Medical walk-regaining staff and related methods

Abstract

A hand-held cane or walking staff, with a lower end pedestal positioned on the ground or a floor so that a low profile cross piece is located in front of one of the user's feet, stimulating the brain of the user to accommodate the lifting of the user's foot, followed by stepping over the cross piece and additional steps thereafter, while carrying the staff in one hand by grasping an upper handle of the walking staff.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to articles and methods by which persons afflicted with mobility disabilities, such as Parkinsons Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), can re-train their minds and thus be self-taught or stimulated to walk once more. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hand-held device, and related methods, by which the brain of one afflicted by PD, MS or the like is simulated to accommodate the person to stepping over a floor or ground-engaging obstacle bar, after which additional steps are typically accommodated.

BACKGROUND

Those afflicted with PD, MS and like ailments are typically subjected to an inability to walk (anti-mobility). If left alone, the afflicted person may, for hours or days, be unable to walk, while wishing to do so. Such lack of mobility brings into existence dangers and deeply negatively impacts the quality of life, creating a need for regular, if not constant assistance.

Previously no remedy for the above-mentioned lack of mobility problem has been found. The benefits of a remedy would be significant to those so afflicted and the ones who care for the afflicted.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In brief summary, the present invention provides a remedy for the lack of mobility experienced rsons afflicted with PD, MS and like disorders, by which the brain is stimulated to facilitate ng by the afflicted. Restated, the invention allows the re-training of the mind of the afflicted so as ulate an initiate and subsequent walking steps by the afflicted.

A hand-held device, and related methods, are provided, by which the brain of one afflicted is vated so that the person is able to step over a low profile floor or ground-engaging obstacle of the , after which additional steps, without aid of the device, are accommodated. On the journey, difficulty in walking be encountered, the device may be used one or more additional times, so alking is recommenced.

While the invention may take other forms, it is presently preferred that the invention comprise eld cane or walking staff, with a lower end pedestal positioned on the ground or a floor so that a ofile cross piece is located in front of one of the user's feet, stimulating the brain of the user to modate the lifting of the user's foot, followed by stepping over the cross piece and additional hereafter, while carrying the staff in one hand by grasping an upper handle of the walking staff. ably, the pedestal, when resting on a floor or the ground, is stable.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide devices, ated methods, by which persons afflicted by PD, MS and the like may regain the ability to walk.

Another paramount object is the provision of devices and related methods by which the mind of n afflicted with PD, MS and the like, is stimulated to accommodate an initial and subsequent g steps using the device and methods.

A further dominant object is the provision of a hand-held device, and related methods, by which n afflicted with an ailment, which prevents or curtails walking, is able to walk once more.

An additional important object is the provision of a hand-held device, and related methods, the device comprising a lower end low profile obstruction placed in front of one foot of a person afflicted with PD, MS and the like, to stimulate a step over the obstruction, followed by additional steps without the use of the bar.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a presently preferred staff for re-training, persons afflicted with PD, MS and the like to walk once more;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the upper handle of the staff of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the pedestal at the lower end of the staff of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of an alternative upper handle of a staff according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of an alternative central portion of a staff according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of an alternative lower end pedestal of a staff according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of still another alternative upper handle of a staff according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Certain diseases, which afflict mankind, comprise disorders of the brain making it difficult if not impossible to walk. Among these are Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These ailments are such that the human brain is unable to properly send messages which control muscle movement.

Sometimes these ailments, and other related ones, are called motor system disorders. MS attacks the central nervous system comprising the brain, the spinal cord and optical nerves, but nevertheless makes walking difficult and, in some cases, impossible.

Heretofore, such brain-related ailments, which decrease or eliminate the mobility of the person afflicted, are largely without a remedy to restore or impart the ability to walk when desired and with balance.

It has been found that the present invention can be used to stimulate the brain so that, when a low profile ground or floor-engaging obstacle is placed in front of one foot of the afflicted person, initially or with repetitious training, the brain stimulated so as to instruct the leg of the afflicted person to lift the foot and place it down in front of the obstacle in accordance with the present invention. After this initial step, typically the afflicted person is able to take additional steps with both feet, while grasping the handle of the instrument and carrying the instrument with him or her. Thus, if the afflicted person stops after an initial walk and experiences a resistance to further walking, the above-described process can be repeated and repeated as many times as necessary so that the afflicted person can walk from a beginning position to a desired ending position.

