Tethered Body Weight Support for Dynamic Gait Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body weight support systems for gait therapy face challenges such as static unloading, limited adjustability, bulky motorized trolleys, delayed system responses, and cable management issues, which hinder effective over-ground gait training and stability for individuals with walking impairments.
Innovation Solution
A body weight support system with a tether mechanism that adjusts body weight support based on the length of the tether relative to a threshold, coupled with sensors and an electronic system to display data and provide dynamic support, allowing continuous modulation of support levels and enhancing patient stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a motorized trolley system is used to provide body weight support, then the system can dynamically adjust support levels, but the trolley becomes bulky and responds with delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motorized trolley from the system and replaces it with a simple tether mechanism. The body weight support is achieved through the tether coupled to a overhead support structure, eliminating the bulky moving trolley while maintaining dynamic adjustability through the tether length modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the tether) that mediates between the overhead support structure and the patient. This tether acts as a flexible connector that provides body weight support without requiring a motorized trolley, thus reducing system complexity and improving response time.
2Ease of operation
If static unloading is used with fixed shoulder strap length, then the system is simple to operate, but it results in abnormal ground reaction forces and altered muscle activation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static unloading with fixed strap length to a dynamic system where the tether length can be modified during therapy sessions. This allows the system to adapt to changing patient needs and maintain natural ground reaction forces while remaining easy to operate through simple tether length adjustments.
3Force
If overhead rail systems are used to support patients, then body weight support is provided, but therapists are significantly obstructed from interacting with the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support system into a separate overhead tether mechanism, freeing the therapist from being constrained by an overhead rail structure. The therapist can move freely around the patient while the tether provides body weight support independently, improving both support functionality and therapist accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A body weight support system includes a tether configured to be coupled to an attachment device worn by a user to couple the user to the body weight support system. A method of providing gait training includes defining a reference length of the tether when the attachment device is in an initial position and defining a threshold length of the tether. A first amount of body weight support is provided during the gait training as the user moves relative to a surface and the length of the tether is less than the threshold length. A second amount of body weight support is provided during the gait training as the user moves relative to the surface and the length of the tether is greater than the threshold length. The method further includes displaying data associated with the gait training on a display of an electronic device.