DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A PART OF A HUMAN BODY

Abstract

A device for supporting a part of a human body is made up of a first element forming a pneumatic cavity having a valve, the pneumatic cavity being kept at a pressure of less than 0.04 bar under load and at least the surface of the at least one first element that comes into contact with the part of a human body is covered by a “3D spacer” fabric.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A device for supporting a part of a human body, the device comprising a first element (1) forming a pneumatic cavity (4), wherein the pneumatic cavity (4) has a valve (7), wherein the pneumatic cavity (4) is kept at a pressure of less than 0.04 bar under load, and wherein at least a surface of the first element (1) that comes into contact with the part of the human body is covered with a 3D spacer fabric (5).

13. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein a buckling stress of the 3D spacer fabric (5) is greater than an inflation pressure of the pneumatic cavity (4).

14. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 13, wherein the buckling stress of the 3D spacer fabric (5) is less than 0.2 bar.

15. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein a thickness of the 3D spacer fabric (5) is less than 10 mm.

16. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein a permeability of the 3D spacer fabric (4) is greater than 1000 l/dm.sup.2×min at a pressure of 1 mbar.

17. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein the first element (1) is made up of a sheet of thermoplastic polymer, and wherein the sheet of thermoplastic polymer is folded and sealed at its edges.

18. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein the first element (1) is made up of at least two sheets of thermoplastic polymer (2, 3), and wherein the at least two sheets of thermoplastic polymer are sealed edge to edge.

19. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 12, wherein the device has at least one second element (20, 20b, 20c), wherein the at least one second element (20, 20b, 20c) is made up of a deformable structure, and wherein the at least one second element (20, 20b, 20c) has means for stabilizing the first element (1).

20. The device for supporting a part of a human body according to claim 19, wherein the at least one second element (20b, 20c) is at least partially made up of a cavity, wherein the cavity of the at least one second element (20b, 20c) has a valve, and wherein the cavity of the at least one second element (20b, 20c) is kept at a pressure of between 0.05 and 1 bar under load.

21. A method for supporting a part of a human body implementing the device according to claim 12, the method comprising: in a first step, partially filling the pneumatic cavity (4) of the first element (1) with air; in a second step, disposing the part of the human body on the first element (1); and in a third step, regulating a pressure of the pneumatic cavity (4) of the first element (1) to a pressure less than 0.04 bar.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the device has a second element (20b, 20c) at least partially forming a pneumatic cavity, and further comprising a fourth step of regulating a pressure of the pneumatic cavity of the second element (20b, 20c) to a pressure of between 0.05 and 1 bar.

Description

[0066] Further advantageous features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of a first embodiment of a support device in accordance with the invention,

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a schematic depiction, in partial section, of the support device of FIG. 1,

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a schematic depiction of one example of a portion making up the support device of FIG. 1,

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a schematic depiction of one example of another portion making up the support device of FIG. 1,

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of another exemplary embodiment of a portion making up a support device in accordance with the invention,

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of a second embodiment of a first element of a support device in accordance with the invention,

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of a third embodiment of a first element of a support device in accordance with the invention,

[0074] FIG. 8 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of one embodiment of a support device having a first element as shown in FIG. 7 and a first embodiment of a second element,

[0075] FIG. 9 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of a second embodiment of a second element of a support device as shown in FIG. 8,

[0076] FIG. 10 shows a schematic depiction, in perspective, of a third embodiment of a second element of a support device as shown in FIG. 8.

[0077] In order to make them easier to understand, the figures are not shown to scale.

[0078] In FIG. 1, the support device is made up of a first element 1 which takes the form of a cushion. It is made up of two sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane 2 and 3, sold under the name Tuftane TFL-1E, that exhibit a secant modulus of elongation equal to 9.8 MPa at 10% elongation and are heat sealed at their periphery. These two sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane 2 and 3 are heat sealed at their periphery so as to form a cavity 4, visible in FIG. 2.

[0079] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view, in partial section, of this first element 1 covered with a “3D spacer” fabric 5, sold under the reference Muller Textil T5683, on its surface intended to come into contact with the skin. This “3D spacer” fabric 5 is held on the outer surface of the sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 2 by a cotton cover 6 which covers the outer surface of the sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 3.

[0080] On the lower face, which is not intended to come into contact with the skin of the human body, there is shown a valve 7, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, which makes it possible to adjust the pressure of the first element forming a pneumatic cavity.

[0081] Such a support device made up of a first element 1 in the form of a cushion is more particularly suited, for example, to the support of a head or a part of an arm or, with well-adapted dimensions, to making up a seat covering a chair.

[0082] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the two sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane 2 and 3, respectively. In FIG. 4, the sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 3 intended to form the surface that does not come into contact with the skin has a hole 8 for the passage of the valve 7.

[0083] To form the first element 1, these two sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane 2 and 3 advantageously have the same shape so as to be easily heat sealed to one another at their periphery and form the cavity 4.

