Apparatus for training a body part of a person and method for using same

• US 20050209065A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank J. Schlosser
• Original Assignee: Frank J. Schlosser
• Inventors: Schlosser, Frank J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1616 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1621 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/163 holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1652 Harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/805 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses

Abstract

Apparatus for training a body part, such as for example the feet or head, of a person is shown. The apparatus structure is configured to receive and support the body part. The structure includes a body part-supporting member defining a movement path of a selected distance to be traversed by the body part during training. At least one sensor is positioned along the movement path representing a selected distance to be traversed by the body part during trained. The sensor is physically contacted by and is actuated by the body part. A signal control circuit is responsive to actuation of the sensor for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed the selected distance. A method for training a body part of a person including a head, leg or arm is also shown.

Claims

1. Apparatus for training a body part of a person comprising

a structure configured to receive and support a body part of a person requiring training, said structure having a body part-supporting member defining a movement path to be traversed by a body part of a person while being trained;

at least one sensor being positioned along said movement path and spaced a selected distance from a reference point representing a selected distance to be traversed by a body part of such person while being trained, said sensor being responsive to said body part traversing said selected distance and physically contacting and actuating said at least one sensor; and

a signal control circuit operatively connected to said at least one sensor and being responsive to said body part actuating said at least one sensor for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed said selected distance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor is in the form of at least one electrode and wherein said body part has a second cooperating electrode removeably connected to and configured to traverse said selected distance with the body part, said second cooperating electrode actuating said at least one electrode by physically engaging and establishing an electrically conductive path between said second cooperating electrode and said at least one electrode and wherein said signal control circuit is responsive to said second cooperating electrode actuating said at least one electrode for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed said selected distance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor is in the form of a switch which is responsive to said body part traversing said selected distance and physically contacting and actuating said switch and wherein said signal control circuit is responsive to said body part traversing said selected distance and physically contacting and actuating said switch for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed the selected distance.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the body part comprises the feet of a person and the training comprises training a person to walk.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the body part comprises the head of a person and the training comprises teaching a person to move the head laterally from side to side.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said a signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal in the form of an audible sound.

8. Apparatus for training a person having a traumatic injury to walk comprising

a housing structure including

an elongated supporting structure having a walking platform defining a walking path to be traversed in strides of a selected distance by the feet of a person while being trained to walk;

at least two electrodes positioned on said walking platform and spaced to have a selected distance therebetween representing a stride to be traversed by the feet of such person while being trained to walk;

a moveable body support member configured to be transported along a plane substantially parallel to the walking path and spaced a predetermined distance from said walking platform;

a body harness and locking member for receiving and supporting the body of a person while being trained to walk;

a body weight control apparatus operatively connected between said body support member and said body harness to program a predetermined portion of body weight of such person to be supported by the feet while being trained to walk;

a first conductive member and second conductive member configured to be affixed to a walking surface of a pair of shoes to be worn by a person while being trained to walk; and

a signal control circuit electrically connected to each of said first conductive member and second conductive member and said at least two electrodes and being responsive to said first conductive member and second conductive member making electrical contact with two sequential electrodes located on said walking platform for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person when such person'"'"'s feet concurrently position said first conductive member and second conductive member on and in electrical contact with two sequential electrodes defining a stride.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a moveable body support member is separate from said housing structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a moveable body support member is supported from an elevated structure located above and in operating alignment with said housing structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a moveable body support member is integral with said housing structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said body weight control apparatus programs said predetermined portion of body weight of such person to be supported by the feet of such person while being trained to walk is in the range from about 10% to about 100% of total body weight of such person.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first conductive member and second conductive member are formed of wire mesh affixed to the walking surface of the shoes.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first conductive member and second conductive member are formed of wire mesh removeably affixed to the walking surface of the shoes and the conductor is removeably electrically connected between the shoes.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said elongated supporting structure further includes an elongated handrail to enable such person while being trained to walk to grasp said elongated handrail for support while walking along the walking path defined by said walking platform.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electrodes comprise elongated shaped electrodes having a length that extends substantially perpendicular to the walking path.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electrodes comprise elongated shaped electrodes having a length that extends substantially perpendicular to the walking path and the spacing between said elongated shaped electrodes is of a selected distance representing a stride to be traversed by the feet of such person while being trained to walk.

18. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a signal control circuit includes a control device which is responsive to said first conductive member and second conductive member making concurrent electrical contact with two sequential electrodes located on said walking platform to generate a control signal representing that such person'"'"'s feet are positioned over and in electrical contact with two sequential electrodes defining a stride.

19. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a signal control circuit includes a control device which is responsive to said first conductive member and second conductive member making concurrent electrical contact with two sequential electrodes located on said walking platform to generate a control signal representing that such person'"'"'s feet are positioned on and said first conductive member and second conductive member on the shoes are in electrical contact with two sequential electrodes defining a stride and an indication device which is responsive to said control signal to generate said feedback signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal in the form of an audible sound.

22. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said a moveable body support member is configured to move along a path in operating alignment with the walking path defined by said walking platform.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said walking platform and said elongated shaped electrodes each have cooperating fastening members thereon to facilitate removable placement of said elongated shaped electrodes onto the walking platform surface and to maintain the spacing between the elongated shaped electrodes at the selected distance.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said cooperating fastening members are in the form of a hook member and loop member.

25. A method for training a body part of a person comprising the steps of:

providing a structure configured to receive and support a body part of a person requiring training, said structure having a body part-supporting member defining a movement path of a selected distance to be traversed by a body part of a person while being trained;

positioning at least one sensor along said movement path and spaced a selected distance from a reference point representing a selected distance to be traversed by a body part of such person while being trained, said sensor being responsive to said body part traversing said selected distance and physically contacting and actuating said at least one sensor;

positioning a body part of a person to be trained onto the structure and along the movement path having the selected distance to be traversed by the body part of such person while being trained;

training such person to move such person'"'"'s body part along the movement path having the selected distance and into physical contact with and actuating said at least one sensor verifying that said body part has been transported over said selected distance; and

generating a feedback signal with a control circuit in response to the body part actuating said at least one sensor verifying that said body part has been transported over said selected distance.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of providing includes said sensor being in the form of at least one electrode and wherein the step of positioning said at least one sensor includes said body part having a second cooperating electrode removeably connected to and configured to traverse said selected distance with the body part and to actuate said at least one electrode by physically engaging and establishing an electrically conductive path between said second cooperating electrode and said at least one electrode and wherein said signal control circuit is responsive to said second cooperating electrode actuating said at least one electrode for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed said selected distance.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of providing includes said sensor being in the form of switch and wherein the step of positioning said at least one sensor includes said body part having a second cooperating electrode removeably connected to and configured to traverse said selected distance with the body part to physically contacting and actuating said switch and wherein said signal control circuit is responsive to said body part traversing said selected distance and physically contacting and actuating said switch for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s body part has traversed said selected distance.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the body part comprises the feet of a person and the training comprises teaching a person to walk.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the body part comprises the head of a person and the training comprises training a person to move the head laterally from side to side.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the body part comprises the head of a person and the training comprises training a person to move the head anteriorly and posteriorly.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the body part comprises the leg of a person and the training comprises training a person to move the leg laterally from side-to-side.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the body part comprises the arm of a person and the training comprises training a person to move the arm laterally from side-to-side.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein said a signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein said a signal control circuit includes an indication device to generate said feedback signal in the form of an audible sound.

35. A method for training a person having a traumatic injury to walk comprising the steps of:

providing a walking platform defining a walking path to be traversed in strides of a selected distance by the feet of a person while being trained to walk;

positioning electrodes on said walking platform having a selected distance therebetween representing a stride to be traversed by the feet of such person while being trained;

affixing a conductive member to a walking surface of each shoe to be worn by such person while being trained to walk and electrically connecting the conductive members with an electrical conductor;

placing a person to be trained in a body harness for receiving and supporting the body of a person while being trained to walk;

connecting said body harness and body of a person to a moveable body support member configured to be transported along a plane substantially parallel to the walking path and spaced a predetermined distance from said walking platform;

programming with a body weight control apparatus operatively connected between said body support member and said body harness a predetermined portion of body weight of such person to be supported by the feet while such person is being trained to walk;

training such person to move such person'"'"'s feet wherein each foot has a shoe having a conductive member such that one foot having a shoe having a conductive member is transported to and brought into electrical contact with a selected electrode and the other foot having a shoe having a conductive member is transported by such person while being trained to walk to make electrical contact with a sequential electrode such that the conductive members of the shoes on the person'"'"'s feet concurrently make electrical contact with its associated adjacent electrode; and

generating a feedback signal with a control circuit in response to the conductive members of each shoe on the feet of such person while being trained to walk concurrently making electrical contact with two sequential electrodes.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of:

communicating the feedback signal to such person to verify that such person'"'"'s feet are positioned on and the conductive members of each shoe on the feet of such person while being trained to walk are making electrical contact with two sequential electrodes defining a stride.