METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A SUPPORTING ELEMENT, IN PARTICULAR THE BODY OF A PATIENT ALLOWING SUPPORT FOR A PREDETERMINED FLOAT LINE

摘要

The invention concerns a supporting method and apparatus for an element to be supported. This apparatus (10) comprises a supporting device (11) including at least a closed chamber or one with controlled outflow (11a), filling (50) or evacuating (52) means of a fluid for filling the chamber and means (21) for measuring the distance (d) separating the upper surface (12) of the chamber from its lower surface (13). The invention is characterised in that it further comprises a device for measuring the reaction of the supporting device (11) relative to the morphological data of the element to be supported (P1 or P2), as well as a control system comprising means (42) for combining the measurement of the penetration distance (d) supplied by the measuring device (20) with the measurement of the reaction supplied by the reaction measuring device (30). This combination advantageously provides a summation of the two results obtained. The invention enables to maintain support substantially at the equilibrium corresponding substantially to a predetermined water line.