Patent ID: 8104126

Claim:
A method of inflating, in alternating manner, inflatable cells of a mattress for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with air and having at least one zone made up of a first series and a second series of inflatable cells, the cells of each series communicating pneumatically with one another and with an inflation means, the cells of each series of cells being controlled to be either in a first state in which communication is open with the inflation means and with the other cells of the respective series of cells or in a second state in which communication is closed with the inflation means and with the other cells of the respective series and is open to ambient, the method comprising alternating deflation and re-inflation cycles so that each of said series of cells is deflated and then re-inflated in alternation and in succession, said first series of cells being deflated and then re-inflated simultaneously respectively with the re-inflation and with the deflation of said second series of cells, the alternating deflation and re-inflation of said first and second series of cells of the support device including at least one step of inflating said first and second series of cells to a value of a reference pressure whose value is determined on the basis of a substantially continuous measurement taken by means of a morphology sensor which is an electronic component measuring the stress generated by the patient's body on the first and second series of cells, wherein the alternating deflation and re-inflation of said first and second series of 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 first and second series of cells and of comparison of said values with said reference pressure value, said inflation means being switched on or off causes said first or second series of cells to be put into the first state in which communication is open with said inflation means or into the second state in which communication is closed therewith, wherein the first and second series of cells have associated therewith respective first and second electrically controlled valves, and wherein an upstream group of the cells of each of the first and second series of cells are upstream of the respective first and second electrically controlled valves such that air moved by the inflation means first passes through at least one cell of the upstream group of the cells of the first and second series of cells before reaching the respective first and second electrically controlled valves.