Seating system with pressure relieving pad

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of seating systems and more particularly, to the field of anti-decubitus seating systems for wheelchairs for reducing the development of pressure sores.

2. Discussion of the Background

As set forth in the prior invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,023, growing children present a unique problem to seating and back systems for wheelchairs in that the fitting requirements of the child are continually changing sometimes on a month-to-month basis. The basic objective of such pediatric seating and positioning systems is to maintain the pelvic and spinal alignments to a desired configuration so that normal growth may occur without risk of permanent physical deformity. Children are more prone to skeletal deformities because their bones are soft and are very susceptible to being pulled into permanent deformities, particularly during growth spurts. The previous invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,023 disclosed a seat and back structure that was essentially adjustable in numerous aspects so that the positioning requirements of the growing user could be continually met throughout a period of growth. The present invention is directed to further improving the capabilities of the seating system by substantially improving the pressure relieving qualities of the fluid bladder or pad component of the previous invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,023.

Research has shown that most pediatric wheelchair bound users are not substantially at risk for decubitus ulcers (pressure sores, bed sores). This is true primarily because the diagnoses do not involve the loss of sensation in the lower extermities as would for example spinal cord injuries. However, there are some instances where the diseases (e.g., cerebral palsy and spina-bifida) have progressed to the point where sensation is impaired and the user requires a seating system that not only maintains the appropriate pelvic alignment but also provides a quality of pressure and shear relief to the underlying soft tissue of the user. In the past, most of the fluid--filled, pressure-relieving bladder configurations have employed oversized fluid segments or pouches that are bunched or gathered into a defined seating well. The excess bladder material serves a dual purpose in that it prevents hammocking of the bladder membranes or covers and also provides the necessary stroke or displacement tangentially to the fluid support surface so that shear forces on the supported body are kept at a minimum. The prior use of these types of fluid bladders has proven to be very successful when applied to cushion bases or trays where the user's position on the cushion is predictable (i.e., hips to the back and centered). Furthermore, in these prior applications, it was assumed that the majority of the fluid pad would be in contact with the user and thus the need to restrain certain portions of the bladder from ballooning or billowing around the user was not required. The ballooning or billowing described is detrimental to the function of the fluid pad because the supporting fluid volume would then be allowed to accumulate in these ballooning volumes. This would cause the user to sink farther into the cushion and eventually bottom out on the underlying rigid foam tray of the cushion structure.

The adjustable growth cushion described in the previous invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,023 inherently creates a condition where there are unsupported or unused portions of the fluid pad. This previous invention employed a fluid pad that was segmented into several pouches on each side of the cushion centerline. This segmenting prevents the detrimental fluid migration from underneath the user if the user is indeed sitting on only the front half of the cushion surface. This configuration is an appropriate solution for when the fluid bladder is required to provide only a limited amount of pressure relief and little or no shear relief. Improved pressure and shear relief may be achieved in this prior invention by introducing more fluid to the seating well area. However, simply oversizing the fluid bladder of this previous invention relative to the underlying tray structure would not be a particularly effective solution because the unsupported areas of the fluid pad would accumulate fluid volume and allow the user to bottom out.

The fluid bladder or pad of the present invention overcomes the problems discussed above. Among other things, it does so by oversizing the top or canopy portion of the outer covers of the fluid pouches in a vertical direction normal to the tray support surface. Furthermore, the fluid pad of the present invention cooperates with the underlying foam tray by the incorporation of three-dimensional, geometrically configured fluid pouches that correspond to the general contours of the depressed seating well of the underlying tray. The resulting configuration is thus capable of satisfying all of the requirements of pressure relief, shear relief, and growth accommodation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention involves a seating system primarily intended for use in wheelchairs and similar applications for reducing the development of decubitus ulcers. The seating system includes a relatively rigid, shaped tray and a pressure relieving fluid pad. The tray has a thigh supporting shelf and a depressed seating well. The fluid pad preferably has a plurality of fluid pouches positionable over the thigh supporting shelf of the tray and an array of rearward pouches positionable over the depressed seating well. The rearward pouches in the seating well are wedge shaped and taper downwardly in vertical thickness from one end portion to the other. Each rearward pouch has its thicker end portion overlying a central part of the seating well and its thinner end portion positioned over the upwardly inclined, outer rim section of the seating well. In this manner, the resulting arrangement of the rearward pouches concentrates the bulk of the fluid toward the center or middle of the seating well to substantially prevent any undesirable bottoming out of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx on the rigid tray. Additionally, the top or canopy portions of each of the pouches is substantially oversized to significantly reduce the possibility of undesirable hammocking and development of shear forces on the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the covered seating system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the seating system of FIG. 1 with the cover removed to show the underlying tray and the fluid pad which is positioned on it.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tray and fluid pad.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the tray of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the tray taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tray taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4 with the fluid pad of the present invention shown positioned on it.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid pad by itself lying on a flat surface.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 7 showing the fluid pad positioned on the contoured tray.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the fluid pad of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of two of the wedge-shaped fluid pouches of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates another design of the fluid pads to create the desired oversizing to prevent hammocking and shear forces.

