METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AN OBJECT REQUIRING SUPPORT, IN PARTICULAR A PATIENT'S BODY WITH INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC AND AUTOMATIC PRESSURE EQUALISATION

摘要

The invention concerns a support apparatus and its method. Said apparatus comprises a support device (12) to provide support to an element requiring support, in particular a patient's body (H), comprising at least a first inflatable chamber (14), means for sensing pressure level P1 in the first chamber (14); means (30) for controlling the means (20) correcting pressure level P1 in the first chamber (14) on the basis of characteristics of predetermined pressure levels, comprising first means for inflating (21)/deflating (22) the support device (12) chamber (14) at a variable pressure, including an predetermined initial pressure level. The invention is characterised in that it comprises at least one physical pressure sensor (50) including a second inflatable chamber (51), inflated at a predetermined initial pressure level P2, said sensor (50) being arranged so as to cause pressure level P2 in its second chamber (51) to be influenced by a change of pressure level in the first chamber (14); means (38) for comparing pressure level P1 in the first chamber (14) with pressure level P2 in the second chamber (51), said control means (30) eventually controlling the means (20) correcting the pressure level in the first chamber (14) when the variation in pressure is different from a predetermined set pressure level value or from a range of predetermined set pressure level value.