DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND/OR REGULATING A TRAINING AND/OR REHABILITATION UNIT

• US 20110105281A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulrich Jerichow
• Original Assignee: Ulrich Jerichow
• Inventors: Jerichow, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/002 isometric or isokinetic, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion or wherein the speed of the motion is independent of the force applied by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• 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 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/433 partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/436 partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling and/or regulating a training and/or rehabilitation unit, the device comprising at least one training and/or rehabilitation unit, a sensor unit having a sensor for determining oxygen concentration and for determining carbon dioxide concentration, a control unit for the sensors, a microcontroller in the control unit for controlling the heating power of heating elements of the sensors, depending on breath flow volume, for maintaining constant sensor temperatures, and a resistance and/or braking arrangement of the training and/or rehabilitation unit that can be controlled and/or regulated based on the breath gas composition determined by the sensor unit. Said device can be used to increase endurance, preferably by means of altitude training.

Claims

1. A device for controlling and/or regulating a training and/or rehabilitation unit, wherein the device comprises at least

one training and/or rehabilitation unit,

one sensor unit with a heatable electrochemical solid state electrolyte sensor which in order to determine the oxygen concentration contains yttrium contaminated zirconium oxide as an electrolyte, two electrodes and a support element and a heating element, and in order to determine the carbon dioxide concentration contains a further heatable electrochemical solid state electrolyte sensor, which comprises a super-fast sodium ion conductor as an electrolyte, two electrodes and a support element and a heating element,

one control unit for the sensors,

one micro-controller in the control unit for the control, which is dependent on the flow volume of the breathing, of the heating force of heating elements of the sensors for the purpose of maintaining constant sensor temperatures, and

one controllable and/or adjustable resistance and/or brake arrangement of the training and/or rehabilitation unit which depends on the breathing gas composition determined by the sensor unit.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is arranged directly in a component through which the inspired and expired air of a person flows.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is arranged in a breathing mask.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein an ear clip is integrated for measuring the oxygen concentration in the blood.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein an ear clip is integrated for measuring the pulse.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein performance data is recorded together with further medical parameters of the user, such as heart rate.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data is recorded with the aid of a connected Personal Digital Assistant.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the training and/or rehabilitation unit is an ergometer, fitness machine, cross trainer, rowing ergometer machine, rowing machine, treadmill, walking machine, spin bike, or bicycle.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance and/or brake arrangement of the training and/or rehabilitation unit contains a pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical or electro-magnetic brake, an eddy-current brake or band brake.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein means for two- and/or three-dimensional visual display, at least one acoustic output and/or recording device and means for generating wind, temperatures and/or odours are connected.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein means are connected for stimulating the sense of touch.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the components of the training and/or rehabilitation unit, including the controllable and/or adjustable resistance and/or brake arrangement, the sensor unit and the control unit for the sensors are connected with each other via a computer system, and are controlled and/or read.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the computer contains at least one control computer with a user interface.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein a network computer is connected to the control computer in order to calculate the image for the right and left eye.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signals generated are forwarded to a helmet with LCDs which is worn on the head of the user in order to generate a virtual environment (Head Mounted Display HMD).

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signals generated can also be used for stereo production in order to generate a three-dimensional display on a screen.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control computer is connected with one or more input devices with at least six degrees of freedom in order to determine the position and orientation, and the input devices are selectively equipped with one or more buttons.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein isometric, isotonic, and/or elastic input devices are connected to the control computer.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein with the input devices, recording of the movement of the direction of vision, body movement or head movement and/or a position determination is conducted.

20. A device according to claim 17, wherein with the input devices, gestures, facial expressions, and/or language can be recorded.

21. A device according to claim 17, wherein a Head Tracker is used as an input device.

22. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a visual display unit that shows a non-moving image, a moving or non-moving object, a computer graphic, and/or two- or three-dimensional moving images or films.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the visual display unit shows an image with a viewing angle of between 0°

and 179°

.

24. A device according to claim 22, wherein, when the visual display unit is used in the fitness, spa, or medical field, it can show an image with a viewing angle of 180°

or more than 180°

.

25. A device according to claim 22, wherein the visual display unit shows moving and/or non-moving images photographed by the user.

26. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an acoustic output unit that reproduces musical instruments, human voices, ambient sounds such as animal noises, wind, rain, waterfalls, thunder, and/or noises made by vehicle engines, shots, pumps, explosions, and/or earthworks.

27. A device according to claim 1, wherein wind, temperature, odour, and/or air humidity can be adapted to the situation shown in the virtual reality.

28. A device according to claim 1, wherein via a communication unit, instructions and/or information can be passed on to the user.

29. A device according to claim 1, wherein the user can make contact via a communication unit with a person operating the device.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein a cell analysis device, preferably a device for flow cytometry, is connected to the computer system.

31. A method for controlling and/or regulating a training and/or rehabilitation unit, wherein

a person uses a training unit and/or rehabilitation unit,

in a sensor unit, an oxygen concentration determination is conducted with the aid of a heatable, electrochemical, solid state electrolyte sensor, which in order to determine the oxygen concentration contains yttrium contaminated zirconium oxide as an electrolyte between two electrodes, together with a support element and a heating element, and a determination of the carbon dioxide concentration is conducted with the aid of a further heatable electrochemical solid state electrolyte sensor, which contains a super-fast sodium ion conductor as an electrolyte, two electrodes, a support element and a heating element,

a control of the heat force from heating elements in the sensors which depends on the breathing flow volume of the person is conducted with the aid of a micro-controller in a sensor control unit in order to maintain constant sensor temperatures, and

depending on the breathing gas composition determined by the sensor unit and/or the determined breathing flow volume of the person, a resistance or brake arrangement of the training and/or rehabilitation unit is control and/or regulated.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the oxygen concentration of the air breathed is determined by measuring the current flow which travels under constant voltage through the electrolyte of the oxygen sensor from the cathode to the anode, wherein a linear connection exists between the resulting electric current and the concentration of oxygen.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the carbon dioxide concentration is determined by means of a logarithmic connection between the voltage between the electrodes of the carbon dioxide sensor and the carbon dioxide concentration.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein the breathing flow volume is determined from the heating force of the heating elements of the sensors which is controlled by the micro-controller and which is necessary in order to maintain a constant sensor temperature.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein the determination of the overall flow rate of the air breathed can be conducted with the sensor unit, using thin layer anemometry.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein the flow direction of the breathing gas can be determined either by using the measured oxygen and/or carbon dioxide concentration gradients or the temperature profile on the sensor.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein at the same time, the volume flow, flow direction and thus the oxygen and carbon dioxide composition of the inspired air and expired air can be monitored with a breath-by-breath resolution.

38. A method according to claim 31, wherein depending on the determined breathing gas composition of a person using the training and/or rehabilitation unit, with the aid of the controllable and/or adjustable resistance and/or brake arrangement, the training load of the person can be changed according to requirements.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein depending on the determined oxygen and/or carbon dioxide content of the breathing gas, with the aid of the controllable and/or adjustable resistance and/or brake arrangement, the training load of the person can be adapted according to requirements.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide content of the expired air is reduced by increasing the load with the aid of the resistance and/or brake arrangement.

41. A computer programme with a programme code for conducting all method stages according to claim 31, wherein the programme is implemented with the support of a computer.

42. A computer programme with programme code according to claim 41, wherein it is stored on a machine-readable carrier.