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 15 showing the seating system of the present invention in use to support the user's thighs and buttocks.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The seating system 1 of the present invention as best seen in FIGS. 1-3 includes an outer cover 3 (see FIG. 1) positioned over a base or tray 4 and fluid pad 5 (see FIG. 2).

The base member or tray 4 is preferably made of polyethylene or other relatively rigid material and has forward and rearward sections 6 and 8 adjacent one another along the central axis 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The forward section 6 has an upper surface 12 which forms a shelf to receive and support the user's thighs (see FIG. 14). The rearward section 8, in turn, has a depressed seating well with an upper surface 14, 16 to receive and support the user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities 18 (see FIGS. 14 and 15). The seating well includes a bottom section 20 and U-shaped rim section 22 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The upper surface 14 of the bottom section 20 extends substantially horizontally and outwardly (see FIG. 5) on each side of a central vertical plane 24 containing the central axis 10. Surface 14 as shown is dimensioned to support at least the ischial tuberosities 18 of the user's buttocks (see again FIG. 15). Referring back to FIG. 5, the upper surface 16 of the rim section 22 extends upwardly from the upper surface 14 of the bottom section 20 substantially at an inclined angle thereto (e.g., 45 degrees).

The fluid pad 5 of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 includes forward pouches 7 and rearward pouches 9, 11, and 11'. Forward pouches 7 are substantially filled with a fluid and intended to be positioned over the thigh supporting shelf or surface 12 of the rigid tray 4 (see FIG. 14). The rearward pouches 9, 11, and 11' in turn are similarly filled with a fluid and intended to be positioned over the upper surface 14, 16 of the seating well of the tray 4 (see FIGS. 14 and 15).

The rearward pouches 11 and 11' are of substantially the same design. As best seen in FIG. 8 (which is a cross-sectional view of pouches 11 of the pad 5 with the pad 5 simply lying on a flat surface), each of the rearward pouches 11 is substantially wedge-shaped in cross section with the wedge shape tapering down in vertical thickness from the centrally positioned end portion 15 to the outer end portion 17. In use, each wedge-shaped pouch 11 as shown in FIG. 9 is positioned (e.g., by hook-loop fasteners 13 or simply by its own weight) in the seating well of tray 4 with the thicker, first end portion 15 of each pouch 11 adjacent the central vertical plane 24 containing the central axis 10 of the tray 4. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 9, each thicker, first end portion 15 of each wedge-shaped pouch 11 overlies a central part of the upper surface 14 of the bottom section 20 of the seating well. The thinner, second end portion 17 of each wedge-shaped pouch 11 is then positioned to overlie an outward part of the inclined upper surface 16 of the rim section 22 of the seating well. In this manner as illustrated in FIG. 9, the resulting arrangement concentrates the bulk of the fluid toward the center or middle of the seating well above the supporting surface 14. The fluid thickness adjacent the central vertical plane 24 and above the surface 14 is then much greater than is prior arrangements and will substantially prevent any undesirable bottoming out of the user's ischial tuberosities 18 and coccyx 26 on the rigid tray 4. Further, this is accomplished in an efficient and cost saving manner as the wedge shape of pouches 11 (as well as 11' and 9) enables the maximum fluid thickness to be achieved above the seating well surface 14 with a minimum use of the relatively heavy and costly fluid and with a minimum of undesirable ballooning of the pouches 11 at the outer end portions 17.

The most rearward pouches 11' as discussed above are also wedge-shaped or chisel-shaped like pouches 11. These rearward pouches 11 and 11' as illustrated primarily support the ischial tuberosities 18 and coccyx 26 of the user's buttocks (see FIGS. 14 and 15). The remaining rearward pouches 9 in turn primarily support the forward fleshy part of the user's buttocks. The inclusion of two sets of pouches 11 and 11' helps to prevent rearward ballooning and also enables the seating system to accommodate a growing child or adult who is losing or gaining weight or otherwise changing shape. That is, with a growing child, his or her buttocks can be initially positioned with the ischial tuberosities and coccyx primarily over pouches 11 with the wheelchair back essentially over the seam between the pouches 11 and 11'. Then, as the child grows, the wheelchair back and seating system can be adjusted relative to each other wherein both sets of pouches 11 and 11' are used to support the growing child's ischial tuberosities 18 and coccyx 26 more in the fashion of FIG. 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the rearward pouches 9 like pouches 11 and 11' are wedge-shaped in a vertical plane (i.e., cut 10--10 from FIG. 7) which is substantially perpendicular to the central plane 24. Additionally, as best seen in FIG. 6, the rearward pouches 9 are also wedge-shaped in a vertical plane (i.e., cut 6--6 from FIG. 4) which is substantially parallel to the central vertical plane 24. In this manner, each pouch 9 assumes substantially a pie shape (see FIG. 12) versus the chisel-shape of pouches 11 and 11'. Referring again to FIG. 12 and as also shown in conjunction with the bottom plan view of FIG. 11, the pouches 7, 9, 11, and 11' of the fluid pad 5 can be separate pouches individually attached or positioned over the tray 4 (FIG. 12) or can be assembled together into a unitary piece (FIG. 11).

