Abstract
Thirteen commercially available air mattresses were tested to systematically classify and evaluate their body-pressure distribution values. We measured and evaluated air mattress shape classifications and body-pressure values under constant conditions.
The three shape classifications we used were cylindrical-separation,cylindrical one-piece,and wave-form-one-piece. A digital body-pressure meter was attached over the sacrum in thirteen healthy volunteers. The body-pressure distribution levels for each mattress were then measured. All the air mattresses were found to have a body pressure value less than the control value for al l classifications.
The cylindrical-separation type showed particularly good results in the degree and the shift over time. Analyzing the body pressure experienced by the volunteers over time,we categorized the mattresses into three groups: （1）relatively low body pressure with an extremely low level of fluctuation over time; （2）great fluctuation in body pressure over time;and（3）relatively high body pressure,with little fluctuation over time.
