Patents Examined by Danton D. DeMille
  • Patent number: 6692451
    Abstract: A passive motion exercise and/or treatment apparatus is provided which includes a main support assembly for supporting at least part of the body of a user of the apparatus. The assembly includes a first support member and a second support member disposed in a common plane. The second support member is pivotably connected to the main support member and is movable relative thereto so as to provide passive movement of a part of the body of a user supported by the second support member relative to a part of the body supported by the first support member. A separable leg support assembly is adapted to be connected, in use, to the main support assembly at either end so as to support the calves of the legs of the user in a plane parallel to, and elevated with respect to, the common plane while the apparatus provides the passive body movement referred to above. A motorized drive arrangement is used to provide the aforementioned relative movement of the second support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Suncepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Robson L. Splane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6689077
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for alleviating excessive pressure development on a body area includes a cushion having bottom and top surfaces which are spaced apart. The top surface has a plurality of channels formed therethrough. A compressible inner layer is disposed between the top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of elongate, inflexible members are supported by the inner layer and are disposed at least partially within the channels. The members have first ends that extend through the channels to project beyond the top surface. Pressure applied to the first ends causes the members to be displaced axially along the channels toward the bottom surface without deformation. Pressure produced by body contact creates point pressures on the body area, and displacement of the members maintains the plurality of point pressures on the body area, alleviating excessive pressure. The apparatus includes a enclosure cover and the members have large, tapered ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Reza R. Dabir
  • Patent number: 6689079
    Abstract: A protective and pressure normalizing device including a support member having an exterior wall and an interior wall which define a first chamber, wherein the support member comprises a pressure adjustment section movable between a first position and at least one second position to adjust a pressure of a medium within the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Gaymar Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland E. Flick, Michael P. Rechin
  • Patent number: 6689074
    Abstract: A muscular-force supplementing device of the present invention includes an artificial muscular-force generating section and a control section that controls the driving of the artificial muscular-force generating section. The artificial muscular-force generating section includes a pair of mounting portions worn at two positions on both sides of a wrist joint of the user, and an actuator hinged on connecting portions of the mounting portions. The actuator is a device having therein a plurality of hydraulic cylinders to be operated in a dual-stroke manner. When hydraulic oil serving as the fluid is supplied to pressure chambers, a pair of piston rods are extended, and linear actuator force is transmitted to the connecting portions of the mounting portions, thereby transmitting bending force to the joint of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Seto, Kunihiko Takagi
  • Patent number: 6690969
    Abstract: A system for resuscitation of a heart attack victim. The system includes CPR device which compresses the victim's chest, a defibrillator which may be used to defibrillate the patient, and an identification system for identifying the person operating the system. Depending on the identity of the operator, the system permits varying degrees of access to components and enablement of the functions of the various subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Revivant Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Bystrom, Darren R. Sherman
  • Patent number: 6685658
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus which actively moves the legs of a disabled person in a movement pattern that is similar to physiological walking. The inclination of the standing table can be adjusted between a horizontal and a vertical position as desired. The patient is fixed to the standing table by means of a belt gear. The aim of this kind of rehabilitating locomotion therapy is to activate the locomotion structures in the spinal cord in order to improve the muscular situation in a time optimal manner, to prevent the intensity of spasticity and to improve the circulatory conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Balgrist/Schweiz. Paraplegikerzentrum
    Inventors: Volker Dietz, Gery Colombo, RĂ¼diger Rupp
  • Patent number: 6682495
