Salisbury November ‘95
TM
Mistral Standard
Recommended for general ward usage. A
quality
mattre
ss wit
h pro
Modular cut foam improves pressure reduction.
v en p
ress
“Pressure redistribution over the bony prominences
ure r
elief
of the body is achieved extremely well in the design
.
of some laminated and modular cut mattresses.
The ‘hygrowave’ principle. Unique new way of
When subjected to localised high pressure areas,
ventilating mattress core: horizontal tunnels
individual squares collapse, thereby increasing
through the foam get rid of the moisture that
support area and lowering interface pressure.”
causes both premature foam fatigue and Wet
Compression Set. This gives Mistral longer
S. Rithalia, Nursing Times, Oct 20, Vol 89 No 42, 1993
active life.
“Mistral Standard gave significantly better pressure relief
than the Transfoam mattress on all three anatomical locations.
Although Mistral gave lower mean pressures than the
Softform, it was only on the trochanter that the Mistral was
significantly better. The results shown here are interesting in
that in the Medical Devices Agency report PSl it was shown
that Transfoam gave the best pressure relief of any of the
mattresses tested. The work undertaken in this trial is the first
time since that report that the authors have made a
comparison of a range of similar products. This has shown
that although the Transfoam is significantly better than the
Standard King's Fund mattress, it is not as good as the
Softform and in particular the Mistral, which in this
evaluation gave the best pressure reduction.”
I.D. Swain, D. Norman - November 1995.
TM
Mistral Big M
The new ‘M’ profile helps redistribute pressure away from bony prominences
towards the flanks. The firm foam wedges running along the sides of the
mattress increase the lateral area of contact between body and mattress.
Mistral is ideal for general ward usage: it needs
no extra overlay for pressure sore prevention,
thereby it avoids the problems some overlays
have with laundering.
Mistral fits any King’s Fund bed.
“Recent tests carried out by the Orthopaedic Mechanics Research at the
University of Salford found some improvements with the Mistral
compared with other replacement mattresses previously tested. Skin
interface pressures at the trochanter were somewhat better with Mistral,
whilst those at the sacrum were within the range of three other good
mattresses.”
Loose fitting
waterproof/vapour
permeable cover with
printed 4 Way turning
schedule.
Loose fitting two-way stretch cover optimises
pressure redistribution. Waterproof yet vapour
permeable – to avoid heat build up.
Code: BFM4
Medium resilience central foam.
Corrugated tunnels disperse
heat and perspiration sideways
by hygrowave principle.
Soft outer foam with
chequer board cuts:
squares collapse under
high pressure ensuring
neighbouring squares
provide support.
Mistral Standard
damp
Firm edges provide patient
stability.
Mistral Standard
damp
Lifespan
“The foam density is the most appropriate indication of its quality. A
high density foam is more expensive but it retains support properties
for longer. Mistral Big M is the heaviest mattress in its category.”
NHS 150
VAPERM
TRANSFOAM
STM5
Mistral Standard
Mistral Big M
Journal of Tissue
Viability October ‘95
“In conclusion it is felt that the Mistral is at
least as good at reducing interface pressure
as any replacement mattress tested. It gave
marked pressure reduction and did not
suffer from the foam fatigue problems that a
number of other cut rather than moulded
foam mattresses did.” D. Norman, C.
Dunford, I. Swain.
Percentage Pressure Reductions
9.5 kgs
15.0 kgs
8.5 kgs
9.5 kgs
15.0 kgs
18.0 kgs
(Compared with NHS contract mattress)
Percentage Pressure Reductions
(Compared with NHS contract mattress)
(full details available on application)
S Rithalia May 1994
Mistral Big M
perspiration
More uniform enveloping pressure
with Mistral Big M reduces
vertical shear in tissue.
Firm
Soft
Firm
Firm
Medium
Soft
Firm
photograph exaggerates degree of dip
Body heat helps moisture
in the centre of the foam to
escape from Mistral’s sides.
E xc
e ll e
tp
re s
Conner and Clack (1993) evaluated this shear force
in several mattresses using CT scans. “The
presence of vertical shear or shear forces decreases
the amount of pressure required to occlude the
capillaries and cause pressure ulcers. Therefore a
support surface that decreases vertical shearing of
tissue should reduce the occurrence of pressure
ulcer formation.” (3)
n
Horizontal tunnels in Mistral allow
moisture to escape from the side of
the mattress. Avoids need for mesh
King’s Fund bed base. 6” depth
avoids excess pressure when semi
recumbent. Firm orange side panels
stop patient rolling out of bed.
