SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract

A support device, comprising a frame; a resting structure for a human body wherein the resting structure is pivotably attached at the frame and includes support elements configured to support a torso of the human body at the resting structure and a footrest; a pivot drive configured to pivot the resting structure at the frame about a transversal axis of the body between a prone position where a longitudinal axis of the body is parallel to a horizontal and a support position where the longitudinal axis of the body is inclined relative to the horizontal by a support angle wherein legs of the body support a weight of the body at least partially on the footrest; and an oscillation drive configured to induce an oscillation of the resting structure wherein the oscillation drive is supported at the frame and moves the resting structure parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A support device, comprising: a frame; a resting structure for a human body wherein the resting structure is pivotably attached at the frame and includes support elements configured to support a torso of the human body at the resting structure and a footrest; a pivot drive configured to pivot the resting structure at the frame about a transversal axis of the body between a prone position where a longitudinal axis of the body is parallel to a horizontal and a support position where the longitudinal axis of the body is inclined relative to the horizontal by a support angle wherein legs of the body support a weight of the body at least partially on the footrest; and an oscillation drive configured to induce an oscillation of the resting structure wherein the oscillation drive is supported at the frame and moves the resting structure parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the oscillation drive excites the oscillation in both directions of the longitudinal axis by a threaded spindle in that a rotatable threaded rod of the threaded spindle moves a threaded nut that runs on the threaded rod.

2. The support device 1 according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor at the foot rest configured to measure a pressure that is imparted by the legs parallel to the longitudinal axis upon the foot rest.

3. The support device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a pressure sensitive mat.

4. The support device according to claim 1, further comprising a lift drive configured to raise and lower the resting structure in a vertical direction.

5. A method for operating a support device including a frame and a resting structure for a human body wherein the resting structure is arranged at the frame, the method comprising the steps: pivoting the resting structure about a transversal axis of the body at the frame so that a longitudinal axis of the body becomes inclined relative to a horizontal at a support angle and legs of the body support a weight of the body at least partially on a foot rest of the resting structure; and exciting the resting structure to oscillate parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the oscillation has a frequency of 1 to 2.4 Hz and a stroke of up to 25 mm.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the oscillation is periodic.

7. The method according to claims 5, wherein the oscillation is controlled so that a pressure imparted by the legs parallel to the longitudinal axis upon the foot rest does not exceed a maximum value.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein measured values of the pressure are stored, and the maximum value is increased automatically.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the stroke is increased automatically.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the support angle is increased automatically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is subsequently described based on an embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein;

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to the invention in a support position;

[0021] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the support device according to FIG. 1,

[0022] FIG. 2B illustrates a detail of the support device according to FIG. 1, and,

[0023] FIGS, 3A-C illustrate standard views of the support device according to FIG. 1 in another position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The illustrated support device 1 according to the invention includes a frame 2 and a resting structure 3 for a human body 4 that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The frame 2 is made for the most part from welded steel profiles, namely a pedestal 5 made from two U-shaped lobes 6 which are respectively connected by transversal beams 9 at a head end 7 and a foot end 8 of the support device 1, and a rectangular table 11 that is oriented parallel to a horizontal 10. The table 11 can be raised by a lift drive 12 through a level assembly 13 from the illustrated position with a table height 14 of 500 mm to a non-illustrated maximum operating height of 650 mm.

[0025] The resting structure 3 has a padded resting surface 15 and support elements 16 for supporting a torso 17 and legs 18 of the body 4. Belts can be used as support elements 16. Furthermore the resting structure 3 includes a padded foot rest 19 at the foot end 8.

[0026] The resting structure 3 is continuously pivotable by a pivot drive 20 about a transversal axis 21 of the body 4 from a non-illustrated prone position in which a longitudinal axis 22 of the body 4 is on the resting structure 3 which is on the table 11 and parallel to the horizontal direction 10 with respect to its support angle 23 between the longitudinal axis 22 and the horizontal 10 by an angle of up to 90 degrees.

[0027] The pivot drive 20 engages a frame 24 that is also welded from steel profiles and which is arranged in a joint 25 at the table 11. The resting structure 3 is movably supported on the frame 24 and supported in a direction of the longitudinal axis 22 by support bushings 26.

[0028] The support device 1 includes a pivot drive 27 that is illustrated in detail in FIG. 2B. The pivot drive 27 includes an electric motor 28 which drives a threaded rod 30 that extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis 22 through a transmission 29. The transmission 29 is attached in a support flange 31 at the frame 24. A threaded nut 32 runs on the threaded rod 30 and is connected with the resting structure 3.

[0029] When using the support device 1 for standup training the body 4 of the patient is initially placed on the resting surface 15 in the horizontal position so that the legs 18 are supported at the foot rest 19. Then the body 4 is fixed at the resting structure 3 by retaining elements 16 and the resting structure 3 is pivoted by the support angle 23.

[0030] In the pivoted position the resting structure 3 is induced to oscillate by the oscillation drive 27. By manually adapting frequency, amplitude and phase of the oscillation the support device 1 transfers a movement pattern which can corresponds for example to a memorized individual gait pattern to a bone skeleton of the patient. The treatment is repeated in uniform, e.g., daily intervals in order to provide a continuous exposure of the bone skeleton to gravitation stimuli, wherein the loading can be increased continuously as a function of improved bone load bearing capability indicators, e.g., bone density.

[0031] A height of the table 11, the support angle 23 of the resting structure 3, and the oscillation are adjusted by a non-illustrated control.

REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS

[0032] 1 Support device [0033] 2 Frame [0034] 3 Resting structure [0035] 4 Human body [0036] 5 Pedestal [0037] 6 Lobe [0038] 7 Head end [0039] 9 Foot end [0040] 9 Transversal beam [0041] 10 Horizontal [0042] 11 Table [0043] 12 Lift Drive [0044] 13 Lever assembly [0045] 14 Table elevation [0046] 15 Resting surface [0047] 16 Retaining element [0048] 17 Torso [0049] 18 Leg [0050] 19 Foot rest [0051] 20 Pivot drive [0052] 21 Transversal axis [0053] 22 Longitudinal axis [0054] 23 Support angle [0055] 24 Frame [0056] 25 Joint [0057] 26 Support bushing [0058] 27 Oscillation drive [0059] 28 Electric motor [0060] 29 Transmission [0061] 30 Threaded rod [0062] 31 Support flange [0063] 32 Threaded nut