and re-inflating, in alternation, said first and second cells take place in a cycle controlled by said inflation means being switched on or off, which switching on or off is controlled as a function of the values of the pressures of the fluid measured inside said cells and of comparison of said values with a said reference pressure value, and said inflation means being switched on or off causes said first or second cells to be put into the state in which communication is open with said inflation means or into the state in which communication is closed therewith.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said inflation means are switched on or off as a function of the values of the pressures of the fluid measured in said cells and of comparison of said values with a value of a first reference pressure or “

regulation pressure”

that is determined as a function of the morphology of the patient, and with a value of a second reference pressure or “

setpoint pressure”

that is greater than said regulation pressure and that is computed relative to said regulation pressure; and

said inflation means being switched on or off controlling which of said first and said second reference pressures is chosen to be taken into account for said comparison for the next switching on or off of the inflation means during a said cycle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

said first cells are connected one after another in series;

said second cells are connected one after another in series;

the following successive steps are performed, in which;

a) when all of the cells of the first and second series are inflated to a pressure corresponding to a said regulation pressure, the pump being off, and the cells of each series of cells being in the state in which communication is open with the pump and with the cells of the other said series of cells, detection of said regulation pressure in said first and second cells, causes;

a-1) said first cells to deflate by being connected to the surrounding air; and

a-2) said second cells to be over-inflated by switching the pump on until a determined setpoint pressure is reached that is greater than the regulation pressure; and

b) when the setpoint pressure is reached in said second cells, detection of said setpoint pressure in said second cells causes the pump to be switched off and each series of cells to be put into the state in which communication is open with the pump and with the cells of the other series of cells, thereby making it possible for fluid to be transferred from said second cells to said first cells, and thus for said second cells to be deflated, and, simultaneously, for said first cells to be re-inflated, to a said regulation pressure; and

c) when all of said first and second cells are at a pressure corresponding to a said regulation pressure, detection of a said regulation pressure in said cells causes the pump to be switched off, which switching off of the pump causes;

c-1) said second cells to be deflated by being connected to the surrounding air; and

c-2) said first cells to be over-inflated by switching the pump on until a said setpoint pressure is reached; and

d) when said setpoint pressure is reached in said first cells, detection of said setpoint pressure in said first cells causes the pump to be switched off and each series of cells to be put into the state in which communication is open with the pump and with the cells of the other series of cells, thereby making it possible for fluid to be transferred from said first cells to said second cells, and thus for said first cells to be deflated, and, simultaneously, for said second cells to be inflated, to a said regulation pressure; and

e) where applicable, the cycle of steps a) to d) is reiterated.

4. A method of inflating, in alternating manner, according to claim 2, wherein:

said first cells are connected to at least a first solenoid valve making it possible either to establish communication that is open with the pump and with said second cells when the solenoid valve is in a “

rest”

state, or to connect said first cells to the surrounding air by putting them in the state in which communication is closed with the pump and with said second cells and in which communication is open with the outside, when the solenoid valve is in an “

activation”

state;

said second cells are connected to at least a second solenoid valve making it possible either to establish communication that is open with the pump and with said first cells when the solenoid valve is in a rest state, or to connect said second cells to the surrounding air by putting them in the state in which communication is closed with the pump and with said first cells and in which communication is open with the outside, when the solenoid valve is in an activation state; and

the pump being switched off causing said first and second solenoid valves to be put into the activation or the rest states.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

the regulation pressure corresponds to a pressure lying in a “

regulation”

range; and

in steps b) and d), during said transfer, when the maximum regulation pressure is detected respectively in said second cells and in said first cells even though the minimum regulation pressure is not reached respectively in said first cells and in said second cells, the pump is caused to be switched on for inflating said first cells and said second cells, respectively; and

in steps a) and c), the pump is caused to be switched off by detection of a pressure in said first and second cells that lies in said regulation range, and the pump is switched back on in steps a-2) and c-2) by detection of a pressure in said cells that is less than the setpoint pressure.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the “

setpoint”

fluid pressure is determined relative to the regulation value and to be greater by at least 10% than the “

regulation”

pressure, and preferably greater by at least in the range 15% to 30% than said “

regulation”

pressure.

7. An inflation device for inflating, in alternating manner, a support device for supporting a patient to be supported, in particular a mattress or a cushion for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with a fluid, in particular air, and being useful in a method according to claim 1, said inflation device comprising:

said inflation means;

fluidic communication means connecting said inflation means to said inflatable cells;

pressure measurement means for measuring the pressures inside said inflatable cells;

said morphology sensor suitable for measuring the stress applied by a said patient on said inflatable cells of the support device and for determining said reference pressure value, said sensor being connected to control means for controlling the inflation means; and

control means for controlling said inflation means;

wherein said control means for controlling said inflation means are connected to said pressure measurement means and are suitable for causing said inflation means to be switched on or off as a function of the value of the pressure of the fluid that is measured in said cells by said pressure measurement means by comparing said value with at least one said reference pressure value.

8. A device according to claim 7, further comprising a morphology sensor suitable for measuring the interface pressure applied by a said patient on said inflatable cells of the support device and for determining said regulation pressure value and said setpoint pressure value, said sensor being connected to said control means for controlling the inflation means.

9. A device according to claim 7, further comprising:

said first and second solenoid valves connected to respective ones of said first and second cells and to said inflation means, said solenoid valves being suitable for making it possible either to establish communication that is open with the pump and with said second cells and, respectively, with said first cells when the corresponding solenoid valve is in a said rest state, or to connect said first cells and, respectively, said second cells to the surrounding air by putting them in the state in which communication is closed with the pump and with said second cells and, respectively, said first cells and in which communication is open with the outside, when the corresponding solenoid valve is in a said activation state; and

means for detecting when the pump is off, which means are connected to a sequencer suitable for causing said solenoid valves to be put into the activation state or into the rest state in succession, and preferably for causing said first or second reference pressures to be chosen for being taken into account in said comparison, in a determined sequence.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein said inflation means comprise a low-voltage pump powered under a voltage of 12 volts AC.

11. A device according to claim 10, further comprising a power supply including a transistor bridge.

12. A device according to claim 7, further comprising a power supply battery suitable for causing the inflation device to operate in the event that the mains power supply is interrupted.