Apparatus for automated walking training
09808668 · 2017-11-07
Assignee
Inventors
- Rainer Bucher (Wettswil a.A., CH)
- Konstatin Daremas (Elsau, CH)
- Adrian Moser (Zollikofen, CH)
- Lijin Aryananda (Zug, CH)
Cpc classification
A61H3/008
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B24/0087
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61H1/0255
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B21/00181
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B21/00178
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61H1/0262
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B24/0062
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A63B24/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B69/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B21/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61H3/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
An apparatus for automated walking training includes a frame or treadmill having a driven treadmill belt and a pelvis attachment to support a position and weight of a user. The pelvis attachment includes a displacement unit for allowing a movement of the user's pelvis held by attachment elements transverse to and/or rotating about a perpendicular axis to the walking direction of the treadmill to provide a more natural and physiological gait during training. A weight suspension unit having a cable guided over a guide roller positioned above and attached to the pelvis attachment may include a displacement unit adapted to move the guide roller perpendicular to the diverted section of the cable to influence the transverse position of an upper body of the user as well as to prevent a pendulum effect of the trunk of his body.
Claims
1. An apparatus for automated walking and/or treadmill training of a user comprising: a frame configured to allow a walking movement of the user in the frame, a pelvis attachment to support at least one of a position and weight of the user and having attachment elements configured to be connected to the user, wherein the pelvis attachment comprises a displacement unit for at least one of allowing and supporting a movement of a pelvis of the user held by the attachment elements transverse to, rotating about, or transverse to and rotating about a perpendicular axis to a walking direction, wherein the displacement unit comprises two guide rails inclined one to another, two guiding sleeves each movable along one associated guide rail and a bar connected and articulated through hinge joints with said guiding sleeves for allowing a combined transverse and rotating movement of the user held by the attachment elements connected to the bar.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an open space towards the bottom and wheels at an underside or a treadmill having a driven treadmill belt.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement unit comprises a lateral displacement unit having guide rails for allowing a movement of the user held by the attachment elements from the group transverse to the walking direction, in the walking direction, or combined transverse and in the walking direction.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement unit comprises a rotating displacement unit for allowing a movement of the user held by the attachment elements transverse to the walking direction.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination of the guide rails is adjustable.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an orthotic device comprising at least one orthotic drive for each leg, having at least one cuff for each leg, wherein at least one cuff for each leg is movably attached to a cuff attachment device of the orthotic device for a movement of the respective cuff transversal to the walking direction provided by the treadmill.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cuff attachment device comprises a drive for effecting the transverse movement of the associated cuff.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to control drives of at least one of the pelvis attachment and cuff attachment.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a treadmill having a driven treadmill belt.
10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inclination of the guide rails is adjustable by a drive in order to set a relation between lateral travel and transverse rotation.
11. An apparatus for automated treadmill training of a user comprising: a frame configured to allow a walking movement of the user in the frame, a pelvis attachment to support at least one of a position and weight of the user and having attachment elements configured to be connected to the user, and a weight suspension unit having a cable guided over a guide roller positioned above the pelvis attachment and opposite to the treadmill, wherein the guide roller is configured to divert the cable towards the pelvis attachment, wherein the cable is attached to the pelvis attachment, wherein the weight suspension unit comprises a weight suspension displacement unit that is configured to move the guide roller essentially perpendicularly to a direction of a diverted section of the cable, and wherein the carriage movement is actuated by a drive and the carriage and roller position is controlled by a control unit of the apparatus based on a gait phase of the user provided by a signal providing directly or indirectly representative for an orientation of the cable between the guide roller and the harness of the user.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the weight suspension displacement unit comprises a carriage onto which the guide roller is mounted.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an axis of the guide roller is mounted parallel to a movement direction of the carriage and the home position of the guide roller is predetermined in a way that a cable portion between the guide roller and the next following roller is in line with the walking direction and at a right angle to the carriage to minimize changes in rope length.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the carriage is oriented transverse to a direction of movement of a treadmill belt.
