Ambulatory Therapy Device

Abstract

An ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills and/or balance skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking skills. The present invention is particularly useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia, also known as floppy infant syndrome. The device is comprised of four telescoping vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners of a stable walking platform. Two flexible cables are attached to the upper ends of the support columns and extend longitudinally along both edges of the walking platform. The two cables are adjustable in tension such that a higher tension provides more support and wherein the tension can be progressively lessened as the user develops walking and balance skills. A pipe can encompass a majority of the length of each cable for easier use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/148,723 filed on Jan. 30, 2009, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of medical devices, and more specifically toward an ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills and/or balance skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking skills. The present invention is particularly useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia, also known as floppy infant syndrome. The device is comprised of four telescoping vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners of a stable walking platform. Two flexible cables are attached to the upper ends of the support columns and extend longitudinally along both edges of the walking platform. The two cables are adjustable in tension such that a higher tension provides more support and wherein the tension can be progressively lessened as the user develops walking and balance skills.

Individual mobility is highly valued in our society. Parents are incredibly proud when their child takes his or her first step. While efforts have been made to increase handicap access throughout the U.S. and the world, the ability to walk is considered by many to be an invaluable asset. When that ability is taken away, or even never forms, it can devastate an individual and his or her family. Any method or device that aids a user to walk is beneficial to society, especially one that succeeds where others have failed in the past.

One particular condition that reduces or eliminates an individual's ability to walk is hypotonia. Hypotonia is a condition of abnormally low muscle tone. The amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle is considerably reduced resulting in reduced muscle strength. Hypotonia is a condition, but not the underlying cause. Thus, while diagnosing hypotonia may be straightforward, diagnosing and treating the underlying cause can be difficult and, in many cases, unsuccessful. However, for most cases of hypotonia, and for that matter idiopathic or neurological conditions in general, physical and/or occupational therapy is an important course of treatment to help a patient regain the ability (or learn for the first time) to walk.

Numerous therapeutic exercises and training devices incorporating various forms of parallel bars are known in the art. While many of such apparatuses provide adjustability of the height of the bar from the floor or platform, they all comprise solid bars that have a fixed length and fixed rigidity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,960 to Cohen discloses a therapeutic exercise apparatus comprising a flat platform and two parallel handrails with ladder steps or balance beam. U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,548 to Fleming describes a foldable portable ambulatory therapy device that provides for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking skills. The device comprises a folding walkway with opposed folding rigid handrails along each side thereof. The rigid handrails are supported by a series of telescoping upright columns or posts. These patents as well as all references therein are hereby incorporated by reference.

Thus, there has existed a long-felt need for an improved ambulatory therapy device that is useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia. A need also exists for an improved ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking or balance skills. Finally, a need also exists for an easily adjustable ambulatory therapy device that is inexpensive and easily transportable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention provides just such a solution by teaching an ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking skills and/or balance skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking skills. The present invention is particularly useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia also known as floppy infant syndrome. The device is comprised of four telescoping vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners of a stable walking platform. Two flexible cables are attached to the upper ends of the support columns and extend longitudinally along both edges of the walking platform. The two cables are adjustable in tension such that a higher tension provides more support and wherein the tension can be progressively lessened as the user develops walking and balance skills. The length of the cables can be substantially enclosed within a pipe to provide a more stable surface for the user to grasp.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an ambulatory therapy device that is useful for children suffering from infantile hypotonia.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ambulatory therapy device for the training or retraining of persons in developing walking and/or balance skills after suffering a serious illness, injury, or other infirmity, which limits their walking and/or balance skills.

It is a final object of this invention to provide an easily adjustable ambulatory therapy device that is inexpensive and easily transportable.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the ambulatory therapy device with cables in a high-tension state.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the ambulatory therapy device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the ambulatory device with cables in a slackened state.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the ambulatory device with cables in a slackened state and with a substantial length of the cables surrounded by pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with the references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings.

