AN ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM

Abstract

An electric simulation system for home technical textiles, medical and hygiene technical textiles. The system applies electrical stimulation in order to prevent pressure ulcers with a proactive approach. With the system, in contrast to existing electrical simulation applications, blood pressure is increased at body stable pressure points before the development of pressure ulcers. In the system, a selective mechanism is developed instead of applying a fixed electrical stimulation to the whole body. In the system where electrical stimulation is applied, muscles surrounding blood vessels are stimulated and an effect equivalent to natural movement mechanism of body is provided. Thus blood is put into order and suspension of oxygen and nutrition is prevented, accumulation of waste products in cells is provided and defence mechanism of cells is kept active against invasion of cells by micro-organisms, and thus pressure ulcers are proactively prevented.

Claims

1. An electrical stimulation system containing a bedstead/bed base, home technical textiles used in the environment wherein a bed and pillow put onto said bedstead/bed base, medical and hygiene technical textiles group, characterized in comprising a bed pad: with a proactive approach, being unique for prevention of “pressure ulcers” an important health problem with high treatment costs and defined as local tissue injuries developing as a result of long time exposure of tissues in bone extension areas of body to pressure, used for the purpose of increasing blood pressure at stable pressure points of body before development of wound yet, realizing a selective operation for related area instead of applying fixed electrical stimulation to whole body; having conductive textile materials, measuring body pressure distribution of patients onto the bed, with measurement, identifying long-time fixed body pressure points and giving electrical impulse to only such area(areas), providing an effect equivalent to natural movement mechanism of body by applying electrical stimulation, stimulating muscles surrounding blood vessels and thus putting blood flow starting to become disorder under stable pressure of body into order and preventing suspension of oxygen and nutrition, accumulation of waste products in cells and keeping defence mechanism of cells active against invasion of cells by micro-organisms, and thus providing proactive prevention of pressure ulcers.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising a bed pad: insulation fabric having insulation feature and placed inside bed pad, electronic textile apparatus placed on insulation fabric measuring body pressure change of the patient by use of capacitive sensor function and applying current/vibration (Hz) to long-time body pressure points identified as a result of measurements, that is, pressure areas by means of electrical stimulation function, conductive yarns located onto the insulation fabric, placed between the electronic textile apparatus, providing formation of electronic textile structure and thus obtaining capacitive pressure sensor and electrical stimulation surface, upper fabric covering the insulation fabric and thus forming upper layer, and lower fabric covering beneath of insulation fabric and thus forming lower layer.

3. The system according to claim 2, comprising a bed pad containing visco/sponge placed under the insulation fabric supporting the body and providing contribution to balancing pressure.

4. The system according to claim 2, comprising: a control unit connected to the electronic textile apparatus electrically by means of conductive yarns and having software developed for performance of measurement of capacitive pressure of electronic textile apparatus; performance of electrical stimulation functions, equipment box housing the control unit and adapter supplying energy required for operation of control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is an illustrative schematic view of system of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of bed pad of the system of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing use of bed pad of the system of the invention in the bedstead/bed base, bed and pillow.

DESCRIPTION OF PART REFERENCES

[0027] 1. Electrical stimulation system [0028] 2. Bed pad [0029] 3. Insulation fabric [0030] 4. Electronic textile apparatus [0031] 5. Conductive yarns [0032] 6. Upper fabric [0033] 7. Lower fabric [0034] 8. Visco/sponge [0035] 9. Control unit [0036] 10. Equipment box [0037] 11. Adapter [0038] A. Patient [0039] B. Bedstead/bed base [0040] C. Bed [0041] D. Pillow

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of an electrical stimulation system (1) being subject of the invention have been described only for purpose of better understanding of the matter.

[0043] Invention relates to an electric simulation system (1) covering home technical textiles, medical and hygiene technical textile group.

[0044] The system (1) disclosed under the invention is a unique selective embodiment applying electrical stimulation in order to prevent pressure ulcers with a proactive approach. Thus a proactive solution is provided for prevention of pressure ulcer development where existing applications are inadequate.

[0045] With the system (1) disclosed under the invention, differently from existing electrical simulation applications in the literature, increasing blood pressure at body stable pressure points before development of pressure ulcers. In literature, existing electrical stimulation applications are in specified dosages onto wound areas at routine intervals. In general, after wound is totally healed, electrical stimulation treatment is ended. In the system (1) disclosed under the invention, a selective mechanism is developed instead of applying a fixed electrical stimulation to whole body. Body pressure distribution of patients (A) onto the bed is constantly measured for this purpose. With measurement, long-time fixed body pressure points are identified and electrical impulse is given to only such area (areas). In the system (1) electrical stimulation is applied, muscles surrounding blood vessels are stimulated and an effect equivalent to natural movement mechanism of body is provided. Thus blood flow starting to become disorder under stable pressure of body is put into order and suspension of oxygen and nutrition is prevented, accumulation of waste products in cells is provided and defence mechanism of cells is kept active against invasion of cells by micro-organisms, and thus pressure ulcers are proactively prevented.