    Abstract: A vibrating bed comprising a basic bed having a bed frame, casters secured on the basic bed, a lateral vibrating bed plate movably ridden on the casters, a mechanism for reciprocally moving the vibrating bed plate with respect to the bed frame, a connecting rod adjusting device and tension coil springs for dampening the vibrations of the vibrating bed plate as the vibrating bed plate reaches a predetermined horizontal, or lateral, position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Young-Go Park
  • Patent number: 6679857
    Abstract: A massager with an improved interface preferably including a housing with a massage actuator positioned within the housing. The massage actuator is positioned in the housing so that the massaging head which is attached to the housing may receive the massaging impulses created by the massage actuator. The massaging head preferably has a portion of the head covered by a gel covering which is flexible to conform to the various contours of a user's body while at the same time effectively transmitting the massaging impulse to the users. The massaging head may have portions which are not covered by the gel bed to further increase the versatility of the massager so that should the user wish to focus the massaging impulse to a specific area it may be done at the users convenience. It is envisioned that the improved interface may be used on portable handheld massagers, foot massagers, and various computer and/or keyboard wrist rests and mouse pad rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Bastia, Alan E. Strick
  • Patent number: 6676618
    Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis is made integrally from a thin, shaped lightweight material. The orthosis comprises a flat foot-supporting member for extending beneath the sole of a foot of a user, a calf abutment member for abutting the calf of the user, a narrow connecting member extending from the foot-supporting member at a location on one side, preferably the outer side, of the ankle of the user to the calf abutment member so as to interconnect the foot-supporting member and the calf abutment member, and a releasable fastener for fastening the calf abutment member to a leg of the user. The orthosis may be made by a method, in which a thermoplastic material with reinforcing fibers is arranged between opposite plastic films or foils in a desired mutual arrangement. Thereafter, the space defined between the opposite films is sealed, and air or gas is then removed from the sealed space so as to compact the material arranged therein and so as to form a blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Henrik Spang Andersen
  • Patent number: 6676614
    Abstract: A vest for a human body has an air core coupled to a pulsator operable to subject the vest to repeated pulses of air which applies and releases pressure to the body. The vest has a cover having a pocket accommodating the air core, shoulder straps, and end flaps. Releasable hook and loop fasteners connect the straps to chest portions of the vest and end flaps to each other. A releasable retainer secured to the end flaps prevent the end flaps and releasable fasteners from disengaging when air pressure pulses are applied to the vest. The air core has an air chamber and a sleeve having an air receiving passage and openings to allow air to flow from the air receiving passage into the air chamber. A coil spring within the sleeve maintains the air receiving passage open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Electromed, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Lonnie J. Helgeson
  • Patent number: 6676615
    Abstract: A user-controllable massage device is for a vehicle seat that operates via a wireless communications link. The massage device may include a plurality of vibration transducers to be positioned adjacent the vehicle seat, a wireless receiver, and a power controller connected to the wireless receiver for selectively powering the plurality of vibration transducers based upon signals received from the wireless receiver. The massage device may also include a wireless remote controller to be operated by the user for communicating with the wireless receiver to selectively operate the plurality of vibration transducers. The remote controller may transmit a unique code which can be learned by the power controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Flick, Michael Lee
  • Patent number: 6676613
    Abstract: The Chest-positioner/pad Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation System (CCPRS) provides improved resuscitation during one-person or two-person CPR. The simple, compact, portable and cost-effective system provides for manual, mechanical or electrical driven external chest compressions via a socket connection to a chest-positioner/pad unit. The chest-positioner/pad unit provides greater control of compression positioning providing adequate and reproducible chest compressions while preventing rib fractures and damage to vital internal organs. A module gives providers feedback to enable a provider to apply an appropriate compressive force in an appropriate direction, recurringly under emergency conditions. The present invention also provides improved blood circulation, oxygenation and gas exchange by expanding the chest past its normal relaxation point during diastole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: Elroy T. Cantrell, Jon Spijkerman
  • Patent number: 6669658
