GB2461129A

GB2461129A - Walking aid for the rehabilitation of disabled persons

Info

Publication number: GB2461129A
Application number: GB0811676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Rose; William John Getty; Christopher Woodcock
Original assignee: PDS
Current assignee: PDS
Priority date: 2008-06-26
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Also published as: GB0811676D0

Abstract

An apparatus 1 is provided for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person, in particular a person who has suffered a stroke or spinal injury. The apparatus 1 comprises a framework 2 for location above a surface, a support means 8 to support the user in an upright position above the surface, at least one motor, and a control means 20 to control operation of the motor(s). The support means 8 may be in the form of a backrest. The motor may be in a housing 18 and power the wheels 3, or the framework may be attached to a treadmill or conveyor which is driven by the motor. There may also be a footplate 13, leg rest 14 or armrest 16 provided. The control means may be a joystick 20, to steer the apparatus. There may be belts 12 to secure the user to the backrest 8. The support means may also have pads 11 for supporting under the arms.

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE REHABILITATION

OF DISABLED PERSONS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person, such as the victim of a stroke, spinal injury or the like which has caused impaired mobility.

Persons who have suffered spinal injuries or strokes may require intensive therapy to enable them to walk again. Rehabilitation of this kind is usually provided in hospitals and other healthcare institutions. However, it would be to a patient's benefit if apparatus suitable for assisting in such rehabilitation were available for home use.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of disabled persons, which is suitable for home use as well as use in a hospital or similar institution.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person comprising a framework adapted for location above a surface; a support means for supporting the disabled person in an upright position above the surface; at least one motor for the relative movement of the framework and the surface; and a control means for controlling operation of the motor or motors adapted and located so as to be operable by the disabled person himself when supported by the support means.

Preferably the framework is provided with wheels in order that it can roll over a floor surface. However in any alternative embodiment the framework is connected to a machine comprising an endless conveyor surface on which the disabled person can practise walking while supported by the support means.

Further preferred but non-essential features of the various aspects of the present invention are further described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

An embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. lisa perspective view of an apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person; Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite side views respectively of the apparatus show in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of illustrating operation of a control means for the apparatus shown in Figs. ito 3.

An embodiment of apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention is shown in the drawings. This apparatus 1 is provided with pairs of wheels 3, 4 in order that it can roll over a floor surface. The apparatus 1 therefore is not only provides exercise to rehabilitate a user but also a limited form of mobility by means of which the user can move around inside a building and possibly also, to a more limited extent, outside.

The apparatus 1 comprises a framework 2 that is mounted on the pairs of wheels 3, 4 and that provides a support for the user. The framework 2 comprises two, substantially horizontally orientated, upper and lower U-shaped frames 5a and 5b respectively that are connected by uprights 6. The bights 7 of the U-shaped frames 5a, 5b extends across the front of the apparatus Iso that the frames 5a, 5b protect the front of the user. At the rear of the apparatus 1 a support means 8 is mounted by connectors 9 to the upper part of the framework 2. This support means 8 comprises a backrest from which projects a pair of padded projections 11 that are adapted to support the user under the armpits. To accommodate users of differing height, the height of the backrest 10 relative to the connectors 9 is adjustable.

Straps 12 are also provided to secure the user to backrest 10 for safety reasons. To facilitate the attachment of the backrest 10 to the user, one of the connectors 9 on one side of the apparatus 1 is omitted so that, with the backrest 10 in a fully raised position, the apparatus 1 can be wheeled over the user, when seated on a chair or stool. The user can then stand or be helped to stand up by an assistant and secure himself or be secured to the backrest 10, which can be lowered to the correct height.

The framework 2 may also be provided with rests for the support of one or more immobile limbs of the user. If the user is a stroke victim, then typically one side of the user will be affected. In the illustrated embodiment, the left side of the framework 2 is provided with a footplate 13, a padded leg rest 14 associated with the footplate 13, and an armrest 15. The footplate 13 is connected to the left side of the lower frame 5b and is itself connected to the leg rest 14, which is intended to fit around the left calf of the user and to provided a degrees of support to the immobile leg when the user is in position within the apparatus. The armrest 15 is secured between the upper frame 5a and one of the connectors 9. Straps 16 are provided to secure the immobile foot and/or arm to the footplate 13 and armrest 15.

The pair of wheels 3 is attached at either side of the bight 7 of the lower frame 5b and is driven respectively by a pair of motors 17a, 17b which are located within a housing 18 mounted on the front portion of the frame 5b. The housing 18 also contains a rechargeable battery 19 to power the motors 17a, 17b. This arrangement is further described below with reference to Fig. 4. The wheels 4 are attached to the rear uprights 6 connecting the free ends of the legs of the frames 5a and Sb and comprise castor wheels.

