SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE DEVICES

• US 20110098615A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Whalen, Robert Tremaine, Shughart, Mark A., Whalen, Sean Tremaine, Schwandt, Douglas Frank, Liou, Edward, Moore, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US12/761,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0239 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2009/0035 with cabin for the whole body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/00 Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/002 electronically, e.g. by using a program
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• 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 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0242 Lying down
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/053 higher pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and components for differential air pressure systems. The air pressure systems comprise a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body. Pressure in the chamber can be changed to adjust force on the user'"'"'s body. Described herein are various methods and related structures for sealing a user into a pressurizable chamber. Also described herein are various methods and related structures for changing the shape and/or height of the chamber. Described herein are various types and configurations of chambers and support structures for chambers. Also described herein are various methods and related systems for treating various conditions using the differential air pressure systems, including but not limited to obesity, cardiac disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or Down Syndrome.

Claims

1. A structure for enclosing and sealing a portion of a body of a user into a differential air pressure system, the structure comprising:

a chamber; and

a user seal coupled to the chamber, the user seal comprising an adjustable opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber so that a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber, and the adjustable opening is capable of accommodating a range of user body sizes.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the user seal comprises a plurality of expansion slits distributed circumferentially around a perimeter of user seal, and one or more of the expansion slits can be selectively closed or opened by the user to adjust a size of the opening in the user seal.

3. A user seal configured for use in a differential pressure system, wherein:

the user seal is configured to be coupled to a chamber of a differential pressure system; and

the user seal comprises an opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber so that a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber, and the user seal is configured to allow the user to rotate his body relative to the chamber while maintaining the sufficiently airtight junction between the chamber and the user'"'"'s body.

4. The user seal of claim 3, comprising:

an outer structure coupled to the chamber; and

an inner structure comprising the opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around the user'"'"'s body,

wherein the inner structure is configured to mate with the outer structure, and the inner structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer structure about a rotational axis of the outer structure.

5. A user seal configured for use in a differential pressure system, wherein:

the user seal is configured to be coupled to a chamber of a differential pressure system; and

the user seal comprises an opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber so that a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber, and the user seal is configured to be anchored to the user'"'"'s body so that the user seal maintains a relatively stable vertical position along the body of the user as pressure in the chamber is varied.

6. The user seal of claim 5, comprising a body wrap that is anchored to a user'"'"'s body, the body wrap comprising a plurality of flexible flaps, wherein the plurality of flexible flaps are wrapped around one or more body parts of the user and secured to provide a grip between the body wrap and the user'"'"'s body.

7. A user seal configured for use in a differential pressure system, wherein:

the user seal is configured to be coupled to a chamber of a differential pressure system; and

the user seal comprises an opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber so that a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber, and the user seal is configured to allow the user to translate his body along an axis of the chamber while maintaining the sufficiently airtight junction between the chamber and the user'"'"'s body.

8. The user seal of claim 7, comprising:

a first section comprising an opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body; and

a second section coupled to the chamber, wherein the first and second sections are slidably coupled to form a junction therebetween,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the first section, between the first and section sections, and between the second section and the chamber so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber, a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber, and the first section can translate relative to the second section to allow the user to translate along the axis of the chamber while substantially maintaining the nonzero differential pressure in the chamber.

9. A user seal configured for use in a differential air pressure system, the user seal comprising:

a lower section comprising an opening that is capable of receiving and sealing around a user'"'"'s body; and

an upper section disposed on an upper surface of the lower section to form a junction between the upper and lower section, the upper section being coupled to the chamber,

wherein a sufficiently airtight junction is formed between the user'"'"'s body and the lower section, between the upper and lower sections, and between the upper section and the chamber so that at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body is sealed into the chamber and a nonzero differential pressure can be sustained in the chamber.

10. A pressurizable chamber for a differential air pressure system, the chamber comprising:

an inflatable enclosure formed from a flexible material; and

an adjustable frame that can be coupled to the inflatable enclosure,

wherein the adjustable frame controls at least one of a width and a height of the enclosure in its inflated state to reduce interference of the inflated enclosure with arm and/or leg motion of a user whose lower body is sealed into the pressurizable chamber and whose upper body is outside of the pressurizable chamber.

11. The pressurizable chamber of claim 10, wherein the adjustable frame comprises at least one contoured section to accommodate arm and/or leg motion of the user.

12. The pressurizable chamber of claim 10, wherein the adjustable frame comprises at least one telescoping member having a variable length, wherein the length of the at least one telescoping member is changed to adjust a dimension of the frame.

13. A chamber for a differential air pressure system, the chamber comprising:

an inflatable enclosure;

a height adjustable frame positioned around the enclosure, the height adjustable frame capable of supporting a user'"'"'s body weight in the event of a trip or a fall,

wherein the height adjustable frame comprises a rear vertical support and a front vertical support, and at least one of the rear and front vertical supports comprises a height adjustment apparatus for engaging a lengthwise transverse member of the frame that extends between the rear vertical support and the front vertical support to adjust the height of the frame.

14. The chamber of claim 13, wherein the height adjustment apparatus comprises a series of vertically arranged slots and wherein the lengthwise tranverse member of the frame is engaged into one of the slots of the height adjustment apparatus to adjust a height of the frame.

15. A method of treatment comprising:

creating a differential pressure in a chamber of a differential air pressure system, the chamber configured to receive at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body and to adjust force on the user'"'"'s body by adjusting pressure in the chamber;

adjusting pressure in the chamber in response to a condition-related metric determined for the user;

generating an initial setting for the differential air pressure system for the user based on a dependence of the condition-related metric on the adjustment of pressure; and

generating an individualized treatment protocol for the condition based on the initial setting for the user.

16. The method of claim 15, for treating obesity.

17. A method of treatment comprising:

creating a differential pressure in a chamber of a differential air pressure system, the chamber configured to receive at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body and to adjust force on the user'"'"'s body by adjusting pressure in the chamber;

estimating an initial setting for the differential air pressure system based on a condition of the user;

receiving indication of pain experienced by the user as a function of pressure in the chamber; and

using the indication of pain at one or more pressure levels to set or modify a course of treatment for the condition.

18. The method of claim 17, for treating a chronic injury.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication of pain is received directly from the user.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication of pain is received from one or more sensors sensing a biological parameter of the user.