Sensor-Controlled Seating Supports for Dynamic Posture Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheelchairs and seating systems do not adequately support dynamic changes in sitting posture, leading to prolonged muscle inactivity, muscle weakness, and secondary health issues such as pressure sores and skeletal problems for both disabled and sedentary individuals.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic and proactive robotic system integrated into wheelchairs or chairs that actively changes sitting positions, utilizing a frame, supports, joints, and motors to enable two or three-dimensional movements of body parts, controlled by sensors and a controller to promote muscle activation and physiological function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wheelchair is properly fitted to each disabled person's body measures, then the wheelchair provides reasonable lifestyle support, but the wheelchair does not provide the ability to change sitting positions or postures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static wheelchair structure into a dynamic system with movable components. The sitting surface and backrest are designed to move relative to each other, allowing the wheelchair to adapt between different sitting positions (reclined, upright, tilted) and postures. This dynamic capability enables the wheelchair to respond to user needs and prevent secondary implications of prolonged static sitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wheelchair into independent movable components: a base, a sitting surface, a backrest, and connecting mechanisms. Each segment can move independently or in coordination, allowing flexible posture changes while maintaining structural integrity. The segmentation enables complex motion patterns (tilting, reclining, sitting position changes) without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Stress or pressure
If wheelchairs allow tilt or recline to reduce pressure on pelvis and thighs, then pressure distribution improves, but the sitting position does not change and muscle work of upper back and head is not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the dynamic capability beyond simple tilt or recline by enabling multiple degrees of freedom in the sitting surface and backrest movements. The system can transition between reclined positions, tilted positions, and various sitting positions, creating a dynamic sitting environment that actively changes posture rather than remaining static. This multi-position capability addresses both pressure reduction and muscle activation needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the sitting system to perform multiple functions: pressure distribution through recline/tilt, muscle activation through position changes, and adaptability to various user needs. The same mechanical system serves multiple purposes - it can reduce pressure on pelvis and thighs while simultaneously enabling upper back and head muscle work through coordinated movements of different body segments.
3Reliability
If wheelchairs have liftable kickstands to affect blood flow and reduce edema, then blood circulation may improve, but the joints are not moved and feet are not lifted above heart level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic movement capabilities that go beyond static kickstand adjustment. The system can actively move user's limbs and body segments through coordinated actions of the movable sitting surface and backrest. This dynamic positioning can lift feet above heart level and move joints through ranges of motion, providing more effective blood circulation and edema reduction than passive kickstand mechanisms.
4Productivity
If people sit long hours in front of computer without moving around, then productivity is maintained, but skeletal problems such as prolapsed disc and muscle weakening occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics to the office chair by enabling active sitting position changes during work periods. The movable sitting surface and backrest allow users to transition between different postures (reclined, upright, tilted) without leaving their seats, maintaining productivity while preventing skeletal problems and muscle weakening through continuous motion and position variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through automated or user-initiated cycles of position changes. The system can alternate between different sitting positions at regular intervals, creating periodic motion that prevents static muscle compression and skeletal stress. This periodic repositioning maintains blood flow and muscle activation throughout the workday without requiring complete breaks.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a dynamic and proactive system for supporting sitting while detecting and changing sitting postures of a user and method of operation thereof. The system including a frame, a plurality of supports, each configured to support a different body part, and a plurality of joints each configured to move independently of or together with any other of the joints, each of the supports is connected to the frame via a corresponding joint, at least one of the joints is a two dimensional joint which enables a change in angle between the frame and a corresponding support. Each one of the plurality of supports is configured to move with respect to the frame or to another support, thereby enabling any changes in sitting postures of the user. The system comprises sensors, which based on their readings, the system detects user postures and suggests or creates posture changes.