Abstract:
Described herein are systems and apparatuses for enhanced comfort through contact pressure reduction. In particular, the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein prevent or otherwise mitigate pressure by actively orienting a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface on which the patient rests. A pressure-mitigating contact portion of the contact surface includes a plurality of independently pressurized chambers configured in a specific geometric pattern that is designed to mitigate contact pressure between a support surface (e.g., bed or chair) and a specific anatomic region of a patient's body when the specific anatomic region of the patient's body is oriented over an epicenter of the geometric pattern. Additionally, a plurality of elevated side support portions and a wedge interconnected on the base material are configured to actively orient the specific anatomic region of the patient's body over the epicenter of the geometric pattern.
Abstract:
Introduced here are apparatuses and systems for mitigating contact pressures applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, the pressure-mitigation apparatus can vary the contact pressure on a specific anatomical region of the patient by controllably inflating and/or deflating one or more cell. Moreover, a pressure-mitigation system can be readily integrated into a conventional treatment regimen for a variety of different conditions.
Abstract:
Introduced here are apparatuses and systems for mitigating contact pressures applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, the pressure-mitigation apparatus can vary the contact pressure on a specific anatomical region of the patient by controllably inflating and/or deflating one or more cell. Moreover, a pressure-mitigation system can be readily integrated into a conventional treatment regimen for a variety of different conditions.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article, and particularly a sanitary napkin, having a flexure-resistant deformation element, the sanitary napkin having a body surface which has a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. Primarily without relying on lateral compressive forces of the wearer's labia, the sanitary napkin of the present invention relies on the lateral compressive forces of the wearer's thighs in order to form or maintain a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation element has a means for inducing the body surface of the sanitary napkin to have a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. In an alternatively preferred embodiment, the sanitary napkin has a central region having a "W" shaped cross-section wherein the body surface of the sanitary napkin having the convex upward configuration is located in the central region, generally symmetrically between the longitudinal side edges of the sanitary napkin. In another alternatively preferred embodiment, the sanitary napkin has a cup-shaped front region and a back region having a convex upward configured body surface. The deformation element may be a moldable substance such as a foam, it may be reformable and/or it may be resilient.
Abstract:
A backing for an absorptive device such as a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin, said backing comprising a combination of two layers. The first layer which does not contact the wearer's skin is preferably comprised of a liquid-impervious layer of polymeric film or the like. The second layer is also preferably comprised of a polymeric film which has been made pervious to liquid by providing a multiplicity of relatively small protuberances, each ending in an aperture, substantially across its entire surface. The apertured protuberances, which resemble a tiny volcano in cross-section, exhibit a soft, highly consumer preferred tactile impression which is sometimes characterized as "silky".In backsheets of the present invention, the second layer is oriented so that the tiny volcano-like cusps of the second layer constitute the exposed portion of the backsheet. This minimizes the area of contact between the backsheet and the wearer's skin. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second layer is macroscopically expanded to provide a three-dimensional pattern in its surface, thereby increasing the amount of stand-off between the wearer's skin and the liquid impermeable first layer of the composite backsheet. The tiny apertures in the second layer substantially prevent occlusion of the wearer's skin by providing circulation of air between the first liquid impervious layer of the backsheet of the wearer's skin. This effect is enhanced even further when the first layer is macroscopically expanded to enhance the amount of stand-off between the wearer's skin and the liquid impervious first layer. The reduced contact area and the enhanced air circulation between the backsheet and the wearer's skin reduce the tendency toward perspiration and sticking of the backsheet to the wearer's skin.
Abstract:
An appliance used for transferring and distributing weight applied by a patient's body member, is disclosed. It includes:(a) a first layer of synthetic flexible sheet material that forms a group of sealed, deformable air pockets distributed over layer area,(b) and an attachment or attachments associated with that layer for removably attaching same to the body member in weight supporting relation.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the prevention of pressure sores at an unfeeling part of a person's body involves applying to the unfeeling part of the person's body a pressure-sensor cell which senses the pressure thereat, applying to a feeling part of the person's body a discomfort-generator cell, and connecting the pressure-sensor cell to the discomfort-generator cell such that the pressure sensed by the former at the unfeeling part of the person's body is transmitted by the latter to the feeling part of the person's body.
Abstract:
A self-inflating structure wherein some gas evolving material or reagent is sealed. The structure comprises a wall of semipermeable material which is substantially pervious to molecules of an activator material and substantially impervious to free molecules of an evolved or product-of-reaction gas. Such free molecules of gas are provided when molecules of activator material interact or react with the gas evolving material. Upon exposing the outside of the semipermeable wall of the structure to molecules of activator material, activator molecules permeate the structure wherein such activator molecules interact with the gas evolving material to provide free molecules of evolved gas or a product-of-reaction gas whereby the structure becomes inflated by the evolved gas. Such self-inflating structures are also disclosed in combination with absorbent materials to provide absorbent products having low pre-inflation bulk. Such absorbent products include disposable diapers having substantially higher ratios of absorption capacity to weight of absorbent material than otherwise.
Abstract:
An absorbent pad has a layer of absorbent material together with a plurality of load-bearing members positioned therein that are generally equal to the thickness of the absorbent layer. The load applied to the overall pad is taken primarily by the load-bearing members allowing the absorbent material to remain in a relatively uncompressed state and free to absorb liquid.
Abstract:
A COLLECTING RECEPTACLE FOR LIQUIDS, ESPECIALLY URINE IS FORMED AS A PLIABLE ELONGATED BAG HAVING A SINGLE OPENING IN ONE OF ITS SIDE WALLS, AND COMPRISING A PARTITION DIVIDING THE RECPTACLE INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS ALONG A MAJOR DIMENSION OF THE BAG, THE COMPARTMENTS EACH BEING FILLED WITH ABSORBENT MATERIAL. THE PARTITION IS FORMED BY TWO PERFORATED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WALL ELEMENTS OF WHICH AT LEAST THE ONE NEARER SAID OPENING INCLUDES AN APERTURE SUBSTAINTIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING AND FORMING A LIQUID-TIGHT PASSAGE THEREWITH. THE WALL ELEMENTS ARE GENERALLY PERFORATED EXCEPT IN THE REGION OF SAID PASSAGE AND OPPOSITE SAID OPENING.