[0046] The system (1) disclosed under the invention is preferably used in environment where bedstead/bed base (B), bed (C) put onto said bedstead/bed base (B) and pillow (D) are used.

[0047] The system (1) of the invention comprises; [0048] A bed pad (2) comprises, [0049] with a proactive approach, being unique for prevention of “pressure ulcers” an important health problem with high treatment costs and defined as local tissue injuries developing as a result of long time exposure of tissues in bone extension areas of body to pressure, [0050] used for the purpose of increasing blood pressure at stable pressure points of body before development of wound yet, [0051] Realizing a selective operation for related area instead of applying fixed electrical stimulation to whole body; [0052] having conductive textile materials, [0053] measuring body pressure distribution of patients (A) onto the bed, [0054] With measurement, identifying long-time fixed body pressure points and giving electrical impulse to only such area(areas), [0055] providing an effect equivalent to natural movement mechanism of body by applying electrical stimulation, stimulating muscles surrounding blood vessels and [0056] thus putting blood flow starting to become disorder under stable pressure of body into order and preventing suspension of oxygen and nutrition, accumulation of waste products in cells and keeping defence mechanism of cells active against invasion of cells by micro-organisms, and thus providing proactive prevention of pressure ulcers,

[0057] Bed pad (2) comprises, [0058] insulation fabric (3) having insulation feature and placed inside bed pad (2), [0059] electronic textile apparatus (4) placed on insulation fabric (3) measuring body pressure change of patient (A) by use of capacitive sensor function and applying current (mA)/vibration (Hz) to long-time body pressure points identified as a result of measurements, that is, pressure areas by means of electrical stimulation function, [0060] Conductive yarns (5) located onto insulation fabric (3), placed between electronic textile apparatus (4), providing formation of electronic textile structure and thus obtaining capacitive pressure sensor and electrical stimulation surface, [0061] upper fabric (6) covering insulation fabric (3) and thus forming upper layer, and [0062] lower fabric (7) covering beneath of insulation fabric (3) and thus forming lower layer.

[0063] (FIG. 2).

[0064] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, bed pad (2) comprises, visco/sponge (8) placed under insulation fabric (3), supporting body and providing contribution to balance pressure.

[0065] The system (1) of the invention comprises; [0066] control unit (9) connected to electronic textile apparatus (4) electrically by means of conductive yarns (5) and having software developed for performance of measurement of capacitive pressure of electronic textile apparatus (4) and performance of electrical stimulation functions, [0067] equipment box (10) housing control unit (9) and [0068] adapter (11) supplying energy required for operation of control unit (9).

[0069] (FIG. 1)

[0070] Bedridden (C) patients lie down motionless on a bed (C) located onto bed base/bedstead (B) generally in hospital or home. Textiles such as aleze, sheet etc. can also be used on bed (C). Home textiles such as pillow (D) product to support patient's (A) head and pillow cover put onto the product can be used on the bed (C).

[0071] Bed pad (2) provided in the system (1) of the invention is placed on the bed (C). If needed, pillow (D) product can be placed on bed pad (2). When desired, home textile products such as bed sheet can also be used on the bed pad (2).

[0072] Bed pad (2) comprises upper fabric (6), electronic textile apparatus (4) displaying capacitive/electrical stimulation function processed by use of conductive yarns (5) on the insulation fabric (3), integration of visco/sponge (8) and lower fabric (7) layers. Although use of visco/sponge (8) layer is not necessary, it is believed it will be beneficial to integrate it into bed pad (2) as it provides contribution for balancing body pressure on bed and supporting patient's (A) spine.

[0073] Insulation fabric (3) whereon conductive yarns (5) are made in certain patters becomes electronic textile apparatus (4) having capacitive pressure measurement sensor and electrical stimulation function. Sensor embodiments allocated to multiple different areas to represent body areas open to pressure ulcer development can be formed by conductive yarns (5). Thus instead of applying electrical stimulation application to whole body, local application is possible. A unique software is developed to perform capacitive pressure measurement of electronic textile apparatus (4) and electrical stimulation functions. The software is embedded into control unit (9). Connection is provided by use of conductive yarns (5) between control unit (9) and electronic textile apparatus (4). Control unit (9) is provided inside equipment box (10). Electricity needed for operation of control unit (9) is supplied by adapter (11).

[0074] The system (1) of the invention measures pressure change by capacitive perception in order to proactively prevent risk of pressure ulcer development occurring as a result of patient's (A) lying on bed pad (2) in same position for a time period longer than preset threshold value. In case of any failure in performance of duties by person responsible for changing position of patient (A) during time period over threshold period, electrical stimulation application is made to the body area of patient (A) where pressure change has not occurred. In this operation, electronic textile apparatus (4) is activated by software provided in control unit (9) and electronic textile apparatus (4) provides submission of electrical impulse. Thus pressure distribution on area of patient (A) remaining motionless is balanced, blood circulation rate of patient (A) become normal and no suspension in oxygenizing of patient's (A) tissue occur. Thus work load on the persons responsible for caring patient (A) decreases and occurrence of pressure ulcers arising from negligence is reduced.