Therapeutic Support Device with Threaded Spindle Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support devices for paraplegic patients, which aim to stimulate bone formation through passive standing training, often cause trauma due to abrupt impulse on the skeletal system during the free fall of the bed, particularly in patients with advanced osteoporosis.
Innovation Solution
The support device employs a threaded spindle to control the oscillation of the footrest along the longitudinal axis, allowing for gentle lifting and lowering with adjustable load amplitude and frequency, using a pressure sensor to monitor and regulate the load, mimicking the frequency and load profile of slow walking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the bed is lowered by free fall to release stimulus for bone formation, then the stimulus intensity increases, but the risk of trauma to the osseous skeleton increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping element (viscous damper or spring element) that acts before the bed reaches the bottom dead center position. This damping element gradually absorbs the kinetic energy during the lowering phase, preventing abrupt impact and trauma to the patient's skeleton while still providing sufficient stimulus for bone formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of acceleration by controlling it to be less than 1g during the lowering phase. This is achieved through the oscillating drive system that regulates the motion profile, ensuring that the stimulus remains effective for bone formation while avoiding traumatic impact on the osseous skeleton.
2Strength
If passive standing training is used to stimulate bone formation, then bone density increases, but the stimulus is insufficient for advanced osteoporosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing rhythmic oscillations of the bed at controlled frequencies (0.5-2.5 Hz) during the standing training. This periodic motion creates repeated loading cycles on the bone structure, significantly enhancing the stimulus for bone formation and making the treatment effective even for patients with advanced osteoporosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration through the oscillating drive that generates controlled vibrations during the standing training. These vibrations, combined with the periodic loading, create a powerful stimulus that promotes bone formation and increases bone density, overcoming the insufficiency of static passive standing training.
3Force
If the oscillation amplitude is increased to enhance therapy effect, then the stimulus for bone formation improves, but the load on the skeletal system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the oscillation parameters (amplitude, frequency, acceleration) adjustable and adaptable during the therapy session. The system can dynamically modify these parameters based on patient response and tolerance, allowing optimization of the bone-forming stimulus while keeping the load on the skeletal system within safe limits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution prevents overloading of the skeletal system, allowing for precise control and monitoring of the therapy, reducing the risk of trauma and promoting bone growth through controlled and gentle stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
the oscillating drive excites the oscillation in both directions of the longitudinal axis by means of a threaded spindle, in that a rotatable threaded rod of the threaded spindle displaces a threaded nut running on the threaded rod
Implementation Method 2
a support device according to the invention comprises a pressure sensor on the footrest for measuring a pressure exerted by the legs parallel to the longitudinal axis on the footrest
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A support device (1) is disclosed, comprising a frame (2) and a bed (3) pivotably attached to the frame (2) for a human body (4), which has holding elements (16) for holding a torso of the body (4) on the bed (3) and a footrest (19), with a pivoting drive for pivoting the bed (3) on the frame (2) about a transverse axis (21) of the body (4) between a lying position with a longitudinal axis (22) of the body (4) running parallel to a horizontal (10) and a supporting position with a longitudinal axis (22) of the body (4) inclined to the horizontal by a support angle, in which the legs of the body (4) support at least partially a weight of the body (4) on the footrest (19).Furthermore, a method for operating such a support device is disclosed. In order to avoid overloading the osseous skeleton, it is proposed that the oscillating drive (27) excites the oscillation in both directions of the longitudinal axis (22) by means of a threaded spindle, by means of a rotatable threaded rod of the threaded spindle displacing a threaded nut running on the threaded rod.