Excercise device utilizing loading apparatus

• US 20080214971A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Medical Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Medical Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Talish, Roger J., McLeod, Kenneth J., Rubin, Clinton T.
• Application Number:
  US11/999,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214971A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/005 Moveable platform, e.g. vibrating or oscillating platform for standing, sitting, laying, leaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/006 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00076 on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 : in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 : Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0238 : with stretched legs, like on a bed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 : supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 : For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 : Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 : Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 : primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 : for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 : Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 : for rowing or sculling

Abstract

A therapeutic device, such as an exercise device, includes the principles of osteogenic repair by incorporating a loading mechanism into the exercise device. By doing so, the therapeutic device provides an increased osteogenic effect, thereby enhancing the benefits of the therapy. As an example, a exercise device includes a support surface for supporting all or part of the bodily tissue of an individual using the device. A linear or rotary loading mechanism associated with the frame or a rotational element of the exercise device drives the support surface at a selected load and frequency, thereby inducing mechanical loading of bodily tissue adjacent to the support surface sufficiently to facilitate the growth, development, strengthening, and/or healing of bone tissue. The loading mechanism may be incorporated into any exercise device, including standard exercise devices such as rowing machines, stair climbing machines, elliptical trainers, bicycles, cross-country ski trainers, treadmills, or weight trainers.

Claims

1. A therapeutic device, comprising:

a continuous passive motion machine including a support surface for supporting at least a portion of an individual; and

a loading mechanism associated with the support surface for driving the support surface.

2. The therapeutic device of claim 1, further including an actuator disposed in mechanical cooperation with the loading mechanism, the actuator converts at least one of mechanical and electromechanical energy into mechanical vibration.

3. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator.

4. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator is an electromechanical actuator.

5. The therapeutic device of claim 4, wherein the electromechanical actuator includes at least one of a rotor, a stator, an energy moving device, a speaker, a sub-woofer, an air moving device, a fan and a blower.

6. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator delivers the mechanical vibration to the support surface of the exercise device.

7. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator is configured to be driven to vibrate a portion of the individual at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz.

8. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be driven to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters.

9. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be driven to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters.

10. The therapeutic device of claim 9, wherein the displacement caused by the loading mechanism is substantially sinusoidal.

11. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the loading mechanism is a rotary vibrational loading mechanism.

12. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the loading mechanism is a linear vibrational loading mechanism.

13. The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator includes an eccentric cam.

14. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a seat support.

15. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a lower extremity support.

16. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a foot support.

17. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of an upper extremity support.

18. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a handle.

19. A vibrational loading apparatus comprising:

a vibrational loading mechanism capable of generating a vibrational force; and

a mounting apparatus adapted to mount the vibrational loading mechanism to a continuous passive motion machine including a support surface for supporting at least a portion of an individual.

20. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 19, further including an actuator disposed in mechanical cooperation with the loading mechanism, the actuator converts at least one of mechanical and electromechanical energy into mechanical vibration.

21. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator is a rotary actuator.

22. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator is an electromechanical actuator.

23. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 22, wherein the electromechanical actuator includes a rotor and a stator.

24. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator delivers the mechanical vibration to the support surface of the continuous passive motion machine.

25. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator is configured to be driven to vibrate a portion of the individual at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz.

26. The vibrational loading apparatus of claim 19, wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be driven to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters.

27. A therapeutic device comprising:

a continuous passive motion machine including a support surface for supporting at least part of the bodily tissue of an individual; and

a rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the support surface for driving the support surface at a selected load and frequency, wherein the rotary vibrational loading mechanism is adapted to be driven so as to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters.

28. The therapeutic device of claim 27, further including an actuator disposed in mechanical cooperation with the loading mechanism, the actuator converts at least one of mechanical and electromechanical energy into mechanical vibration.

29. The therapeutic device of claim 28, wherein the actuator delivers the mechanical vibration to the support surface of the continuous passive motion machine.

30. The therapeutic device of claim 28, wherein the actuator is configured to be driven to vibrate a portion of the individual at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz.

31. A method for therapeutically treating a portion of a body, comprising the steps of:

providing a continuous passive motion machine including a support surface for supporting at least a portion of an individual;

providing a loading mechanism in mechanical cooperation with the support surface; and

actuating the loading mechanism to vibrate the support surface.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising a rotational element associated with the support surface.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein actuating the loading mechanism induces mechanical vibration of bodily tissue adjacent to or supported by the support surface and wherein the mechanical vibration is provided by a rotational element in mechanical cooperation with the support surface.

34. The method of claim 31, further including an actuator disposed in mechanical cooperation with the loading mechanism, the actuator converts at least one of mechanical and electromechanical energy into mechanical vibration.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the actuator delivers the mechanical vibration to the support surface of the continuous passive motion machine.