The foregoing is confirmed by the inventor, who's PD earlier made walking impossible. Using an instrument in accordance with the present invention, the inventor is now, once more, able to walk from place to place, as desired.

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like numerals are used to identify like parts throughout. FIG. 1 depicts, in perspective, a presently preferred medical instrument, generally designated 10 by which one afflicted with PD, MS and like brain-afflicting diseases is able to regain capacity once more to walk reasonably well using an instrument and a method of the present invention. The instrument 10 could be described as a walk-regaining staff or a cane having a significant medical purpose. Instrument 10 comprises a hand-held portable walking instrument for retraining an afflicted person having an ailment curtailing or eliminating an ability to walk and comprises an upper end comprising a handle 12, which may comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing snugly capped at handle end 14. The handle 12 is grasped by one hand 16 of the user (the afflicted person) in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, for initially positioning the instrument 10 and to carry the instrument 10 from place to place after walking has been initiated. The end of the handle 12 opposite the cap 14 is securely received horizontally into one hollow end of a PVC elbow 18.

The instrument 10 comprises a central portion, generally designated 20, which extends linearly generally in a vertical direction and comprises, as shown, three sections of tubing 22, 24 and 26. Section 22, at upper end 28, is snugly inserted into and retained, in a conventional way, in the hollow of the second, downwardly extending end of elbow 18 and is also conventionally inserted into and secured to at lower end 30, of a hollow sleeve 32. End 34 of section 24 is snugly inserted into the lower hollow end of sleeve 32 and secured therein, in a conventional fashion. The lower end 36 of the section 24 is snugly inserted into the upper hollow end of sleeve 38 and conventionally secured therein. End 40 of section 26 is inserted into the lower hollow end of sleeve 38 and securely retained in that location in a conventional way. Likewise, the lower end 42 of section 26 is securely inserted into the upwardly directed hollow leg 44 of a hollow tee generally designated 46.

The instrument 10 of FIG. 1 comprises a floor and ground-engaging pedestal 50, illustrated as having a tee-shape. The pedestal 50 is constructed so as to retain the instrument 10 in a stable upright condition upon the ground or floor when not in use. The pedestal 50 comprises the above-mentioned tee fitting 46. Pedestal 50 also comprises an obstacle in the forms of a bar 52, which is placed in front of one foot of the user, as shown in FIG. 3 and explained hereinafter in greater detail. The bar 52 is illustrated as comprising low profile PVC tubing, with one end 54 snugly inserted into one hollow end of leg 56 of the tee 46 and retained therein in a conventional fashion. The other end 53 of the bar 52 snugly receives a cap 58.

The pedestal 50 also comprises a short linear piece of tubing 60, one end 62 of which is inserted snugly into the hollow of leg 64 of the tee fitting 46 and there secured in a conventional way. The other end 66 of the tubing 60 is inserted snugly into the hollow of leg 68, which forms a part of a tee fitting, generally designated 70.

Leg 72 of tee 70 snugly receives in its hollow end a short linear piece of PVC piping designated 74, which is secured in the stated position by conventional means. The free end of PVC pipe 74 is closed by cap 76. The tee 70 further comprises a third leg 78 into the hollow of which is snugly inserted an additional short linear tubing 80, which is held in the stated position in a conventional way. The free end of the PVC pipe 80 is closed by a cap 82.

The manner of use of instruments in accordance with the present invention, including but not limited to instrument 10, which accommodates re-training of one afflicted by PD, MS or any other brain affliction which makes walking difficult, if not impossible. Broadly the method of the present invention comprises grasping an upper handle of a hand held retraining instrument to accommodate manipulation of the instrument. The lower ground and floor-engaging pedestal is placed upon the ground an floor with a lower low profile obstacle or bar being placed as an obstruction in front of one foot of the user, as shown in FIG. 3 at location 90, while the person is standing erect thereby stimulating the person's brain to cause the foot to be lifted from the support surface, advanced over the obstruction and thereafter placed down on the support surface. While the initial step may be accomplished quickly, it is to be recognized for the instrument and method of the present invention to accommodate successful walking by the afflicted person, some practice may be required.

