System, method and apparatus for applying air pressure on a portion of the body of an individual

• US 7,591,795 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Whalen, Sean Tremaine, Boyd-Wickizer, Silas
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US11/236,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20070181121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 601 5- 11, 601/23, 601/25, 128/202.12, 128/205.26, 482/54, 600/19
• US Class Current: 601/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/023 Rooms for the treatment of patients at over- or under-pressure or at a variable pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/009 Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• 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 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/053 higher pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/015 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00

Abstract

A system is provided by applying pressure to a portion of a body of an individual in a chamber having an aperture along a vertical axis for receiving the portion of the body of the individual. A pressure sensor is coupled to the chamber for measuring a pressure inside the chamber. A negative feedback control system, calibrates, adjusts and maintains the pressure inside the chamber.

Claims

1. A method for applying pressure to a portion of the body of an individual comprising:

producing a pressure inside a chamber, the chamber having an aperture for receiving the portion of the body of the individual;

sensing the pressure inside the chamber with a pressure sensor in communication with the chamber;

generating a relationship between pressure and actual weight of the individual; and

regulating the pressure in the chamber with respect to the weight of the individual based on the relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the chamber further comprises:

an inflatable soft shell or hard shell.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the chamber has a geometry defined to accommodate the movement of arms and/or legs of the individual.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a height of the chamber is adjustable based on a dimension of the body of the individual.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a seal is disposed between the aperture and the body of the individual.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the seal is attached to a portion of the individual.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the seal comprises a plurality of openings.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the seal is attached to the chamber.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an exercise apparatus inside the chamber.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a height of the exercise apparatus is adjustable.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

storing one or more parameters related to the individual in a data storage; and

controlling the exercise apparatus and/or the pressure inside the chamber in response to data from the pressure sensor and/or the one or more stored parameters.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

altering pressure in the chamber in the event a safety parameter limit is reached.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating a safety valve coupled to the chamber in the event data from the pressure sensor reaches a safety parameter limit.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

measuring a performance parameter of the individual; and

adjusting the exercise apparatus and/or the pressure inside the chamber in response to data from the pressure sensor and the performance parameter.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing historical data related to the individual in a data storage; and

controlling the system based on the historical data.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a relationship between pressure and actual weight of the individual further comprises:

measuring the weight of the individual at one or more pre-defined pressure points inside the chamber; and

determining the weight of the individual as a function of increased pressure inside the chamber using the measured weight or weights at the one or more pre-defined pressure points.

17. The method of claim 1 comprising comparing the pressure inside the chamber with a selected pressure setpoint and controlling the pressure in the chamber so that pressure is maintained at or near the setpoint using a negative feedback control system.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

supplying a gas to the chamber with a pressure source; and

controlling the pressure in the chamber by controlling the pressure source and/or a pressure regulating valve in communication with the chamber in response to the comparison.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

supplying a gas to the chamber with a regulated pressure source; and

controlling the regulated pressure source in response to the comparison.

20. The method of claim 1 comprising using a control panel to control and/or calibrate the pressure in the chamber.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein the seal comprises a substantially air-tight material.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein the seal comprises a first portion attached to the individual and a second portion attached to the chamber, and the seal is formed by securing the first portion to the second portion.

23. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of openings in the seal are configured for controlling distribution of pressure around the body of the individual.

24. The method of claim 11 farther comprising controlling the exercise apparatus in response to data from the pressure sensor and/or the one or more stored parameters.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein the safety parameter limit is stored in a data storage.

26. The method of claim 16 comprising measuring a weight of the individual outside the chamber, and determining the weight of the individual as a function of pressure inside the chamber using the measured weight of the individual outside the chamber and the measured weight or weights of the individual at the one or more pre-defined pressure points inside the chamber.

27. A system for applying pressure to a portion of a body of an individual comprising:

a chamber having an aperture for receiving the portion of the body of the individual;

a pressure sensor in communication with the chamber for sensing pressure inside the chamber; and

a calibration system that generates a relationship between pressure and actual weight of the individual, the relationship used to regulate the pressure inside the chamber with respect to the weight of the individual.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a pressure source coupled to the chamber;

a pressure regulating valve in communication with the chamber; and

a controller communicating with the pressure sensor for controlling the pressure source and the pressure regulating valve.

29. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a regulated pressure source coupled to the chamber; and

a controller communicating with the pressure sensor for controlling the regulated pressure source.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the chamber comprises an inflatable soft shell or a hard shell.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the chamber has a geometry defined to accommodate the movement of arms and/or legs of the individual.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein a height of the chamber is adjustable based on a dimension of the body of the individual.

33. The system of claim 27 further comprising a seal disposed between the aperture and the body of the individual.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal is anchored to a portion of the individual.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal—

comprises a plurality of openings.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal is attached to the chamber.

37. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

an exercise apparatus inside the chamber.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein a height of the exercise apparatus is adjustable.

39. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a data storage for storing one or more parameters related to the individual,

wherein a control system adjusts the pressure inside the chamber in response to data from the pressure sensor and the data storage.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the data storage further comprises:

a safety parameter limit,

wherein the control system is configured to alter pressure in the chamber in the event the safety parameter limit is reached.

41. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a safety valve coupled to the chamber, wherein a control system activates the safety valve in the event data from the pressure sensor reaches a safety parameter limit.

42. The system of claim 37 further comprising:

a performance sensor for sensing a performance parameter of the individual.

43. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

a data storage for storing calibration data related to the individual,

wherein the system is controlled based on the stored calibration data.

44. The system of claim 27 further comprising a negative feedback control system for adjusting and maintaining the pressure inside the chamber.

45. The system of claim 28 further comprising a control panel in communication with the negative feedback control system and/or the calibration system.

46. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal comprises a substantially air-tight material.

47. The system of claim 35 wherein the openings are configured for controlling distribution of pressure around the body of the individual.

48. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal is separable and comprises a first portion attached to the individual and a second portion attached to the chamber, and the seal is formed by securing the first portion to the second portion.

49. The system of claim 33 wherein the seal is implemented with a skirt and/or a belt.

50. The system of claim 27 adapted for use with no exercise apparatus inside the chamber.

51. The system of claim 37 further comprising a treadmill inside the chamber.

52. The system of claim 39 wherein the control system controls an exercise apparatus within the chamber in response to data from the data storage.

53. The system of claim 42 wherein a control system adjusts an operation of the exercise apparatus and/or the pressure inside the chamber in response to data from the pressure sensor and/or the performance sensor.

54. The system of claim 28 further comprising a data storage storing historical data related to the individual, and wherein the system is controlled based on the stored historical data.

55. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for applying pressure to a portion of a body of an individual the method comprising:

producing a pressure inside a chamber configured to receive the portion of the body of the individual;

sensing the pressure inside the chamber with a pressure sensor in communication with the chamber; and

generating a relationship between pressure and actual weight of the individual to regulate the pressure in the chamber with respect to the weight of the individual.

56. The program storage device of claim 55 wherein generating a relationship between pressure and actual weight of the individual further comprises:

measuring the weight of the individual at one or more pre-defined pressure points inside the chamber; and

determining the weight of the individual as a function of increased pressure inside the chamber using the measured weight or weights at the one or more pre-defined pressure points.

57. The program storage device of claim 55 wherein the method performed by the program of executable instructions comprises:

comparing the pressure inside the chamber with a selected pressure setpoint; and

using a negative feedback control system to maintain the pressure inside the chamber based on the comparison.