    Abstract: An apparatus for execution of hydromassages is provided which comprises an operating unit (1a) to be plunged into water, delimiting a space (10) for at least one person and having at least one float (5) and one dispensing structure (2) supported by the float (5), the dispensing structure being provided with diffuser holes (3) for emission of a fluid under pressure for hydromassage, the apparatus further comprising feeding members (1b) to supply fluid under pressure, disposed externally of the operating unit (1a) which conveys the fluid to the operating unit (1a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Giuseppe Ezio Fumanelli
  • Patent number: 6666799
    Abstract: A recumbent apparatus for exercise and physical therapy providing a lower body workout, an upper body workout and cardiovascular conditioning, the apparatus comprising a frame having a forward end and a rearward end, the frame generally defining a longitudinal axis extending between the forward and rearward ends, a seat supported by the frame, a left leg assembly and a right leg assembly, the leg assemblies supported by the frame for pivoting movement about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the leg assemblies positioned generally toward the forward end and each including an upwardly extending leg lever terminating in a pedal, a left arm assembly and a right arm assembly, the arm assemblies supported by the frame for pivoting movement also about the pivot axis, the arm assemblies positioned generally toward the forward end and each including an upwardly extending arm lever terminating in a handle, the left leg assembly being connected to the right arm assembly enabling movement therewith and de
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Nustep, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hildebrandt, Todd A. Sutton, Steve W. Sarns
  • Patent number: 6659969
    Abstract: Exercise is performed and an exerciser device is designed so that they use a massage belt with at least two ends and a chain of ovals composed of ceramic, crystals, wood, plastic or ferromagnetic materials, while a user holds one end of the belt and applies a punching imitating movement, while the other end offers resistance each arm alternating creates resistance to the other arm's motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Mikhail Levitin
  • Patent number: 6656138
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunction hyperthermo-therapeutical apparatus, and more particularly, to a multifunction hyperthermo-therapeutical apparatus which basically uses the hyperthermo-therapeutical apparatus and, of course, selectively uses one or more specific appliances according to the selection of a user by installing a sleep aid means, foot pressure means and vertebral correction means with additional functions at the one hyperthermo-therapeutical apparatus, thereby maximizing a hyperthermo-therapeutical curative effect and achieving an optimum sleep, blood circulation and vertebral correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Dwzone Medical Instruments Co., LTD
    Inventor: Myeong-su Kim
  • Patent number: 6656137
    Abstract: Structure providing sessions of a prolonged spinning therapeutic modality that affects the biological occupant therein stimulating, exercising and strengthening the occupant's R.A.S in combination with other stimuli that affect the organism with different types of physiological and neurological stimuli such that several unique types of input affect the organism synergistically to provide a far greater therapeutic benefit than the prior art showed by using such stimulus devices individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Omega Assembly Trust
    Inventors: James Eugene Tyldsley, Loran L. Swensen
  • Patent number: 6652564
    Abstract: A spinal therapy machine having an inflatable bladder. A rigid restraint running around the bladder causes the inflation to rise rather than to expand outward. Rings connected to the ends of the bladder are slidably attached to one or more posts that extend generally perpendicular to whatever structure upon which the bladder is placed. Either a control unit operated directly by the user or a computer direct the inflation of the bladder and, consequently, the elevation of a pad removably attached to the top of the bladder. Inflation is provided by a vacuum motor preferably connect to the bladder with a large tube in order to enable rapid changes in the degree of inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Robert D. Harris, William R. Hachtmann
  • Patent number: 6652596
    Abstract: A suspension aid for appending an above-knee prosthesis to a human body. The suspension aid is integrally formed of a resilient fabric having a warp knit leno, or equivalent, construction. The belt portion of the suspension aid extends substantially horizontally around the intertrochanteric region of the pelvis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Mark W.L. Smith, Elcia H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6648838
    Abstract: A postural awareness apparatus includes a pad, signal means for producing a signal, detection means for determining a weight applied to the pad and activating the signal means when the weight exceeds a predetermined weight, means for producing an output when the detection means determines the weight, and means for recording the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventors: Lee Brandon, Michael M. Gerardi, Elizabeth M. Wojciechowski