Ergometer

Abstract

The present invention concerns an ergometer (10) comprising at least one training assembly, each assembly comprising: a training element (11), -at least one hydraulic cylinder (12) comprising a pressure chamber (32), said training element (11) being linked to said at least one hydraulic cylinder (12) such that a hydraulic pressure value applied in the pressure chamber (32) of said or at least one of said corresponding cylinders determines a force opposing the movement of said training element (11) by a user, and at least one control unit (13, 14) for supplying the pressure chamber (32) of said or one corresponding hydraulic cylinder (12) with pressurised hydraulic fluid such that said pressure chamber (32) has a chosen pressure value during at least a part of the muscle exercises carried out by the user, said control unit (13, 14) being linked to said pressure chamber (32) of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder (12) by a hydraulic fluid supply circuit.

Claims

1. An ergometer comprising at least one training assembly, each training assembly comprising: a training element; at least one hydraulic cylinder comprising a pressure chamber; said training element being linked to said at least one hydraulic cylinder such that a hydraulic pressure value applied in the pressure chamber of said corresponding cylinder, or of at least one of said corresponding cylinders, determines a force opposing the movement of said training element by a user; and at least one control unit for supplying the pressure chamber of said hydraulic cylinder, or of a corresponding hydraulic cylinder, with pressurized hydraulic fluid such that said pressure chamber has a selected pressure value during at least part of the muscle exercises performed by the user, said control unit being linked to said pressure chamber of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder by a hydraulic fluid supply circuit.

2. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each training assembly comprises one training element, two hydraulic cylinders and, for each hydraulic cylinder, one corresponding control unit for supplying the pressure chamber of said hydraulic cylinder with pressurized hydraulic fluid.

3. The ergometer as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first hydraulic cylinder linked to said training element is supported by a translationally movable plate, said plate being rigidly connected to a piston rod of the second hydraulic cylinder.

4. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein it comprises two training assemblies, each training assembly comprising a set of sensors intended to measure the force applied by each of the members of the user and the power of the training.

5. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ergometer comprises a plurality of training assemblies, said control units are distinct such that said ergometer permits the application of unsymmetrical forces to the user.

6. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each training element is a pedal or a handle.

7. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sub-assembly comprising a training element and said corresponding hydraulic cylinder is mounted on a platform, which preferably can move between a deployed position and at least one retracted position, which platform is mounted on a movable carriage.

8. The ergometer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said platform comprises a suction position retention device for locking said platform in position when the ergometer is used.

9. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sub-assembly comprising a training element and said corresponding hydraulic cylinder also comprises a force sensor for measuring the forces and/or a pressure sensor for determining the pressure of the fluid in said pressure chamber.

10. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each hydraulic fluid supply circuit is at least partly flexible to enable an adjustment of the position of each sub-assembly comprising a training element and said corresponding hydraulic cylinder relative to its control unit.

11. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fluid supply circuit comprises a quick disconnect system allowing the sub-assembly comprising a training element and said corresponding hydraulic cylinder to be separated from its control unit.

12. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each control unit comprises a hydraulic cylinder comprising a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber being in fluid communication with said hydraulic fluid supply circuit and a piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder being connected to a drive mechanism configured to exert a predetermined hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber of the hydraulic cylinder of said corresponding control unit.

13. The ergometer as claimed in claim 12, said drive mechanism comprises a stepper motor having a driveshaft, the piston rod being rigidly connected to a rack linked by a transmission to the shaft of said stepper motor, which thus enables the movement of the rack and the pressurization of the fluid in said pressure chamber.

14. The ergometer as claimed in claim 13, wherein it comprises a motor current measurement device for determining the torque exerted by the shaft thereof in order to retain said rack in position.

15. The ergometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a non-magnetic screen externally surrounds at least one part of each control unit, the rest of the ergometer being made of a non-magnetic material.

16. A measurement appliance for performing diagnostics and for research, wherein it comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) and an ergometer as claimed in claim 1.