15. A method for operating an apparatus for automated walking and/or treadmill training of a user comprising a frame configured to allow a walking movement of the user in the frame, and a pelvis attachment to support at least one of a position and weight of the user and having attachment elements configured to be connected to the user, wherein the pelvis attachment comprises a displacement unit for at least one of allowing and supporting a movement of a pelvis of the user held by the attachment elements either transverse to, rotating about or transverse to and rotating about a perpendicular axis to the walking direction, wherein the pelvis attachment is positioned above an opening of the frame at a predetermined height, the user is attached to the pelvis attachment, the user is attached to a weight suspension unit, wherein the pelvis attachment is driven and controlled as well as the weight suspension unit is driven and controlled.
16. An apparatus for automated walking and/or treadmill training of a user comprising: a frame configured to allow a walking movement of the user in the frame; a pelvis attachment to support at least one of a position and weight of the user and having attachment elements configured to be connected to the user; and one or more sensors from the group of: force sensors relating to forces exerted on the pelvis attachment or cuff attachment, and position sensors configured to deliver position signals of the pelvis attachment or cuff attachment, wherein the pelvis attachment comprises a displacement unit for at least one of allowing and supporting a movement of a pelvis of the user held by the attachment elements transverse to, rotating about, or transverse to and rotating about a perpendicular axis to a walking direction, and wherein the apparatus is provided at least with one force sensor which measures force interaction with the user and allows for the control unit to provide assist-as-needed control, where the user participates actively to the movement and the actuator provides the remaining work necessary.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,
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DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE
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(15) Apparatus 1 includes a treadmill 10 at the base having a treadmill frame 11 to be positioned on the ground. Within the treadmill frame 11 is provided a driven treadmill belt 12 which is adapted to move at various speeds through the action of a drive. The movement of the belt is directed from the front end 14 of the apparatus 1 to the back ramp 16. It is in advantage if two hand rails 13 are provided on the sides of the treadmill belt 12 above the side edges of the treadmill frame 11 in order to be grasped by the hands of a person to be trained 400.
(16) The apparatus 1 for automated walking training can be used as a fixed unit and then especially for treadmill training according to the embodiment shown in
(17) A support column 41 is attached at the side of the treadmill frame 11. On the support column 41 is mounted a jib 42 being part of the suspension device 40. Within the jib elements is included a suspension roller displacement unit 48. This suspension roller displacement unit 48 includes a roller 45 over which the cable 43 is lead to a cross bar 44 being adapted to support a harness attachment 46. The cable 43 is guided from said harness attachment 46 over roller 45 and further internal rollers and elements within the suspension roller displacement unit 48 into the support column 41 which comprises preferably a device for adjusting the height and relief force acting on the weight of the person to be trained which could be built according to EP 1 586 291 or EP 1 908 442 and which can be provided in the support column 41. Of course also other suspension relief mechanism can be used in this respect. It is further contemplated to use the pelvis attachment 50, as disclosed in the following paragraph on its own, since such a pelvis attachment 50 can include inherently elements adapted to support the position and/or weight of the user 400 to avoid tipping forward, backward and sideward. The stabilization can therefore only rely on a pelvis attachment 50.
(18) The person to be trained is attached to the pelvis attachment 50 which is mounted through two parallelogram arms 22 to the back post 21 which is attached via support arm 23 to the support column 41 and as such to the frame of the apparatus. This parallelogram device can be provided in line with the disclosure of e.g. EP 1 137 378. It is also possible to provide other connection means of the pelvis attachment to the frame apparatus. The only condition to be fulfilled is the stabilization of the position of the pelvis and the tracking of the up- and-down movement of the pelvis during walking action of the user on the treadmill 10.
(19) The person to be trained is attached via a harness (not shown) to the pelvis attachment 50 and the legs of the person to be trained can be put into the cuffs 35 attached via the cuff attachments units 60 with the linkages 32 and 33 of the leg orthosis 30. The leg orthosis 30 is connected to the pelvis attachment back plate 50 and includes beside the mentioned upper linkage 33 and lower linkage 32 on each side, i.e. for each leg of the user, two orthosis drives 31 and 36, an upper hip orthosis drive 36 and a lower knee orthosis drive 31. The leg orthosis 30 is optional; in other words, it is possible to use the pelvis attachment means 50 alone or to use the pelvis attachment means 50 together with the leg orthosis 30; and to combine this use of the pelvis attachment means 50 with the use of the suspension device 40. Finally it is also possible to use the suspension device 40 on its own to provide the mentioned freedom of movement of the trunk of the person to be trained.