The front wheels 4 are therefore used to drive and to steer the apparatus 1.

The user controls this by a joystick 20 which is mounted to the upper frame 5a opposite the armrest 15. In this example, the joystick 20 is mounted on the right-hand side of the apparatus 1 so that it can be operated by the right hand of the user. It will be appreciated that the location of the joystick 20, can be on the right-hand side or the left-hand side of the apparatus 1 as appropriate according to the capabilities of the intended user. The joystick is slidably mounted on a rail 21 to which it can be secured in order that it can be fixed in a position that the user can grasp comfortably.

At the front of the upper frame 5a is a plate 22 in which are mounted two switches 23, 24. One of these switches is an on/off switch 23 that electrically connects the joystick 20 to controllers 25a, 25b for the motors 17a, 17b respectively. The switch 23 therefore fulfils the function of an emergency stop switch as it can be used while the apparatus 1 is in operation to halt operation of the apparatus 1 by isolating the joystick 20 from the controllers 25a, 25b, which thereby cut off power to the motors 17.

The other switch 24 is enables the motors 17a, 17b to be switched between a lower speed of operation and a higher speed of operation. This is at the choice of the user and his capabilities as it affects the maximum speed achievable by the apparatus 1 and, therefore, the speed at which the user must walk when using the apparatus 1.

Referring now to Fig. 4, within the housing 18 is the rechargeable battery 19 which is linked to the joystick 20 and thence via the isolating on-off switch 23 to the controllers 25a and 25b for each motor 17a and 17b respectively. The motors 17a, 17b themselves that comprise a left wheel motor 17a and a right wheel motor 17b for the wheels 3. The controllers 25a, 25b and joystick 20 operate conventionally so that when the switch 23 is switched "on", pushing the joystick forward will cause the motors 17 to drive the wheels 3 forward. The degree to which the joystick 20 is pushed forward will control acceleration of the apparatus land the maximum speed reached, as also controlled by the switch 24. The same operates if the joystick 20 is pulled backwards except that now the direction of operation of the motors 17 is reversed to cause the apparatus ito be driven backwards. The apparatus 1 is steered by pushing the joystick 20 over to one or other side of the apparatus 1. This causes the controllers to vary the speed of operation of each motor 17a, 17b and therefore differentiate the speed of rotation of the wheels 3 to cause the apparatus ito turn in the desired direction.

Hence, in use with a user strapped into position, the apparatus i can be used to practise walking and to exercise walking muscles. This assists significantly in the rehabilitation of users that have suffered a stroke or spinal injury. However, it will be appreciated that while it may be convenient in many situations for the user to use the apparatus ito achieve a degree of mobility around the building, in other situations it may not be possible to accommodate the movement of such an apparatus i. In these circumstances, an alternative embodiment of apparatus can be used wherein the framework is adapted to be connected to an endless conveyor surface on which the disabled person can practise walking while supported by the support means. In this embodiment, the framework need not be provided with wheels and only a single motor is required to power movement of the conveyor surface. As the belt forming the conveyor surface can only travel in forwards and backwards directions, the control means can also be significantly simplified as turning motions are not required. However, a joystick, which is simple to operate, can still be used to control the acceleration and speed of operation of the belt.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person comprising a framework adapted for location above a surface; a support means attached to the framework for supporting the disabled person in an upright position above the surface; at least one motor for the relative movement of the framework and the surface; and a control means attached to the framework for controlling operation of the motor or motors and located so as to be operable by the disabled person himself when supported by the support means.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the framework is provided with wheels in order that it can roll over a floor surface.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the framework is connected to a machine comprising an endless conveyor surface over which the disabled person can practise walking while supported by the support means.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims ito 3, wherein at least one rest is provided for the support of an immobile limb of the disabled person.
5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the rest comprises a footplate and/or an armrest.
6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the rest comprises a footplate in combination with a leg rest.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims ito 6, wherein the support means comprises a backrest and at least one projection adapted to support the disabled person under an armpit.
8. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims ito 7, wherein the control means comprises a joystick.
9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein a pair of front wheels of the framework are respectively driven by a pair of motors, the relative speed of operation of the motors being controllable by the joystick to enable the front wheels to be steered.
10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the framework is provided with a pair of rear castor wheels.
ii. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims ito iO, wherein the speed of operation of the motor or motors is controllable by a two-speed switch mounted on the framework.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims Ito 11, wherein the motor or motors are powered by a rechargeable battery mounted on the framework.
i3. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims ito i2, wherein the motor or motors can operate in a forwards or reverse mode.
i4. An apparatus for use in the rehabilitation of a disabled person substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.