Compact physical rehabilitation device and method

• US 20060009332A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Gentle Walker, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Gentle Walker, LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Koralee K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0255 Both knee and hip of a patient, e.g. in supine or sitting position, the feet being moved in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane A61H1/0214 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0094 for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0247 with legs in a kneeled 90/90 position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance

Abstract

A physical rehabilitation device is disclosed including an endless belt for standing or walking thereon, which is pivotally attached to a maneuverable base. A motive force is supported by the maneuverable base and adapted to drive the endless belt at a slow constant speed, and being adjustable in small increments.

Claims

1. A physical rehabilitation device comprising:

an endless belt for standing or walking thereon being pivotally attached to a maneuverable base, the endless belt having an operational first position and a non-operational second position; and

a motive force supported by the maneuverable base and adapted to drive the endless belt at a user specified speed.

2. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, wherein the maneuverable base is adapted to pivot about a vertical axis and translate in any direction along an underlying surface when in the second position.

3. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 2, wherein the maneuverable base is supported by at least three castors.

4. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 2, further comprising two wheels coupled to the maneuverable base and spaced apart from the underlying surface when the endless belt is in the first or second position, the two wheels further configured to contact the underlying surface for rolling engagement when the maneuverable base is tipped.

5. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 2, wherein the endless belt is in a substantially horizontal position when in the first position, and further comprising a frame supporting the endless belt wherein at least one contact point is coupled to the frame and adapted to contact the underlying surface and resist movement of the physical rehabilitation device across the underlying surface.

6. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, wherein the motive force is designed to drive the endless belt at a speed less than 0.5 mph.

7. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 6, wherein the speed is adjustable in increments of less than or equal to 0.1 mph.

8. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the endless belt is configured to be substantially horizontal in the first position and less than or equal to six inches above an underlying surface.

9. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 8, wherein the top surface is less than or substantially equal to 3 inches above the underlying surface.

10. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the endless belt is less than or equal to 30 inches long.

11. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a frame supporting a first and second belt driver, which are adapted to control movement of the endless belt, a pivot axis disposed between a first end of the frame and the maneuverable base, the pivot axis being axially aligned with the first belt driver.

12. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to detect the presence or position of a person on the treadmill, and control operation of the physical rehabilitation device.

13. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, wherein the motive force is an electric motor adapted to directly drive the endless belt at a desired speed through the use of one or more toothed pulleys and belts.

14. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a handle arrangement coupled to the maneuverable base and configured to allow a user to hold for support and further configured for holding to move the maneuverable base.

15. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 14, wherein the handle arrangement has two hand grip portions, and is adapted to allow for height adjustment of the two hand grips.

16. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a handle having a first position for grasping by a user when on the endless belt, and a second position for holding to transport the physical rehabilitation device.

17. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 16, further comprising an upright member supported by the maneuverable base and including a first portion fixed to the maneuverable base and a second portion axially movable relative to the first portion, the second portion supporting the handle.

18. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface device adapted to control the speed of the endless belt and display information.

19. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, further comprising a support member extending in a generally upward direction from the maneuverable base and adapted to support the user interface device.

20. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, wherein the user interface device displays belt speed, distanced traveled, and time in use.

21. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, wherein the user interface device is adapted to record and compare past use records with a current session to track measurable progressive exercise.

22. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, wherein the user interface device is in wireless communication with the physical rehabilitation device to allow a third person to monitor the user interface at a position away from the physical rehabilitation device.

23. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, wherein the user interface device includes one or more data fields selected from the group consisting of:

a date and time of a particular therapy session on the physical rehabilitation device;

a heart rate measured during the particular therapy session on the physical rehabilitation device;

a level of oxygen saturation in the patient'"'"'s blood before and/or after the particular therapy session;

a time spent on the device during the particular therapy session measured in, one or both of minutes and seconds;

an average speed, and peak speed measured in, for example, feet per minute;

distance walked in, for example, feet;

a peak speed measured in one of;

feet per minute, yards per minute, meters per minute, feet per second, yards per second, meters per second; and

a distance walked in one of feet, meters, and yards.

24. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 18, wherein the user interface device is adapted to measure a patient'"'"'s progress in sufficiently small increments, such that the patient'"'"'s progress can be tracked as measurable progressive exercise.

25. The physical rehabilitation device of claim 1, further comprising a support adapted to hold one or more medical devices.

26. A rehabilitation method comprising:

moving a rehabilitation device having a maneuverable base and an endless belt for standing or walking thereon to a bedside, the belt being pivotal with respect to the maneuverable base and in a non-operational second position;

pivoting the belt to an operational first position such that the belt is in a substantially horizontal position; and

engaging a motive force supported by the maneuverable base to drive the endless belt.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising driving the belt at a constant speed of less than 0.5 mph, and adjusting the speed in increments of less than or equal to 0.1 mph.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

recording a distance walked by the patient;

comparing the distance walked with a previous distance walked to track measurable progressive exercise.

29. A physical rehabilitation device comprising:

a base having a horizontal position and having a bottom, castors arranged on the bottom to provide swivelable maneuverability to the base;

an endless belt having an operational position for standing or walking thereon mounted on a frame, the frame being pivotally attached to the base, the belt being no more than six inches high when in the operational position, the belt having an upright nonoperational position for transporting; and

a motive force for directly driving the belt at a constant speed of less than 0.5 mph and being supported by the maneuverable base coupled to drive the endless belt.

30. A physical rehabilitation device comprising:

an endless belt for standing or walking thereon being pivotally attached to a maneuverable base at a pivot point, the maneuverable base being supported by at least three castors designed to pivot about a vertical axis, a top surface of the endless belt adapted to be horizontal in an operational configuration and to be less than six inches above an underlying surface such as a floor, and substantially vertical in a nonoperational configuration, wherein the top surface of the endless belt being less than 30 inches long;

a motor supported by the maneuverable base coupled to drive the endless belt, and being designed to drive the endless belt at a constant speed less than 0.5 mph, the motor designed to a directly drive the belt and to couple to the belt with at least one of a toothed pulley and a toothed belt; and

two wheels connected to the maneuverable base and raised to be spaced apart from the underlying surface when the maneuverable base is supported by the least three castors, and the two wheels being arranged to contact the underlying surface for rolling engagement when the maneuverable base is tipped.