The present invention relates to the field of physical therapy, and more specifically to the rehabilitation of persons that require therapy for walking and/or balance control. The invention is an ambulatory therapy device that provides for the training and rehabilitation of persons relearning walking skills and/or balance skills, after suffering a serious illness, injury or other infirmity, which limits their walking and/or balance skills. The present device is comprised of four telescoping vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners of a stable walking platform. A system of two preferably vinyl-coated cables are mounted on the upper ends of the telescoping support columns and run longitudinally with respect to the walking platform. A pipe, such as a PVC pipe, can substantially surround the length of the cables. The two cables are adjustable in tension. A tight tension will provide support for developing walking skills. A systematic adjusting, to slightly slacken the cables, will assist in balance skills. This invention further provides four adjustable supports for mounting two parallel cables assemblies, which may be adjusted to desired heights so that they may be used with maximum efficiency for persons of different sizes and ages. This invention also provides for the adjustability inward and outward for the parallel cables to facilitate persons of different sizes and ages. The parallel cables can also be adjusted in length to allow a maximum patient support for walking and a slacked cable configuration to aid in balance recovery.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 are orthogonal frontal views of a typical embodiment of a device 10 of the present invention and FIG. 2 is an orthogonal top view of the device 10. This embodiment comprises a walking platform 11 having four vertical support columns mounted and located at the corners, wherein the vertical support columns comprise an inner tubular member 12 telescopically coupled within an outer tubular member 13. Diagonal reinforcement members 16a and 16b add additional stability to the device. A locking mechanism 14 is provided to secure the telescopically coupled tubular elements 12 and 13 at the desired height for a patient. A flexible cable 15 is attached to the top ends of the inner tubular members 12 such that the cables 15 extend longitudinally along both edges of the walking platform 11. In use, the flexible cables are preferable covered by a rigid PVC pipe to add stability, though pipes made of other materials are possible. The PVC pipe surrounded cables are held in the hands of a patient to provide support and stabilization while the patient walks the length of the platform. The two cables 15 are each adjustable in tension such that a higher tension provides more support for a walking patient and wherein the tension can be progressively lessened as the user develops walking skills and is less reliant on the cables for support. In FIG. 1 the cables 15 are in a high-tension position and are therefore taut and disposed horizontally or nearly horizontally to the surface of the walking platform 11, while in FIG. 3 the cables 15 are in a slackened state and hang in an arc wherein they afford less support for the patient. An adjustment means 17 is used to adjust the desired tension and lock-in the desired tension in the cables 15.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the ambulatory device with cables in a slackened state and with a substantial length of the cables surrounded by a pipe. The cable and pipe are shown as cutaways in this figure. The cables 15 travels through the inside 19 of the pipes 20. With this device, a user can grasp the pipe 20 that surrounds the cable 15 for support while learning or relearning to walk.

Suitable materials of construction for the cables, include, but are not limited to, multi-filament steel or fiber ropes, multi-filament plastic ropes, multi-filament carbon fiber ropes as well as combinations and composites thereof. It is important that the materials and construction of the cables produce cables that do not “stretch out” and that maintain a desired tension after such tension is initially set. It is also important that cables be relatively soft or that they have a soft covering such that they are comfortable to the hands of patient and that they prevent injury of a patient falls while using the apparatus. Suitable cable covering materials include, but are not limited to, plasticized vinyl, rubbers and elastomers, cellular or foamed rubber materials and various textiles as well as combinations and composites thereof.

Instead of or in addition to the suitable cable covering materials described above, a pipe may be used to encompass a majority of the length of the cable. The cable travels through the pipe, from one end to the other. Preferably, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is used to enclose almost the entire length of the cable. This provides a more suitable surface for users to grasp while using the current invention. While the pipe preferably comprises PVC, the pipe can be composed of other materials or combinations of materials such as metal, composites, and wood. As used previously and hereinafter, when describing that a user grasps the cables when using the device of the current invention, this can refer to either grasping the cables themselves or the pipes that encompass the cables.

Suitable materials for the vertical support columns include, but are not limited to, various metals such as aluminum or stainless steel, rigid plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyesters, polyacetals and the like as well as combinations, mixtures, composites and alloys thereof. Suitable materials for the platform include, but are not limited to, wood, plastics and wood or plastic composites. The tubular members of the vertical support columns preferable have a round or square cross section; however, other cross-sectional shapes of the tubular members are possible.

Any suitable locking mechanism can be employed to secure the telescopically coupled tubular elements of the vertical support columns at the desired height for a given patient. Examples of such vertical support column locking mechanisms include, but are not limited to, setscrews, friction clutches, threaded collars and the like. Any suitable tensioning means can be employed to adjust and lock-in a desired cables tension. Examples of such tensioning and locking mechanisms include, but are not limited to turnbuckles, lockable reels and the like.

