Method and apparatus for supporting an element to be support, in particular the body of a patient, the apparatus having a support device independent from the control device

A method of supporting a body element, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face;
• providing said flexible chamber with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element;
• measuring said penetration distance with said measuring means of said control device;
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device including said control station at least as a function of the measured penetration distance;
• incorporating the support device into an individual support cover;
• incorporating the entire independent control device as one unit into a second independent individual control cover;
• and
• coupling the independent control device in the second independent control cover to the support device in the individual support cover via coupling means enabling the control device to cause the filling and emptying means in the independent control device to fill or remove fluid via the inlet and outlet means of said flexible chamber of said support device to cause the filling fluid to be fed into the chamber of the support device or to be removed therefrom.

A method of supporting a body element, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face;
• providing said flexible chamber with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element;
• measuring the penetration distance, with said measuring means, the measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, the measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• and
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device including said control station at least as a action of the electric signal generated by the measuring means.

A method of supporting a body element, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face;
• providing said flexible chamber with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, and including filling means and emptying means structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and the control device being structured for driving the filling means and emptying means for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, said control device further comprising measuring means for measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element;
• measuring the penetration distance, with said measuring means, the measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, the measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• and
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device at least as a function of the electric signal generated by the measuring means;
• and
• wherein said measuring step comprises the step of shielding any influence from a metal mass situated in a vicinity of a monitoring member by providing a shielding element structured to shield the impedance-varying element.

A method of supporting a body element, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face;
• providing said flexible chamber with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, and including filling means and emptying means structured to be corrected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and the control device being structured for driving the filling means and emptying means for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, said control device further comprising measuring means for measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element;
• measuring the penetration distance, with said measuring means, the measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, the measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• and
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber wit said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device at least as a function of the electric signal generated by the measuring means;
• and
• further comprising disposing the spacer element of variable thickness on a spacer element of fixed thickness.

A method of supporting a body of a patient for preventing or treating bedsores, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising a mattress having at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body and a bottom face;
• providing inlet and outlet moans via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body;
• measuring the penetration distance with said measuring means of said control device;
• and
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device including said control station at least as a function as the measured penetration distance.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, as a result of having said body element penetrating said at least one flexible chamber, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• said control device controlling, at least as a function of the measured penetration distance, said filling and emptying means to fill or empty said at least one chamber with said filling fluid via said inlet and outlet means, respectively.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device as a result of having said body element penetrating said at least one flexible chamber, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device, said control device including said control station controlling, at least as a function of the measured penetration distance, said filling and emptying means to fill or empty said at least one chamber with said filling fluid via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, the support device being incorporated in an individual support cover, and the entire independent control device being incorporated as a unit in a second independent individual control cover, the independent control device in the second independent control cover being coupled to the support device in the individual support cover via coupling means enabling the control device to cause the filling and emptying means in the independent control device to fill or remove fluid via the inlet and outlet means of said flexible chamber of said support device to cause the filling fluid to be fed into the chamber of the support device or to be removed therefrom.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one flexible closed or controlled-release chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, said measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance, said measuring means being connected for delivery of said electrical signal to the control station included in said control device;
• said control device including said control station controlling, at least as a function of the electric signal generated by said measuring means, filling and emptying said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one flexible closed or controlled-release chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face and including filling means and emptying means structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and the control device being structured for driving the filling means and emptying means for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, said control device further comprising measuring means for measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, said measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• said control device controlling, at least as a function of the electric signal generated by said measuring means, filling and emptying said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, and further comprising a shielding element structured to shield the impedance-varying element from any influence of a metal mass in the vicinity of a monitoring member.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one flexible closed or controlled-release chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face and including filling means and emptying means structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and the control device being structured for driving the filling means and emptying means for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, said control device further comprising measuring means for measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, said measuring means generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• said control device controlling, at least as a function of the electric signal generated by said measuring means, filling and emptying said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, and the spacer element of variable thickness is disposed on a spacer element of fixed thickness.

An apparatus for supporting a body element, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefor, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means comprising a metal film, associated with a variable thickness spacer element comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed, and which is located substantially opposite said metal film, under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, said measuring means being thereby capable of generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device, said control station being structured for driving said filling means and emptying means, said control device including said control station controlling, at least as a function of the electric signal generated by said measuring means, filling and emptying said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, the support device being incorporated in an individual support cover, and the entire independent control device being incorporated as a unit in a second independent individual control cover, the independent control device in the second independent control cover being coupled to the support device in the individual support cover via coupling means enabling the control device to cause the filling and emptying means in the independent control device to fill or remove fluid via the inlet and outlet means of said flexible chamber of said support device to cause the filling fluid to be fed into the chamber of the support device or to be removed therefrom.

An apparatus for supporting a body of a patient, comprising:

• at least one support device comprising a mattress having at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body and a bottom face, said flexible chamber being provided with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• and
• a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces tom the top face of the control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for diving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• said control device including said control station controlling, at least as a function of the penetration distance, said filling and emptying means to fill or empty said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, thereby preventing or treating bedsores.

A method of supporting a body element, comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body element and a bottom face;
• providing said flexible chamber with inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support devices, the control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of said control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element;
• measuring the penetration distance, with said measuring means, said measuring means comprising a metal film, associated whit a variable thickness spacer element comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, and an impedance-varying element whose position is fixed and which is located substantially opposite from said metal film under the bottom surface of the variable thickness spacer element, said measuring means being thereby capable of generating an electric signal as a function of the penetration distance;
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device including said control station at least as a function of the electric signal generated by said measuring means;
• incorporating the support device into an individual support cover;
• incorporating the entire independent control device as a unit into a second independent individual control cover;
• and
• coupling the independent control device in the second independent control cover to the support device in the individual support cover via coupling means enabling the control device to cause the filling and emptying means in the independent control device to fill or remove fluid via the inlet and outlet means of said flexible chamber of said support device to cause the filling fluid to be fed into the chamber of the support device or to be removed therefrom.

A method for supporting a body of a patient for preventing or treating bedsores, said method comprising:

• providing at least one support device comprising a mattress comprising at least one closed or controlled-release flexible chamber located between a top face for receiving the body and a bottom face;
• providing inlet and outlet means via which a filling fluid can be fed into said chamber or removed therefrom;
• providing a control device, separate and independent from said at least one support device, said control device having a top face in contact with said bottom face of said at least one support device and a bottom face separated by lateral faces from the top face of said control device, the control device defining an internal control chamber, the control device comprising located internally within said control chamber all of a control station, filling means, emptying means, and a monitoring member comprising measuring means, the filling means and emptying means being structured to be connected to said inlet and outlet means for said flexible chamber, and said control station being structured for driving the filling means and the emptying means included in said control device for filling said at least one flexible chamber with said filling fluid or for emptying said fluid therefrom, the measuring means measuring a penetration distance into said at least one support device, said measuring means being connected to the control station included in said control device;
• penetrating said at least one flexible chamber by said body element and thereby defining the penetration distance into said at least one support device by said body element,
• measuring the penetration distance with said measuring means of said control device;
• driving the filling and emptying of said at least one chamber with said filling fluid by said filling and emptying means via said inlet and outlet means, respectively, based on regulation from said control device including said control station at least as a function as the measured penetration distance;
• incorporating the support device into an individual support cover;
• incorporating the entire independent control device as a unit into a second independent individual control cover;
• and coupling the independent control device in the second independent control cover to the support device in the individual support cover via coupling means enabling the control device to cause the filling and emptying means in the independent control device to fill or remove fluid via the inlet and outlet means of said flexible chamber of said support device to cause the filling fluid to be fed into the chamber of he support dice or to be removed therefrom.