[0084] FIG. 5 illustrates another way of forming a first element 1. This involves a single sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 9, the shape of which has an axis of symmetry 10. The sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 9 can be folded along this axis and heat sealed along its sides so as to form a cavity. The sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane 9 is also provided with a hole 11 to enable the passage of a valve.

[0085] FIG. 6 illustrates another type of embodiment of a support device for a part of a human body, made up of a first element 12 forming a pneumatic cavity which has the form of a tube closed at its two ends by heat sealing.

[0086] This tube is produced from a sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane sold under the name Tuftane TFL-1E, exhibiting a secant modulus of elongation equal to 9.8 MPa at 10% elongation. The sheet is rolled and heat sealed over its length so as to form a cylinder, the sealing advantageously being performed on the inside so as not to create a harsh relief on the outer surface of the tube forming the pneumatic cavity of this first element. The ends 13 of the cylinder are then heat sealed to give the appearance of a sachet shape. A valve 14 is present to ensure the pressurization of this first element 12 of the support device.

[0087] This first element 12 is also enveloped in a cover or envelope made up of a “3D spacer fabric”, sold under the reference Muller Textil T5683.

[0088] Such a support device made up of a first element 12 in the form of a tube is more particularly suited, for example, to the support of a part of a leg or an arm.

[0089] FIG. 7 illustrates a support device, the first element 15 of which has a cylindrical shape similar to that of the first element of FIG. 6 and which can be produced in the same way. An additional step during the manufacture consists in heat sealing a central area 16 which is thus flattened to form two portions 17a, 17b that will be able to be folded towards one another to form a V shape. In its central part, the first element 15 of the device retains a passage area 18 for ensuring equalization of the pressures in the portions 17a and 17b. A valve 19 is also present to ensure the pressurization of this first element 15 of the support device.

[0090] This first element 15 is also enveloped in a cover or envelope made up of a “3D spacer” fabric, sold under the reference Muller Textil T5683.

[0091] FIG. 8 shows a support device made up of the first element 15 and a second element 20 having a V shape. The second element 20 is produced from a foam sold by the company Recticel under the trade name “Situseal” with the reference T 46065, exhibiting a compressive stiffness of between 8 and 12 KPa. This second element 20, which is stiffer, imposes a V shape on the first element 15 intended to receive it as explained above, provided that a part of the human body bears against it.

[0092] According to an embodiment variant of the invention, the cover or envelope made up of a “3D spacer” fabric sold under the reference Muller Textil T5683 could envelop the assembly made up of the first element 15 and the second element 20.

[0093] According to a preferred embodiment variant of the invention, the second element 20 shown in FIG. 8 can be substituted with a second inflatable element 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This second element 20b is designed to take a form similar to the second portion 20 shown in FIG. 8 once it is maintained under pressure underneath the weight of the human body. FIG. 9 thus describes a second element 20b having a V shape with two arms 21b and 22b that are separated by a flattened area 23b. Such an inflatable element 20b can be produced easily with sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane by heat sealing the sheets and adding heat sealed sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane to each of the arms 21b and 22b so as to form internal walls in the cavity of each of the arms to obtain relatively flat surfaces for receiving the first element 15. These heat sealed walls are put in place before each of the arms 21b and 22b are closed off by other heat sealed sheets of thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0094] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment variant similar to that shown in FIG. 9. The second element 20c is once more an inflatable element with arms 21c and 22c that are produced by a succession of beads forming a V-shaped structure intended to receive the first element 15 of the pelvis support. Such a bead-shaped structure is easily produced by heat sealing the internal walls.

[0095] Embodiments like those of FIGS. 9 and 10 are particularly practical because they are not very bulky when stored, since no element is inflated. Furthermore, they make it possible, as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 8, to provide a large volume if necessary and stiffness for stabilizing the support device made up of the first and second elements, the second element being regulated to a pressure under load of between 0.05 and 1 bar. The volume of the first element 15 can thus be reduced to a minimum to make it possible to closely follow the part of the human body that is to be supported, with a pressure lower than 0.04 bar under load.

[0096] Tests were carried out with a support device having a first element 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a second element, which is not shown in the figures. This second element has an identical geometry to that of the first element and forms a pneumatic cavity.

[0097] This support device is intended to support an arm which rests on the support device.

[0098] When in storage, the first and second elements are completely deflated and are completely flat; their bulk is therefore reduced to a minimum.

[0099] Before the arm is put in place, the first element and the second element are partially filled with the inflation gas so as to detach the walls of the pneumatic cavities.

[0100] The arm is put in place on the support device and each of the first and second pneumatic elements is brought to and kept at the desired support pressure.

[0101] The determined pressures in this scenario for providing optimum support that make it possible to reduce the risks of bedsores appearing and ensure pneumatic support are as follows.

[0102] The pressures are given in the following table for each of the elements of the support device:

TABLE-US-00001 Pressure (bar) First element 0.014 Second element 0.055