(20) Further elements of the devices are shown in the additional drawings. The overall control of the drives according to the various embodiments of the invention can be performed by a control unit 70, which can be a personal computer generating and transmitting all control signals to the different drives of the apparatus 1 and receiving the necessary control information from the drives and additional sensors in order to control the different drives to allow the user 400 to perform actively a walking or running movement or to support the user in such an action through actuating the different drives. Such additional sensors can provide the position of the back plate 51, the position of the bar 53, the position of the roller 45, the inclination of the orthosis elements (provided by the drives 31 and 36) etc.
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(22) Same elements always receive the same reference numerals in all drawings.
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(24) The pelvis attachment 52 can also be provided in an adjustable way in any direction from bar 53. It is especially an advantage, if the attachment 52 can be positioned and adjusted in the down direction towards the bottom, in combination with a displacement of the leg orthosis in the down direction, which would then allow to make a quick adaption to much shorter users as e.g. children to train on the device.
(25) When the user 400 walks on the treadmill 10, his footprints 58 develop on the moving treadmill belt 12 as shown in
(26) Beside allowing this turning of the pelvis attachment around the vertical axis,
(27) Preferably the shifting movement into position 250A is accompanied by specific cuff attachment units 60, 160 and 260. In these cuff attachment units 60, 160 and 260 the cuff in the original position 35, 135, and 235 can shift along the transverse axis into the position 135A and 235A when the user 400 advances his left leg. On the other hand, when the user then advances his right leg the movement will be inverted and the pelvis attachment 250A as well as the cuffs position 135A and 235A will go beyond the “neutral position” (150/35, 135, 235) into a different inclined position opposite to the position shown in
(28) Cuffs 35, 135 and 235 are attached via cuff attachment units 60, 60 and 260 respectively at pelvis attachment 50. Beside the relative displacement of the cuffs 35, 135 and 235 one to another as usually provided within a leg orthosis for the natural gait movement, they can also move laterally relative one to another as described above.
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(30) The pelvis attachment portion 50 includes a pelvis harness belt element 52 which is adapted to be moved through the linkages as explained below. The pelvis harness belt element 52 is attached to bar 53 which is linked through joints 54 via guiding sleeve 56 to two connection links 55. This allows the user, when moving his pelvis 100, to push onto the bar 53 to slide it with the guiding sleeves 56 on the connection link 55 to effect a rotating movement as well as a transversal movement of his pelvis. In order to support the user in training it is possible to provide a drive 159 being connected to the bar 53 in order to move bar 53 and as such the pelvis attachment 50 along the predetermined curve. It is possible to provide adjustment means to change the angle between the two connecting links 55. They are then adjusted in order to vary the movement of the pelvis attachment position 50. If the connecting links 55 are oriented one parallel to the other then only a transverse movement of the pelvis attachment position is possible. In a more general view, the adjustment unit for the connecting links allow adjusting the forced curve defining the movement range of the bar 53 and thus of the pelvis. The movement profile of the displacement unit can then be adjusted to various training scenarios and movement patterns. The inclination of the guide rails 55 is then adjustable, optionally by a drive (not shown) in order to set a relation between lateral travel and transverse rotation. This is realized in the embodiment of
(31) In order to allow rotation around the mediolateral axis, the pelvis attachment portion 50 may be arranged vertically, i.e. the direction of gravity would be along the bar 53.
(32) The pelvis attachment 52 may be mounted through a passive rotational joint with respect to bar 53. This would allow a user 400 to exert additional transverse rotational movement beyond what the drive 159 provides.
(33) As mentioned above, the pelvis 100 as shown in
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(36) The pelvis and trunk of the user is positioned inside the %-circle ring 252 including the pelvis attachment portion (not shown). The circle ring 252 can be rotated in view of the underlying ring portion 251A by rotating drive 255. The non-rotatable base element 251A is attached on bearings 264 which are mounted on transverse beams 262 whereas the entire pelvis attachment unit together with the rotating pelvis attachment element 252 can be displaced forward and backward through action of the drive 255B. Beams 262 are mounted on bearings 263 which allow a transverse movement on the front bar 261 and the back bar 251B which have a similar function as back plates 51or151.
