The present invention relates to a massage apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a massage apparatus which maintains the applied force of a massage head. The apparatus has massage head that is attached to a movable block. The movable block can be repositioned to apply force to a subject. A force sensor constantly transmits applied force readings to a microprocessor which maintains the applied force by adjusting the position of the movable block relative the subject's body.

A walking assistance system includes a walking assistance apparatus attached to a leg of a user and a notification unit configured to notify the user of a predetermined state in the walking assistance apparatus. The walking assistance apparatus includes a flexion damper that applies a resisting force in a bending direction of a knee joint of a leg, a sensor that detects a switching timing in a gait cycle of the user, a control unit that switches the mode of the flexion damper in accordance with a switching timing, a detection unit that detects a predetermined state, and a transmission unit. The notification unit includes a vibration stimulation module that applies vibrations or electrical stimulation to a non-paralyzed area of the user's body and a reception unit.

An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other, respectively, and a motor. When assistance is stopped, the motor is configured to reduce tension of the first wire during a first stop period starting in a boundary period in a first period and ending in a start period of a second period, generate no tension in the second wire during the second period, reduce tension of the third wire during a second stop period starting in a boundary period in a third period and ending in a start period of a fourth period, and generate no tension in the fourth wire during the fourth period.

An assistance apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire that couple an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front part and back part of the body of a user, respectively, a third wire and a fourth wire that couple the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front part and back part of the body of the user, respectively, a motor, a left sensor on the left hand of the user, and a right sensor on the right hand of the user. When a force is applied to the left sensor and no force is applied to the right sensor, the motor makes the tension of the second wire and the third wire greater than the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire. When a force is applied to the right sensor and no force is applied to the left sensor, the motor makes the tension of the first wire and the fourth wire greater than the tension of the second wire and the third wire.

An assistance apparatus includes wires, each of which couples an upper-body belt and one of left and right knee belts to each other, and a motor. When the assistance apparatus assists a user in walking backward while carrying an object, the motor generates, in a gait phase of a left leg, a tension greater than or equal to a second threshold value in a second wire during a fifth period other than a first period during which a tension greater than or equal to a first threshold value is generated, and a tension less than the second threshold value in a first wire during a sixth period other than a second period during which a tension greater than or equal to the first threshold value is generated, and generates, in a gait phase of a right leg, a tension greater than or equal to the second threshold value in a fourth wire during a seventh period other than a third period during which a tension greater than or equal to the first threshold value is generated, and a tension less than the second threshold value in a third wire during an eighth period other than a fourth period during which a tension greater than or equal to the first threshold value is generated.

An apparatus 1 to aid walking, the apparatus 1 comprising a base unit 3, housing a motor; and further comprising first and second horizontally orientated foot supports 6,7, mounted for back and forth parallel motion relative to the base unit 3; the foot supports 6,7 each being operably connected to the motor; a foot support comprising a plurality of planar members 5, including a base plate 41, an intermediate plate 44 and a foot plate 45 having an upper surface to receive a user's foot, the intermediate plate 44 being pivotally linked at a first end to the base plate 41 and at a second end to the foot plate.

A sound treatment system includes an audio system for transmitting tones of predetermined frequencies through a plurality of outputs. A sound transmitting device is electrically connectable to one or more of the outputs, and includes a speaker for transmitting the tones received. The speaker is adjacent to crystal which is vibrationally responsive to the tones. A method of using the system includes generating tonal segments of predetermined duration, modulating the frequencies, and compiling these into an audio program. One or more sound transmitting devices are placed on desired locations of the body, and their inputs connected to corresponding outputs of the audio system. The generating step includes compiling selected predetermined frequencies into an audio program to generate the tonal segments, as well as modulating tones of one or more desired frequencies to generate the tonal segments.

An assistance apparatus includes a first and second wires coupling an upper-body belt and a left knee belt to each other on or above a front and back parts of a body of a user, respectively, a third and fourth wires coupling the upper-body belt and a right knee belt to each other on or above the front and back parts, respectively, a motor, a first sensor that detects at least tensions of the first and third wires, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the motor to generate, when the first wire is broken, in the second wire, a tension less than a tension of the second wire during no break in the first wire, and to generate, when the third wire is broken, in the fourth wire, a tension less than a tension of the fourth wire during no break in the third wire.

The present invention relates to a massage apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a massage apparatus which maintains the applied force of a massage head. The apparatus has massage head that is attached to a movable block. The movable block can be repositioned to apply force to a subject. A force sensor constantly transmits applied force readings to a microprocessor which maintains the applied force by adjusting the position of the movable block relative the subject's body.

A sound treatment system includes an audio system for transmitting tones of predetermined frequencies through a plurality of outputs. A sound transmitting device is electrically connectable to one or more of the outputs, and includes a speaker for transmitting the tones received. The speaker is adjacent to crystal which is vibrationally responsive to the tones. A method of using the system includes generating tonal segments of predetermined duration, modulating the frequencies, and compiling these into an audio program. One or more sound transmitting devices are placed on desired locations of the body, and their inputs connected to corresponding outputs of the audio system. The generating step includes compiling selected predetermined frequencies into an audio program to generate the tonal segments, as well as modulating tones of one or more desired frequencies to generate the tonal segments.