Vacuum bed
A vacuum bed is a rubber- based construction that is used in the context of BDSM , bondage, or rubber fetishism . It is not to be confused with a vacuum mattress . It is a kind of full-body sleeping bag made of airtight material from which the air is sucked out. A body lying in it is very tightly enclosed by the strong negative pressure (incorrectly called vacuum ) and fixed in its position. The negative pressure is usually so strong that even individual fingers can no longer be moved, which is why the device is often only used for a few minutes.
The effect of the vacuum bed is based not only on the bondage effect of the construction but also on the associated partial sensory deprivation and the noise of the pump. Thanks to the latex, touches are felt very intensely.
Structure and functionality
Vacuum beds usually consist of two layers of latex or other airtight material that are stretched through a frame made of tubes. Corresponding frames are often made of steel , but sometimes also of solid plastic pipes or wooden boards. The entry for the person can be closed airtight with a zipper or the like.
The trapped person is supplied with air through an air hole or a breathing tube leading to the outside. This is necessary because there is practically no breathing air left inside the vacuum bed. In some cases, anesthesia masks are used in the OR. In addition to the general risks associated with bondage techniques, there is also the risk of asphyxia . This is further increased by the absolutely fixed posture. Some vacuum beds have a suspension device that makes it possible to reach the bottom from all sides without great effort .
The air is usually extracted through the frame, in the tubes of which numerous small holes have been drilled. Vacuum cleaners are often used as vacuum pumps, but they can be damaged by overheating if they are used for a long time. Occasionally, valves are used to prevent air from entering and to enable the pump to be temporarily switched off.
literature
- Margot D. Weiss, "Working at Play: BDSM Sexuality in the San Francisco Bay Area.", In Anthropologica 48 (2006), p. 234. Ed. Canadian Anthropology Society.