While previous examples of the current ambulatory therapy device include a platform, it is contemplated that the supports can be integrated into a floor of a room without the use of a platform. The adjustable vertical support columns are permanently affixed to a floor and support the cables and may or may not include diagonal reinforcement members. This may be a preferable solution to therapy centers that have ambulatory therapy devices that are only used in a single location.

The ambulatory therapy device described above can be used to rehabilitate patients such that they can once again walk, or alternatively, teach them to walk for the first time. Initially, the cables are in a high-tension state. Patients can hold onto the pipes that surround the high-tension cables for support while walking. Given enough upper body strength, the patient can support himself or herself by holding onto the cables if their legs fail to support him or her. In this manner, when the cables are in a high-tension state, they act similar to rigid bars that are commonly used. This is the optimal setup for patients that are first learning to walk or are beginning their rehabilitation process.

As treatment progresses, the patient should use the support cables less and less for assistance and rely more on his or her own legs. However, if the patient begins to fall, there should still be support provided such that the patient can catch his or her balance and avoid serious injury. Slackened cables, preferably enclosed by a rigid pipe, provide such a solution, whereby the cables can be grasped and provide some movement, but only to a limited extent. If the cables are moved significantly, they will become taught and at that moment provide significant support to the patient. Therefore, the cables are progressively loosened as the patient relies more and more on his or her own legs. The slackened cables can be grasped while walking, but do not provide as much support as when they are fully tightened and under high-tension. The greater the slack in the cables, the greater the movement of the cables before the patient can use them for support. Further, the same ambulatory therapy device according to the current invention can be used on multiple patients (not simultaneously) at different stages of treatment because of the ability to change the tension in the cables. Higher-tension is used for patients that require more support with a faster response. Less tension is used for patients that rely more on their own legs. The height of the cables can be adjusted to the height of the patient.

By way of example, a three-year old male child patient was diagnosed with extreme infantile hypotonia and the consensus medical opinion was that we would never walk. A device of the present invention was provided, the appropriate rail (cable) height was selected and the cable tension was set to afford maximum support. With the aid of the cable rails, the child was able to walk the length of the walking platform. During one year of daily use the cable tension was progressively slackened while the child became progressively less dependent on the cable rails for support. This patient could eventually walk with little or no dependency on the cable rails for support.

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

Claims

1. An ambulatory therapy device comprising

four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension, a platform, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,

where the four vertical support columns are adjustable in height, where the four vertical support columns are mounted at the corners of the platform,

where the platform is rectangular in shape,

where each cable extends longitudinally from a vertical support column to another vertical support column, where a majority of the length of each cable is encompassed by a pipe.

2. The ambulatory therapy device of claim 1, wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member.

3. The ambulatory therapy device of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height.

4. The ambulatory therapy device of claim 1, further comprising four diagonal reinforcement members, where the diagonal reinforcement members provide support to the four vertical support columns.

5. A device comprising

four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension and a length, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,

where the two cables are supported by the four vertical support columns.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the vertical support columns are adjustable in height.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height.

9. The device of claim 5, further comprising four diagonal reinforcement members where the diagonal reinforcement members provide support to the four vertical support columns.

10. The device of claim 5, further comprising two pipes, where each pipe encompasses a majority of the length of a cable.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the two pipes comprise polyvinyl chloride.

12. The device of claim 5, wherein the four vertical support columns are permanently affixed to a floor.

13. A method of training or retraining a person to walk comprising the steps of

acquiring an ambulatory therapy device, where the ambulatory therapy device comprises four vertical support columns, two cables each with a tension and a length, and a means of adjusting the tension of the two cables,

adjusting the tension of the two cables to a high-tension state, and

having the person walk using the two cables as support.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of

loosening the tension of the two cables, and

having the person walk using the two cables as support.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the vertical support columns are adjustable in height.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each vertical support column comprises an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, where the inner tubular member is telescopically coupled within the outer tubular member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises a locking mechanism; where the locking mechanism secures the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member together at a desired height.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises two pipes, where each pipe encompasses a majority of the length of a cable.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the ambulatory therapy device further comprises a platform, wherein the platform is rectangular in shape, wherein the four vertical support columns are mounted at the corners of the platform, where each cable extends longitudinally from one vertical support column to another vertical support column longitudinally.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the four vertical support columns are permanently affixed to a floor.