Hill-rom Industries Sa

Olivier Coupard

Jean-Luc Caminade

Jean-Marie Basilio

Thierry Flocard

Thierry Les Jardins d'Oc Flocard

An inflatable cell that is inflatable with a fluid, such as air, comprises a flexible casing that is closed at its ends, the casing defining, between its walls, at least one inflatable chamber; and at least one fluid insertion means for inserting fluid into the chamber and at least one fluid removal means for removing fluid from said chamber, these insertion and removal means being bonded in substantially airtight manner to at least one end of the casing; and at least one link means for linking the cell to another identical cell, which link means are integral with or secured to the casing. A method of manufacturing such a cell and a support device of the mattress type that is manufactured on the basis of assembling together such cells are also disclosed.

Mattress structure including low air loss

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.

Method of inflating, in alternating manner, a support device having inflatable cells, and a device for implementing the method

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.

Growing community of inventors

Montpellier, France

Olivier Coupard