Uniform enveloping pressure has been found to
significantly increase the duration of the applied
pressure required to traumatise soft tissue in
animals. (Hussain 1953) (1) Bennett and Lee (1988)
attribute this delaying of tissue traumatisation
to the reduction of vertical shearing
within the tissue. (2)
Code: BFM3
Mean Pressures
BodyFoam Mistral is cleaned by
wiping with soap and water.
Zips allow inspection of foam.
Mistral can be used either way up
allowing 4 way monthly rotation
for maximum life expectancy.
sur
e re
li e f o
n all Mistra products*
l
(1) Hussain T. Pathology Bacteriology, 66,347-363
(2) Bennett, L. & Lee, B.Y. Vertical shear existence
in animal pressure threshold experiments. Decubitus 1, 18-24
(3) Conner, L.M. & Clack In vivo (C.T. scan)
comparison of vertical shear in human tissue
caused by various support surfaces.
Decubitus Vol 6 No. 2 p20-28.
mmHg
( Swain & Norman Nov 95)
Salford 94
Evidence that the new ‘M’ profile
reduces the risk of pressure sores:
Salisbury 94
Hygrowave Principle: Pumping action as patient
is moved, draws fresh air into foam tunnels. By
keeping the foam dry one prevents ‘Wet
Compression Set’ foam fatigue and lessens
bacterial growth.
Comparative Interface Pressures
in Mattresses mmHg
Key
Mistral Big M
STM 5
Mistral
Standard
Vaperm
Softform
Polyfloat
Transfoam
NHS Standard
Salisbury 95
Waterproof /Vapour permeable covers normally
cause a moisture build-up in core of mattress.
This damp can lead to premature foam fatigue
and inadequate pressure relief. But...
Salisbury 94
Normal solid foam mattress generates
unidirectional force causing shear as
tissue cups around the bone.
“Both the Mistral Standard and the New Mistral Big
M are being clinically evaluated by the Department of
Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at Odstock
Hospital, Salisbury. The initial results of these tests show
that both Mistral mattresses performed well and are
encouraging (see below). The methods used are identical
to those used in analysing a number of popular foam
mattresses and published by the NHS' Medical Devices
Directorate publication PSl in August 1993.”
I.D. Swain, D. Norman, C. Dunford - June 1995
Salford ‘94
Four way monthly turning schedule gives
long mattress life.
Old NHS Specification
Salisbury June ‘94
1.
Modular cut foam
Membrane tension on the upper surface of the foam is broken:
cuts in the foam ensure independent pressure response to the
weight directly above it rather than to
the average weight in the area.
2.
“It has been clearly shown that such cuts on their own
will dramatically reduce pressures for heels, whereas the
flatter areas of the body require deep form designing
to reduce pressures.”
Shaw B.H., BRADU Report, Roehampton.
Why
Bo
Reducing Vertical Shear
Recent studies by Conner & Clack (3) using
computerised tomographic imaging have found
that mattresses must not only avoid high peak skin
pressures but also sudden contrasts
in pressure between adjacent areas of tissue.
Avoiding such ‘vertical shear’ is critical in
preventing the capillary occlusion that causes
pressure sores. BodyFoam achieves this: both
the outer foam cubes and the inner crennellated
foam naturally point their own supporting forces
towards the source of pressure on the bone
underneath. As a result, pressure is borne over
a 30% wider surface area, giving lower peak
pressures and more even and all-round support.
dyF
oam
Modular cut foam ensures
independent pressure redistribution.
Similar idea to expensive pocketed
spring domestic mattress.
products
3.
Water
4.
Waterproof yet vapour permeable cover. Normal
perspiration rate is approx. 240 gms per m2 of body
surface, but in a fever this can rise to 1000gms over
24 hours. This upper surface blue fabric allows proper
perspiration and prevents the skin becoming hot and
clammy. Elasticity of fabric prevents ridges and
hammocking effects of normal mattresses. It has a
soft and supple feel with a low coefficient of friction to
reduce skin shearing stress.
Blood
Designed to go on top of normal
hospital or domestic mattress. An
inexpensive but effective way of
preventing pressure sores with
low risk patients, gives good
pressure redistribution. Suitable
where laundry causes problems
for other overlays. Can be rotated
2 ways for longer life. Less prone
to static electricity build up.
