Device and process for adjusting the height of and the relief force acting on a weight

Abstract

A device for adjusting the height of and relief force acting on a weight is especially provided to be used for walking therapy of paraparetic or hemiparetic patients within a locomotion training means. Said weight of the patient is supported by a cable. A first cable length adjustment means provides an adjustment of the length of the cable to define the height of said suspended weight. A second cable length adjustment means provides an adjustment of the length of the cable to define the relief force acting on the suspended weight. This allows a quick and reliable determination and adjustment of the height for different patients and of the relief force within the training program of every patient.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a device and a process for adjusting the height of and the relief force acting on a weight, especially on the weight of a patient within a locomotion training means to be used for walking therapy of paraparetic or hemiparetic patients. In other words, the invention relates to an automatic unloading device that allows unloading an object attached to one end of a rope by a precise counter force. Especially, the invention relates to a device and a process, which can be used within a locomotion training of patients with walking impairments in any phase of rehabilitation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] As mentioned above said type of unloading system can be used for different applications but is preferably intended for the use in body weight supported treadmill training. This type of training is for example being used to train neurologically impaired patients to walk again during rehabilitation. For such incomplete parapl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The invention enhances the control of height and relief force through the separation of the functions. The height of the weight depends on the patient, whether he is a tall or a small person. This is adjusted at the beginning of a training session. The corresponding device can act slowly, even manually. The relief force has to be controlled during the actual therapy. The second cable length adjustment means divides the necessary relief force in a first static part, providing an approximate force response, and a second dynamic part, providing the fast fluctuations of the relief force while the patient is walking.

[0012] In order to adapt the principles of the invention to a larger range of instruments the different devices are motorized and connected to a computer means with memory, the memory comprising database entries for different patients (height of suspension and intended general relief force) and different walking therapies (fine tuned relief force programs). This allows a quick and reliable determination and adjustment of the height for different patients and of the relief force within the training program of every patient.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are some disadvantages in using this method for this kind of therapy.

One disadvantage is occurring if the patient has to be suspended by a large amount of his body weight.

If a large mass has to be attached on the other side of the rope the inertia of the mass is causing large forces during the up and down acceleration of the body.

Also, it is not very easy to change the amount of unloading during the training with most of the conventional counterweight systems.

Prior art discloses devices to provide a reliable positioning of the device height, but are cumbersome to adapt to different patients.

Another limitation of this approach is furthermore the limited liberty of changes to be made in the course of the application of the walking program for the patient.

Images