(37) The transversal movement is supported through action of the additional drive 255A attached to beam 262. In other words, when the back pelvis attachment bar 251B is attached at e.g. the parallelogram elements 22 according to
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(39) The clamping means 63 are attached at a base plate 65 on which a linear guide rail 66 including a dovetail portion serves as the bearing for a complementary linear guide car 67 being attached to a cuff plate 68 onto which cuff 35 is provided in a manner known to the man skilled in the art.
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(41) Therefore, the cuffs are movable which allows the pelvis to move more naturally while keeping the feet of the person to be trained in place. In this respect, keeping the feet of the trained person in place means that the feet are always on or near the same longitudinal line on the treadmill belt 12 independent from the position of the pelvis 100 above the legs 59 and feet. It is an advantage, that the cuff displacement can be added in a simple way to existing orthotic devices.
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(43) Cable 43 after being turned by roller 45 is then guided as cable portion 43A to a horizontal roller 145A and then as cable portion 43B onto second roller 145B to be diverted into the support column 41 which is shown as the attachment portion 41A in
(44) This suspension roller drive 40 allows a movement of the user below the roller 45 without involving a slack on cable 43, since the lengths of the cable portion beyond roller 45 down to the user harness bar 44 is only changing through the effect of the up-and-down movement of the upper body of the user which can be compensated by a height compensation device as e.g. shown in EP 1 586 291 or EP 1 908 442. There is no additional change by an inclined cable 43 and there are no additional forces acting on the person through such inclined cable 43 as in the prior art. The transverse movement of the roller 45 on carriage 146 according to arrow 147 only changes the length of the cable portion 43A in a negligible amount. Therefore the impact of this change of length can either be neglected or can be taken into account when providing the control signals for controlling the drive 48 actuating the transversal movement of carriage 146. In other words, the harness holding the person to be trained is (indirectly through the cable) movable by a dedicated drive in order to minimize lateral forces on the trunk of the person to be trained that result from gravity. This is equivalent to say that the driven suspension device 40 prevents a pendulum effect. Furthermore, the driven suspension can also be used to separately control the transverse position of the upper body of the person to be trained. In other words, it is preferred that the middle position of carriage 146 and roller 45 is as shown in
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(46) TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 device 10 treadmill 11 treadmill frame 12 treadmill belt 13 hand rail 14 front end 16 back ramp 20 orthosis stabilization 21 back post 22 parallelogram arm 30 orthosis/leg brace 31 lower orthosis drive 32 lower orthosis linkage 33 upper orthosis linkage 35 cuff 36 upper orthosis drive 40 suspension device 41 support column 41A attachment support column 42 jib 43 cable 43A cable portion 43B cable portion 44 cross bar 45 roller 46 harness attachment 47 frame 48 weight suspension unit 50 pelvis attachment 51 back plate 52 pelvis harness belt element 53 bar 54 joint 55 connection link 56 guiding sleeve 58 foot print, right foot 58A foot print, advancing left foot 59 leg, vertical position 59A leg, shifted position 60 lower cuff attachment unit 62 L-shaped bar 63 clamping means 64 clamping lever 65 base plate 66 linear guide rail 67 linear guide car 68 cuff plate 69 cuff drive 69A cuff drive rod 70 control unit 100 pelvis, vertical unshifted position 100A pelvis, shifted/turned position 135 upper cuff, vertical position 135A upper cuff, shifted position 145A horizontal roller 145B second horizontal roller 146 carriage 147 arrow 148 drive 150 pelvis attachment, vertical position and middle position 151 back plate 153 back plate 154 turning axis 155 connection link 157 pivot base 158 roller 159 linear drive 160 upper cuff attachment unit 235 middle cuff, vertical position 235A middle cuff, shifted position 250A pelvis attachment, turned/rotated position 250B pelvis attachment, shifted position 251A non-rotating ring portion 251B back bar 252 ¾-circle ring; rotating pelvis attachment 255 rotating drive 255A additional drive 255B forward/backward drive 260 middle cuff attachment unit 261 front bar 262 transverse beam 263 bearing 264 bearing 352 pelvis attachment portion 400 user or person to be trained 500 walking direction 501 transverse/lateral movement 502 rotational movement