Wheel-less walking support and rehabilitation device

• US 20030191507A1
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Castle Simmons
• Original Assignee: John Castle Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, John Castle
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0006 Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40136 Stereo audio and vision
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40144 Force sensation feedback from slave
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

An apparatus and process for empowering those in wheelchairs and others with loss of limb control to walk, climb stairs, sit in ordinary chairs, use normal bathroom facilities and stand at normal height with their peers. It also provides a means to speed rehabilitation of the injured while providing superior physical therapy without draining professional resources. The apparatus is worn under normal clothing allowing them to also look normal.

Claims

1. A method for empowering those in wheelchairs and others with loss of limb control to walk, climb stairs, sit in ordinary chairs, use normal bathroom facilities and stand at normal height with their peers consisting of:

the elements of the patent “

Natural Robot Control”

processing means of the patent “

Natural Robot Control”

to record positions of joints over time as modeled by a trainer wearing the body support equipment and, provide a user interface to the user to quickly call these up as scripts and apply those scripts to the disabled user who is also wearing the body support equipment using the same processes used in the other patent to direct the remote robot; and

data storage means to store the recorded information and retrieve it to act upon when requested by the user or by programs running in the processing means; and

the first and second joint control assemblies of the other invention.

2. A device for allowing the user to direct the equipment with his tongue consisting of:

in mouth buttons attached dentally or glued to teeth or to a covering for the teeth used as a platform to connect the buttons. The buttons contain radio transmission devices to transmit to a transceiver; and

either a battery in each button or a battery also mounted to the teeth and connected to the buttons and the in-mouth transceiver powering them all; and

a transceiver to receive and send to the in-mouth buttons connected to the processing means.

3. A device for allowing the user to see a computer display to guide his program selections while being supported by the equipment consisting of:

a display like glasses or goggles with a projector between the lens and the user projecting an image focused and aligned to be read by the user on his glasses but which also allows the user to see in front of him.

4. A device for allowing the user to see a computer display to guide his program selections while being supported by the equipment consisting of:

a display like glasses or goggles, with a portion of the viewing area or an area around it dedicated to a projection image similar to the virtual reality glasses but only in that small area so that the user can still see in front of him which displays to the user the information from processing means with which he can interact with the computer calling up scripts and executing commands.

5. A fall-proofing method consisting of:

recorded scripts of assuming a more crouched stable balanced positions; and

programs for processing means to use to switch to these scripts when an out of balance condition is sensed by attitude sensors returning data significantly different than those measures stored in the script.

6. Balancing means consisting of:

the attitude, inertial and position sensors of the previous invention connected to the processing means which will be used by the processing means to calculate the user'"'"'s balance, etc. and compare it to the attitude, inertial and relative positions recorded in the scripts to respond with automatically switched scripts or automated adjustments to scripts based on terrain sensors and/or user interaction.

7. A method of rehabilitation support consisting of:

the same equipment used to get the patient up and walking; and

programs executed by processing means to reduce the amount of support provided as the patient'"'"'s strength returns to build his strength while providing fall-proofing

8. A method of rehabilitation support consisting of:

the same equipment used to get the patient up and walking; and

electronic muscle contracting equipment placed at key muscle locations where the patient has little or no control; and

programs executed by processing means to order these shocks at just the right moment in the stride or user operation where that muscle needs to contract to teach the user how to walk again or use and exercise the right muscles.