Adjustable Stair and Ramp System for Variable Incline Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current physiotherapeutic stair trainers are static and lack the ability to simulate variable inclines, limiting their effectiveness in rehabilitation by not fully replicating real-world stair climbing and descending scenarios, which is crucial for patient assessment and rehabilitation progress tracking.
Innovation Solution
A physiotherapeutic system combining adjustable stairs and a variable incline ramp with a drive system that allows for vertical displacement of tread surfaces and a hingedly connected ramp, supported by sensors and a computer system to track patient activity and document rehabilitation progress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a static stair trainer with uniform pitch is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot simulate variable inclines and limits rehabilitation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static stair trainer into a dynamic system where the ramp portion can vary its angle of inclination. The ramp is hingedly connected to the stair assembly and can be adjusted to different angles, allowing the device to simulate various incline scenarios that patients may encounter in real-world environments, thereby improving adaptability without significantly complicating the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ramp angle is fixed, then the device is simpler to construct, but it cannot provide comprehensive rehabilitation data for different incline scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a multi-functional device that combines both a stair assembly and an adjustable ramp assembly into a single integrated system. The ramp can be adjusted to multiple angles and positioned in different configurations, enabling the device to serve multiple rehabilitation purposes - from flat surface walking to steep incline training - without requiring multiple separate devices, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving variable incline simulation.
3Loss of information
If sensors and computer systems are added to track patient activity, then rehabilitation progress tracking is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by integrating sensors that detect patient position, movement, and performance metrics on both the stair and ramp portions of the device. This data is transmitted to a computer system that provides real-time feedback on rehabilitation progress, allowing therapists to monitor patient performance and adjust treatment protocols accordingly. The feedback mechanism enhances information capture while keeping system integration manageable through standardized sensor interfaces and data processing protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system including a set of at least three horizontal tread surfaces, and a drive system for displacing the tread surfaces vertically to form a set of stairs with a range of different rise heights. One end of a ramp is hingedly connected to the last tread surface so as to define a walking surface having a variable angle of inclination varying as a function of a vertical position of the last tread surface. The tread surfaces can assume a fully-lowered state in which the set of tread surfaces are juxtaposed as a continuous flat surface, and in which a support configuration supports the second end of the ramp so that, in the fully-lowered state, the walking surface of the ramp is horizontal, so that the tread surfaces and the walking surface together forming a continuous horizontal walkway.