Patent Publication Number: US-2007101506-A1

Title: Disposable inflatable mattress

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/597,075 filed on Nov. 8, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a disposable inflatable mattress made from a disposable material. A disposable inflatable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention is preferably formed from a spunbonded olefin material, for example, Tyvek®, a synthetic material made from high density polyethylene fibers and available from DuPont. Fibrillated strands of material such as Tyvek® are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,519 to Blades, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses a fibrillated strand which can be woven. This material can be woven into packaging or other material known as Tyvek®.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a disposable mattress which can be made from a disposable material and which can have electroweld seams. A disposable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention may be intended for single-patient or one-time use to eliminate the need for costly cleaning and sterilization of the mattress. The mattress may comprise a mattress body formed from a spunbonded olefin material, or any other suitable disposable material. The mattress body can be formed at least approximately one inch to eight inches in height. One or more air supply pumps can be used to inflate the mattress. The pump can be permanently coupled or removably coupled to the mattress. The pumps can be set to periodically re-inflate the mattress, particularly if the mattress has a particular bleed rate of air or other fluid out from the mattress. The pump may be adapted to read the bleed rate and adapt to the bleed rate.  
      The invention further relates to a method for preventing or treating decubitus ulcers in bedridden patients using a disposable inflatable mattress. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
      In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a mattress which can be formed as a disposable mattress;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a low air loss disposable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the low air loss disposable mattress shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the low air loss disposable mattress shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternating pressure disposable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the alternating pressure disposable mattress shown in  FIG. 5 ; and  
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the alternating pressure disposable mattress shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a disposable mattress which can be coupled to a pump  20 . The mattress body  10  can be in the form of a disposable mattress made from any known material. Preferably, mattress body  10  is formed from a spunbonded olefin or similar disposable material. An example of a material from which mattress body  10  may be formed is Tyvek®, a synthetic material made from high density polyethylene fibers and available from DuPont. The mattress may be any type of mattress. Pump  20  can pump the mattress up to 20 psi and wherein this pump would not exceed a flow of greater than 100 liters per minute.  
      A disposable inflatable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention may be used for a variety of treatments. For example, a disposable inflatable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention may be useful in preventing and/or treating decubitus ulcers, also known as bedsores or pressure sores, which can occur in bedridden patients. For example, the mattress pressure may be selectively adjusted to a level for preventing decubitus ulcers from forming or spreading.  
       FIGS. 2-4  show a low air loss disposable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention. Mattress body  10  of the low air loss disposable mattress may be formed from a spunbonded olefin material or similar disposable material. As shown, low air loss mattress body  10  may comprise a plurality of cells  30 . Each cell  30  may include one or more openings or holes  40 .  
      Opening or holes  40  may allow air to escape from an associated cell  30 , thereby maintaining a preferred pressure in the disposable inflatable mattress. A manifold or tube  50  may be coupled to mattress body  10  for inflating the individual cells  30  of the mattress body.  
       FIGS. 5-7  show an alternating pressure disposable mattress according to an embodiment of the invention. Mattress body  10  of the alternating pressure disposable mattress may be formed from a spunbonded olefin material or similar disposable material. As shown, alternating pressure disposable mattress body  10  may comprise a plurality of cells  301 ,  302 . The cells may be arranged in a lower layer or row of cells  301  and an upper layer or row of cells  302 . Each cell in a particular layer may be spaced apart from an adjacent cell and a cell in the immediately upper or lower layer may be disposed in the space formed between the adjacent cells, as illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . A manifold or tube  50  may be coupled to mattress body  10  for inflating the individual cells. Preferably, the cells in a particular layer are in fluid communication with one another and a first tube  50  is provided for inflating a first layer of cells  301  and a second tube  50  is provided for inflating a second layer of cells  302 . The adjacent layers of cells may be inflated and/or deflated in an alternating manner.  
      Accordingly, while several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.