DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING AND CALIBRATING SUCH SYSTEMS FOR MOBILITY IMPAIRED USERS
First Claim
1. A differential pressure system for improving mobility of a disabled individual, comprising:
- a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user'"'"'s body and to form a seal between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user'"'"'s body while the user'"'"'s body is sealed in the chamber;
a platform in the pressure chamber, wherein the platform is configured to contact the user'"'"'s body;
a first load sensor positioned substantially underneath the user'"'"'s torso and configured to measure the load applied by the user while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal;
a second load sensor coupled to the differential pressure system at a position that is different from the first load sensor, the second load sensor configured to provide an output signal;
a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensors and to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total weight of the user measured by the first and second load sensors at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using and calibration such systems for individuals with impaired mobility. The differential air pressure systems may comprise an access assist device configured to help a mobility impaired user to stand in a pressure chamber configured to apply a positive pressure on a portion of the user'"'"'s body in the seals pressure chamber. The system may further comprise load sensors configured to measure the user'"'"'s weight exerted inside and outside the chamber. The system may be calibrated by determining a relationship between the actual weight of the user and the pressure in the chamber, where the actual weight of the user may be measured by more than one load sensor and at least one load sensor is not in the chamber.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A differential pressure system for improving mobility of a disabled individual, comprising:
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a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user'"'"'s body and to form a seal between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user'"'"'s body while the user'"'"'s body is sealed in the chamber; a platform in the pressure chamber, wherein the platform is configured to contact the user'"'"'s body; a first load sensor positioned substantially underneath the user'"'"'s torso and configured to measure the load applied by the user while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal; a second load sensor coupled to the differential pressure system at a position that is different from the first load sensor, the second load sensor configured to provide an output signal; a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensors and to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total weight of the user measured by the first and second load sensors at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A differential pressure system for improving mobility of a disabled individual, comprising:
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a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user'"'"'s body and to form a seal between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user'"'"'s body while the user'"'"'s body is sealed in the chamber; an exercise device placed in the pressure chamber, wherein the exercise device is configured to contact the user'"'"'s body while the exercise device is in operation; at least one load sensor on the exercise device, the load sensor configured to measure the load applied by the user to the exercise device while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal; at least one load sensor not on the exercise device and positioned on the differential pressure system above the user'"'"'s lower extremities, the load sensor configured to provide an output signal; a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensors and to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total user weight measured by the load sensors at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility comprising:
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supporting at least a portion of the user'"'"'s weight with an access assist device having an assist device load sensor configured to measure the user'"'"'s weight supported by the assist device; positioning the user in a pressure chamber; sealing the chamber around an area of the user'"'"'s body; and calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight measured by the load sensor. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility comprising:
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lifting a user relative to an opening in a pressure chamber with an access assist device; lowering the user into the opening such that a portion of the user'"'"'s body is in the pressure chamber; sealing the chamber around the portion of the patient'"'"'s body; outputting a signal from a load sensor in the pressure chamber; outputting a signal from a load sensor coupled to the access assist device; and calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight measured by an output from the load sensor in the pressure chamber and an output from the load sensor coupled to the access assist device. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A differential pressure system for improving the mobility of a disabled individual comprising:
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a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user'"'"'s body and to form a seal between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user'"'"'s body while the user'"'"'s body is sealed in the chamber; an exercise device placed in the pressure chamber, wherein the exercise device is configured to contact the user'"'"'s body while the exercise device is in operation; a load sensor coupled to the exercise device, the load sensor configured to measure the weight applied by the user to the exercise device while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal for weight measurements; a calibration device configured to measure the weight of the user'"'"'s body exerted outside the pressure chamber, the calibration device providing an output signal for weight measurements; and a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensor and the calibration device to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total user weight measured by the load sensor and the calibration device at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A differential air pressure system comprising:
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a positive pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a user'"'"'s body and form a seal between the user'"'"'s body and the chamber; a lift access device comprising a hoist device and a load sensor, wherein the load sensor outputs a load measurement when lifting a user; a load sensor attached a bottom portion of the pressure chamber, wherein the load sensor outputs a load measurement when a user is in the sealed chamber; and a processor configured to calibrate the system by receiving the load measurements from the load sensors, calculating the total user weight supported by the lift access device and chamber at pressure points, and generating a pressure weight relationship. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility:
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supporting a portion of the user'"'"'s weight with a calibration device; supporting another portion of the user'"'"'s weight inside a sealed pressure chamber; sealing the chamber around an area of the user'"'"'s body; and calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight supported. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. The method of 46 further comprising detecting that the calibration device has been disengaged from the system.
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49. A method of improving cardiovascular function in a user with compromised lower body function, comprising:
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lifting the user with compromised lower body function; lowering and sealing the user into a pressure chamber of a differential pressure system; supporting a portion of the user'"'"'s body to assist in accommodating the degree of compromised lower body function such that the user is substantially upright; sealing the pressure chamber; calibrating the differential pressure system to generate a pressure-weight relationship; and regulating the pressure in the chamber according to the relationship.
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50. A method of improving a stroke patient'"'"'s motor skills comprising:
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supporting a portion of the patient'"'"'s weight with a calibration device; supporting another portion of the patient'"'"'s weight inside a sealed pressure chamber; sealing the chamber around an area of the patient'"'"'s body; calibrating the differential pressure system; and regulating the pressure in the chamber according to the relationship.
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Specification