DE102015011472A1 - Walker retrofit kit - Google Patents

Abstract

A walking aid retrofit kit for an assistant who is mobile, who has a laser 11, preferably a green laser, which can be switched on and off as often as desired via a switch, preferably in the form of a pushbutton.

Description

The invention relates to a walking aid retrofit kit, in particular an aid for overcoming gangrene blocks and an assistant having the walking aid retrofit kit.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system worldwide. In the course of the disease movement disorders increase and can occur on both halves of the body. Many Parkinson's patients suffer from sudden, unpredictable freezing - also known as blockages - is referred to in the jargon as "freezing of gait" (English: freezing of the aisle). In this condition, the patients from one moment to another are unable to lift their feet off the ground and take a step. When fully conscious, they are unable to move their legs. This sudden solidification can last only a few moments, but also up to 30 seconds and occur several times a day. About half of all Parkinson's patients complain of problems with freezing at about the fifth year after diagnosed Parkinson's disease.

It is an object of the invention to provide a walking aid retrofit kit, in particular for those suffering from Parkinson's available that allows them to overcome its solidification

It has surprisingly been found that an effective aid, which can be used by Parkinson's patients to overcome freezing situations, ie solidification, is an optical, acoustic or tactile stimulus. This avoids the disruption of automated movements and eliminates the rigidity.

The invention relates to a Gehhilfenachrüstsatz for an assistant who is mobile, which has a laser, preferably a green laser, which is preferably via a switch, preferably in the form of a button as often as on and off, so only as long lit as the Button is pressed.

In this mobile walker is a so-called rollator, which has a metal frame, which is preferably foldable, wherein the metal frame on the lower frame part has four wheels, wherein the contact surfaces of the wheels, preferably in the form of a regular square or a trapezoid, which should provide better stability, are arranged and has two handles on the upper frame ends above for supporting. In addition, a walker may still preferably wire baskets, seat, trays, cup holders, stick holder, backrest have. The walking aid according to the invention preferably has brakes, which are preferably detectable.

The laser is preferably a green laser which has the function of a line projector, which can be switched on and off as often as desired via a switch, preferably in the form of a pushbutton, ie the laser is only switched on as long as the pushbutton is pressed ,

The laser preferably has a radiation angle of 30 ° to 70 ° degrees, ie 30 °, 35 °, 40 °, 45 °, 50 °, 55 °, 60 °, 65 °, 70 ° degrees, preferably 60 ° degrees internal angle to the longitudinal axis of the assistant on the handle side with which the line is radiated onto the sidewalk.

The laser preferably radiates at a wavelength of preferably 510-550 nm, with 520 nm and 532 nm being preferred, and a laser power of preferably 20 mW to 100 mW, ie 20 mW, 30 mW, 40 mW, 50 mW, 60 mW, 70 mW, 80 mW, 90 mW, 100 mW, with 50 mW being preferred.

The laser preferably has a distance of preferably 0.8 to 1.2 m, ie 0.8 m, 0.9 m, 1.0 m, 1.1 m, 1.2 m, preferably 1 m to the walkway, wherein the line length is preferably 1 to 1.5 m, ie 1 m, 1.1 m, 1.11 m, 1.12 m, 1.13 m, 1.14 m, 1.15 m, 1.16 m , 1.17 m, 1.18 m, 1.19 m 1.2 m, 1.3 m, 1.4 m, 1.5 m, preferably 1.16 m. The laser preferably has an adjustable focus and preferably adjustable line attitude. The laser is preferably installed in an adjustable holder, which preferably also acts as a heat sink. The green laser beam appears 10 times brighter to the human eye than a red laser with the same power.

The walker retrofit kit preferably has a sounder, clock.

Wherein the sounder, clock is a metronome, preferably an electronic metronome, preferably 60-160, ie 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 , 99, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, delivers 160 strokes per minute, with 96 strokes per minute (mean andante) being preferred.

The clock noise and clock speed is preferably generated by a microcontroller. The speed and volume can preferably be adjusted by the patient using a potentiometer. The beats sound via the loudspeaker and LED display.

The walking aid retrofit kit preferably has a pig launcher for illuminating the sidewalk. The headlight is at the bottom Frame part attached and lights about 1 m ² floor area. This gives rollator patients more safety in the dark.

The walker retrofit kit preferably has a memory, such as preferably an EEPROM, preferably within the already installed microcontroller, in that the frequency of startup, duration of the laser, sounder, clock generator can be stored so that the condition of the patient is documented To be able to evaluate the condition of the patient later in order to treat the patient better, ie to adapt the therapy of the patient and thus to provide a more effective therapy.