17. A measurement method, wherein, using an ergometer as claimed in claim 2, a selected pressure value is applied, for at least part of the muscular exercises performed by the user, in the pressure chamber of only one of said cylinders, the other cylinder being left free in order to stress different parts of the body of the user.

18. A measurement method wherein a plurality of items of information is obtained in real time that characterizes the physiological or physiopathological functioning of a user performing exercises on an ergometer as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0088] Further advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which is provided by way of a non-limiting explanation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0089] FIG. 1 schematically shows an ergometer for performing force tests on a patient according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0090] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a control unit of the ergometer of FIG. 1;

[0091] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view of the control unit of FIG. 2 and of the cylinder, with the pressure chamber of the control unit being linked to the pressure chamber of the cylinder via a hydraulic fluid supply circuit;

[0092] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the ergometer showing a section outside the magnetic field and a section inside the magnetic field;

[0093] FIG. 5 schematically shows the ergometer of FIG. 1 disposed at the front of an MRI system (FIG. 5a) and at the rear of an MRI system (FIG. 5b);

[0094] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of an ergometer for performing force tests on a patient according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0095] Firstly, it is to be noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0096] An ergometer according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described hereafter with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0097] In the embodiment described herein, the ergometer 10 comprises two training assemblies that are separate and are placed substantially parallel to each other.

[0098] Each training assembly comprises a pedal 11 linked to a hydraulic cylinder 12 comprising a pressure chamber 32 such that a hydraulic pressure value applied in this pressure chamber 32 determines a force opposing the movement of the corresponding pedal 11 by the foot of a user.

[0099] The ergometer also comprises a force sensor 30 placed on each pedal 11 to measure the applied forces. This information can be used to control the force or the power supplied by the pedal 11.

[0100] The ergometer can also comprise an angular movement sensor (not shown) placed on each pedal 11 to determine the speed of the pedals and therefore the pedaling power. This information can be used to control the power, but also the position, of the pedals.

[0101] Each assembly also comprises a control unit 13, 14 for supplying this pressure chamber 32 of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder 12 with pressurized hydraulic fluid such that said pressure chamber has a selected pressure value for at least some of the exercises performed by this user.

[0102] Each sub-assembly comprising a pedal 11 and its corresponding hydraulic cylinder 12 and force sensor 30 is mounted on the same platform 15.

[0103] This platform 15 is itself supported by a carriage 16 that is movable to enable the movement thereof. This carriage 16, which is typically placed at the end of the table of the magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI), thus can be easily handled by an operator.

[0104] The platform 15 is movably mounted on the carriage 16, via slides 34, 35, between a deployed position, in which the platform 15 is placed on the MRI table in order to position the pedals on this table, and a retracted position, in which the platform 15 is removed from the end of this table.

[0105] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the carriage supporting the pedal can be placed at the front of the MRI 36 (FIG. 5A) or at the rear of the MRI 36 (FIG. 5B).

[0106] This platform 15 also comprises a plurality of suction cups linked to a suction device (not shown) to enable easy positional locking of this platform on the MRI table 36 when the ergometer 10 is used.

[0107] Each control unit 13, 14 is linked to the pressure chamber 32 of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder 12 by a flexible hydraulic fluid supply circuit 17, 18.

[0108] These supply circuits 17, 18 thus allow adjustment of the position of the carriage 16 relative to the control units 13, 14 that are placed at a distance from the tunnel of the magnetic resonance imaging system. Solely by way of an illustration, these control units 13, 14 can be placed several meters from the entrance of the mini-tunnel.

[0109] In the case of the MRI, the generated magnetic field decreases as a function of the distance, thus advantageously ensuring the absence of disruption generated by this magnetic field on the control units 13, 14.

[0110] Each hydraulic fluid supply circuit 17, 18 comprises a quick disconnect system 19, 20 for separating each sub-assembly from its corresponding control unit 13, 14. By way of an example, such a quick disconnect system 19, 20 comprises a sealed quick disconnect connector.