Also, as best seen in these FIGS. 11 and 12 as well as FIGS. 14 and 15, each rearward pouch 9, 11, and 11' is oversized to prevent hammocking of the fluid pad 5 in use. That is, each pouch has a cover containing the fluid wherein the cover has a bottom portion 31 and an upper or canopy portion 33, 35, 37. The cover is made of flexible material (e.g., polyurethane film) and is partially filled (e.g. 40%-70%) with fluid. Each cover of the preferred embodiment is substantially oversized so that in use, the upper or canopy portion 33, 35 37 of each pouch (see FIG. 9 for example) has considerable slack in it. The upper cover portion can then be allowed to wrinkle and fold back on itself where the cover portion at 33 faces upwardly to receive and support the user. Additionally, the canopy portion can wrinkle and fold back on itself and adjacent pouch cover portions where the tops 33, sides 35, and ends or bases 37 of the adjacent cover portions abut or overlap one another. In this manner and in use, the upper cover portion 33, 35, 37 will preferably not be drawn taut like a hammock nor create undesirable shear forces on the user. The lower cover portion or base 31 of each of the rearward pouches 9, 11, and 11' can also be oversized if desired. However, in the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12, the area of the base 31 of each of the rearward pouches 9, 11, and 11' is substantially the same as the area 31' of the parts (see FIG. 12) of the upper surface 14, 16 of the seating well they overlie. This desired oversizing of the upper cover portion 33, 35, 37 can be achieved in any number of ways. For example, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 13, the full shape of each pouch has been exaggerated or extended beyond a simple right triangular shape. In use as shown in solid lines in FIG. 13, this provides even more surface area to the upper or canopy portion 33, 35, 37 for increased slack to further minimize the possibility of any hammocking or shearing occurring.

The oversizing and degree of resulting slack, wrinkles, and fold backs in the preferred embodiment are also directionally controlled in three dimensions. For example, it is preferred that more slack and oversizing in pouches 9, 11, and 11' be in a lateral direction across or perpendicular to the central plane 24 than in or along the central plane 24. Further, it is also preferred that the vertical oversizing of the cover ends or bases 37 be greater than the lateral oversizing. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 7, such oversizing of pouch 11 in the lateral direction perpendicular to central plane 24 (as measured by comparing the linear distance between points A and B with the actual distance along the convolutions of side 35 between points A and B) is about 1:1.5 or 150%. Similarly, the oversizing from points B to C is about 1:1.25 or 125%. The vertical oversizing of pouch 11 between points C and D (see FIG. 12) is then about 1:1.5-3.0 or 150% to 300% (e.g., 2 inches : 3-6 inches). Stated another way, the slack in the vertical or C-D direction of the base portion 37 (as measured by comparing the convoluted distance to the linear distance) is much greater than the A-B slack in the top portion 33. Similarly, the A-B slack in the top portion 33 is greater than the B-C slack in the base portion 37.

Among other things, this directionally controlled oversizing in three dimensions allows for an increased production of total oversizing and slack laterally across the seating system. This is where such oversizing and resulting slack are most needed to reduce the possibility of hammocking and of the development of shear forces. In this regard, the vertical oversizing of the ends or bases 37 is particularly helpful. More specifically, before any hammocking will develop, the top of the base 37 essentially at B-C of pouch 11 in FIG. 12 will be drawn by the weight of the user outwardly of the central vertical plane 24 (see FIG. 15). In this manner, even more slack and upwardly facing surface area will be made available in the fluid pad 5 for supporting the user before any undesirable hammocking or shearing can occur. The controlled, three-dimensional oversizing of the pouches in combination with the wedge shape of the pouches also results in producing more slack and desirable wrinkling and folding back of the pouch canopy 33, 35, 37 the nearer one is to the central plane 24. It also significantly reduces any ballooning or billowing of the pouches at their outer end portions 17. These desirable results are primarily a result of the wedge shape itself. However, they are enhanced by the controlled, three-dimensional oversizing discussed above. In this manner, the oversizing and slack are greater and concentrated or more prevalent away from the apex at 17 of the wedge shape and toward the central plane 24 and bases 37 of the wedge-shaped pouches where such slack and oversizing are most needed. Additionally, any ballooning or billowing of the thinner, outer end portions 17 is greatly reduced.

Each pouch 7, 9, 11, and 11' is sealed and isolated from the other pouches to prevent any fluid communication between them. In this manner, the pouches can then be individually filled as desired. The fluid in the pouches 7, 9, 11, and 11' is preferably incompressible with a viscosity of at least one (i.e., water) and more preferably is a highly viscous liquid such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,229. Such preferred liquids exhibit non-resilient, non-restoring properties typical of plastic or viscous thixotropic materia