Each triggering of the laser or the clock is stored in the EEPROM of the built-in controller and can be read out via the USB interface and evaluated with specially developed software. This gives the attending physician or therapist the opportunity to evaluate the condition of the patient over a longer period of time.

This data can also preferably be transmitted wirelessly, preferably via a mobile telephone, Bluetooth, Wlan, in order to be preferably evaluated thereafter.

When freezing occurs, the patient preferably pushes the button on the handle of the rollator (the button can be attached either on the left or on the right handle). This closes the circuit and projects a green laser line between the rear wheels of the rollator. In addition, a click sound of the clock, sounder is heard according to the set clock. The floor area is illuminated by a spotlight, preferably an LED lamp. Each function can be activated separately. The duration of the key press and the respective activated functions are stored as a data record on the EEPROM of the controller.

A central pushbutton is preferably used for external control of the Gehhilfenachrüstsatzes, ie for switching on the Gehhilfenachrüstsatzes. This may also be missing and the circuit is only on the other switches, which are preferably toggle switches, which are each for the laser, the clock, sounder and the LED lamp for illuminating the sidewalk, are available. Depending on which toggle switches are turned on, only the turned-on functions, via the switch on the handle, preferably a button is turned on, so when the button is pressed. So, if only the laser is switched on via the toggle switch, only the laser lights up when the button is pressed. If the timer, sounder and the LED lighting are also switched on, the sounder, timer and the LED illumination lights up as well. This switch, preferably a button, is preferably located in a splash-proof housing made of high quality plastic with clamp for preferably 1 inch and 7/8 inch handlebars.

Since Parkinson's patients often suffer from fine motor skills limitations, large toggle switches and potentiometers are preferably used. All switches and controllers are preferably waterproof to IP67. Example Weis: Toggle switch green Switches the laser unit Toggle switch red Switches the clock Toggle switch blue Switches the ambient light Potentiometer 1 Controls the speed of the clock. Potentiometer 2 Adjusts the volume of the clock.

The molded plastic housing preferably consists of 2 parts with a groove and spring connection between the two halves. Degree of protection with seal: IP67.

The equipment of the micro-controller is preferably such: 32-bit High Performance Industrial / Automotive CPU with 66 MHz clock, 512 kByte FLASH memory, 64 kByte RAM, 512 kBit EEPROM, 57 freely usable I / O pins, USB port , 1 × Ethernet, 2 × CAN, I ² C, SPI bus, UART, 12 bit ADC, real-time clock.

The installation of the laser, clock, memory and the accessories on the walker, so a walker, is dependent on the rollator (brand and type) itself. Provided are preferably four fixings with different attachment mechanisms.

Another object is a walking aid that is mobile, wherein it has a Gehhilfenachrüstsatz invention.

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Fig. 1

1 shows a walker, with the Gehhilfenachrüstsatz invention 1 who is a line 2 in an illuminated width 3 (dashed line) shows. Furthermore, the walker has a frame 4 with four wheels 5 as well as the handles 6 , the brake levers 7 and a tray 8th on. At the handle 6 the button (not shown) is also mounted so that the laser and, if necessary, the lighting and the clock are switched on as long as desired.

Fig. 2

2 shows the line projector (green laser line) 11 with a laser power of 50 mW, GREEN 520 nm, laser class 2 , Beam angle 60 ° 10 , Distance 1 m, line length 1,16 m. The laser 11 is in an adjustable holder 12 , which also acts as a heat sink, installed.

Fig. 3

3 shows the installation of the Gehhilfenachrüstsatzes 1 at the walker. Provided are 4 fixings 13 with different fastening mechanisms. The laser 11 shines through a lens 14 for focusing, with the laser 11 in a holder 15 is movably mounted. In addition, the electronic metronome with speaker 16 to see. At the top is a toggle switch 17 to turn on the walker kit attached.

Claims (7)

Walker retrofit kit for a mate that is wheeled using a laser 11 , Preferably, a green laser, which is preferably via a switch, preferably in the form of a button as often as on and off. A walking aid retrofit kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser 11 radiates at a beam angle of 30 ° to 70 ° degrees to the longitudinal axis of the assistant on the handle side Walk-behind kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the laser 11 with a wavelength of 520-540 nm and a laser power of preferably 50 mW. Walking aid kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a sounder, clock. Walk-aid kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sounder, clock is a metronome, preferably an electronic metronome, which emits preferably 60-160 beats per minute. Walking aid retrofit kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Gehhilfenachrüstsatz has a memory by the frequency of commissioning, duration of the commissioning of the laser, sounder, timer can be stored. Walking aid retrofit kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Gehhilfenachrüstsatz has a pig launcher for illuminating the sidewalk.

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