[0111] Each control unit 13, 14 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 21 comprising a pressure chamber 33, with this pressure chamber being in fluid communication with its hydraulic fluid supply circuit 17, 18.

[0112] The rod 22 of the piston of each hydraulic cylinder 21 is linked to a drive mechanism configured to exert a predetermined hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 21 of said corresponding control unit 13, 14.

[0113] This drive mechanism in this case comprises a stepper motor 23 having a driveshaft, the rod 22 of the piston of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder being rigidly connected to a serrated cam 24.

[0114] This serrated cam 24 itself is linked by a toothed wheel 25 to the shaft of the stepper motor 23, which thus ensures the movement for the serrated cam 24 and the pressurization of the fluid in the pressure chamber 33 of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder.

[0115] A guide 26 allows linear movement of the serrated cam 24 to be provided.

[0116] An electronic unit 27 allows each stepper motor 23 to be controlled, with a programming unit (not shown) allowing, for example, the resistance applied to each pedal 11 to be varied by applying a determined hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic supply circuit 17, 18 extending between the pressure chambers of the two hydraulic cylinders 12, 21 of each drive system.

[0117] In order to avoid any disruption in the measurements performed by a magnetic resonance imaging system, a non-magnetic screen (not shown) externally surrounds each control unit 13, 14, with the rest of the ergometer being made of non-magnetic material.

[0118] The ergometer comprises a set of sensors 30, 31 disposed on the pedals, the cylinders and the motors.

[0119] According to one embodiment, a pair of fluid pressure sensors is disposed in the chambers, a pair of position and speed sensors is disposed on the pedals and a pair of current sensors is disposed on the motors.

[0120] According to one operating mode, the information from the sensors 30, 31 is transmitted to the electronic unit 27, which retransmits it to a control station provided with a display screen.

[0121] According to the information displayed on the control station, an operator can send a setpoint to control the force returned by the motors to the pedals via the control units 13, 14, in order to adjust the position or the speed or the power at the pedal.

[0122] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of an ergometer 40 for performing force tests on a patient according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0123] This ergometer 40 comprises two independent training assemblies, which are distinct and are placed substantially parallel to each other. Each training assembly comprises a pedal 41, as well as two hydraulic cylinders 42, 43, with each cylinder conventionally comprising a pressure chamber and a piston rod 44.

[0124] The pressure chamber of each cylinder 42, 43 of each training assembly is linked to its own control unit (not shown) such that the pressure chamber of each cylinder 42, 43 is autonomously supplied with hydraulic fluid.

[0125] With such an embodiment, it is advantageously possible to exercise a distinct part of each leg of the patient by applying a selected pressure value in the pressure chamber of one of the two cylinders 42, 43 and by leaving the other cylinder free. Several combinations are thus possible with the two training assemblies.

[0126] More specifically, the pedal 41, or support for the feet of the patient, of each training assembly is mounted with a first cylinder 42, to which it is linked, on a translationally movable plate 45, in this case a plate with slides.

[0127] This plate 45, which is rigidly connected to the piston rod of each second cylinder 43 of the drive assemblies, is moved by these second cylinders 43.

[0128] When the user wants to stress the thigh muscles, for example, a resistant force is applied by the second cylinders 43, with a selected pressure value then being applied by the corresponding control unit in the pressure chamber of each of these second cylinders 43. The first cylinders 42 directly linked to the pedals 41 and associated with the heels of the patient are then left free. It is the entire plate 45 that moves.

[0129] When the user wishes to stress their heels, the piston rods 44 of the second cylinders 43, rigidly connected to the plate 45, are returned such that the plate 45 then covers these second cylinders 43. A determined pressure value, for at least some of the exercises performed by this user, is applied in the pressure chamber of each inclined pressure cylinder 42, which then push on the pedals 41 activated by this user.