After the initial step over the bar or obstruction, typically the afflicted person is able, without more, to take additional steps, moving from an initial position to a desired position, as the instrument is carried by the user. If, along the way, the user stops walking for one reason or another, the obstruction element or bar is once more positioned in front of the foot and the process repeated. The initial step is illustrated in FIG. 3, where the foot 90, shown in its beginning position in solid lines, is lifted over the bar or obstruction 54 and lowered into the floor or ground-engaging dotted line position 90, also shown in FIG. 3.

It is to be appreciated that once walking has been initiated, the user, grasping the handle 12 will lift the instrument 10 and carry it with him or her until either recommencement of walking is necessitated or the destination is reached.

It is to be appreciated that, while acceptable, the horizontally directed handle 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 need not per se be lineal and need not per se to be horizontally disposed. For example, see FIG. 4 illustrating a PVC curved handle 100, secured to the elbow 18 in the same manner as described in conjunction with handle 12.

If desired, the handle of the instrument may be positioned in a vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 7. The free end of tubing 12 is snugly inserted into one hollow end 102 of elbow 104 and secured in that position in a conventional manner. The other, vertical end 106 of elbow 104 is hollow and receives in a secured manner the lower end 108 of handle 110, the other end 112 of which is snugly closed by cap 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates another central segment of an instrument in accordance with the present which comprises a single piece of tubing 116, shown to be non-linear. The central portion may, if desired, be linear and one-piece.

The configuration of the lower end pedestal of an instrument in accordance of the present invention need not per se be tee shaped, as shown in FIG. 1, but may be any one of several variations, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 6. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the leg 64 of the tee 46, previously described, snugly receives leg 120 in the hollow thereof end in a secured state. The leg 120 is bifurcated at location 122, forming two spaced legs 124 and 126, respectively capped at 128 and 130 to close the ends 132 and 134. Thus, the pedestal 118 has three legs which provide stable support of the corresponding instrument, both when used and when stored in an upright position.

It is to be appreciated that instruments in accordance with the present invention may comprise auxiliary items, such as a GPS device and/or a cell phone 31 (FIG. 1) or other devices, which assist the user in utilizing the instrument and methods of the present invention or in seeking help when needed.

Also, to make the user more visible at night, fluorescent or other light reflecting compositions may be added to the instrument, making the instruments highly visible to other persons including operators of oncoming vehicles.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and are not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A hand-held portable walking instrument for retraining an afflicted person having an ailment curtailing an ability to walk comprising:

an upper end comprising a handle grasped by the afflicted person for manual manipulation of the walking instrument;

a lower end comprising a floor and ground-engaging end having a low profile male extension positioned juxtaposed one foot of the afflicted person to stimulate the brain accommodating lifting and forward movement of the one foot above and over the male extension;

a central portion unitarily interconnecting the upper end and the lower end.

2. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the handle is cantilevered from the central portion to extend in a generally horizontal direction.

3. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the handle is connected to the central portion to extend in a non-horizontal direction.

4. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the central portion is essentially straight and extends generally in a vertical direction.

5. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the handle is not straight.

6. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the male extension comprises a floor and ground bar.

7. A walking instrument according to claim 1 wherein the lower end further comprises a pedestal which stably engages the floor and ground.

8. A walking instrument according to claim 1 further comprising a communication device carried by the instrument.

9. A walking instrument according to claim 8 wherein the communication device is selected from the group consisting of a GPS device and a cell phone.

10. A walking instrument according to claim 1 further comprising a fluorescent substance, which glows in the dark.

11. A method of accommodating re-trained walking by an afflicted person having an ailment curtailing an ability to walk comprising the acts of:

grasping an upper handle of a hand-held retraining instrument for manipulation of the instrument;

manually placing a lower element of the instrument as a low profile obstruction in front of one foot of the afflicted person while the person is standing thereby stimulating the person's brain to accommodate lifting of the foot from a support surface, advanced over the obstruction and thereafter place the foot on the support surface.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the acts of causing additional steps to be taken by the afflicted person after the initial step without use of the instrument.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising repeating the grasping and placing steps when and if the additional steps cease.