King’s Fund mattresses are now often covered
with new vapour permeable yet waterproof
covers: these allow perspiration to enter the foam
but provide no easy escape for the moisture. Under
such warm and moist conditions foam tends to lose
its pressure redistributing capacity and makes
pressure sores more likely.
BodyFoam uses the latest
bio-medical engineering
principles and materials to
both ventilate foam and
provide more efficient
pressure redistribution.
Barrier Technology fabric allows ventilating
air to blow both ways through yet repels
water, blood, oil, alcohol etc. Recent studies
have shown the prevalence of staph, aureus,
Escerichia coli, klebsiella spp, Enterococci etc.
in ventilated normal hospital mattresses. (S.
Loomes, Nursing Times, 7/12/88) Conway
found in a survey that a large number of
mattresses interiors were damp; of these
many had growths of pseudomonas.
(N. Times 14/3/90)
Oil
are better by design
Damp
Damp
Flatter outline
Overlay
Lack of lateral support causes
stretch and tissue distortion
under Ischium
Adequate
capillary flow
Pressure concentrated near bony
prominence.
Normal foam with Wet Compression
Set. Patient can feel hard base.
Each cube points its supporting force
towards the bone. Pressure is therefore
borne over a 30% wider surface area,
reducing pressure under bony
prominences.
Code: BFM21 Size: 73” x 34” x
3.75”
The Government was over-hasty recently in
demanding the introduction of fire resistant
furniture foams before the technology was ready;
this has contributed to an increased incidence of
pressure sores. The new foams tended to early ‘Wet
Compression Set’ and premature foam fatigue,
especially when lain on as intensively as in
hospitals.
New materials used
Blocked
capillary flow
BodyFoam
Wet Compression Set
A
B
Normal Foam
Foam surface
under
hammock-like
tension
Ischaemia
A
B
BodyFoam
surface tension broken
Modular Cushion:
The BodyFoam Cushion is designed
for those at risk of pressure sores
whilst sitting.
It has the excellent pressure
redistribution characteristics of
modular foam held within the Nonslip base with zip set inboard to
reduce risk of contamination.
Code: BFM26a/16ax Size: 18” x
16” x 4”Code: BFM27a/17ax
Size: 18” x 16” x 2.5”(Low
profile)
Fire Retardance:
All BodyFoam products comprise
CMHR Foam conforming to NHS
standard of BS 6807 ignition source crib 5. No CFC’s are used in the
foam’s construction. BodyFoam products require minimal
maintenance.
*Guarantee details
available on application.
We reserve the right to
change specification
without notice. Patent
application no. 941052.2
& 9326576.7. Mistral
and BodyFoam are
registered trademarks.
Lateral support more perpendicular
to the natural body shape reduces
tissue distortion under ischium
Trolley Big M
Current opinion now realises what a
large number of patients are waiting on
transfer trolleys at A&E or X-Ray. The
BodyFoam Trolley Pad gives excellent
weight redistribution for preventing
pressure sores. Ventilated chequer
board cut foam. Tough enough to
withstand the heavy demands of an
A&E department. Suitable for X-Ray
purposes. Can be rotated to prolong
useable life. Outer cover can either be
sponged or removed for laundering.
Code: BFM5 Size 72” x 22” x 4”
BodyFoam Overlay Vapour
permeable cover is tear proof.
Underneath is covered with non-slip
fabric to prevent rucking. Inboard
set zip underneath allows inspection
with less risk of contamination.
Code: BFM21/11
BodyFoam Cushion fits standard wheelchair. Fabric is
waterproof, vapour permeable and robust. Zip opening
allows foam to be trimmed for smaller chairs.
BodyFoam Overlay with cover: Easily
rolled up for use in the community.
If hip area of normal foam has some
Wet Compression Set, then it fails to
properly redistribute pressure away
from bony prominences.
39-41 North Road,
Omnibus Industrial Estate,
London N7 9DP
Tel: 020 7609 8761
Fax: 020 7607 1062
Email: [email protected]
www.firsttechnicare.co.uk
Other products in the First Technicare range of pressure area care products:
• BodyPillo • Aquavent • Flexicell •
• Tri-Pos3 • BodyPillo Cushions and accessories •
M
means comfort