EP1707175A1 - Walking aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The aid has a support unit (10a) e.g. crutch, with a spring (26) and two components (28a, 30a), and a signaling device (20) to signal an end of a spring path of the spring. The path is sloped by a force acting on the unit (10a), and the unit (10a) is tensed at the path with a relative movement of the components. A stopper limits the relative movement of the components to each other. An adjusting unit adjusts the end of the path and a prestress and a spring rate of the spring.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a walker with at least one support device according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are walkers with a trained as a crutch support device are known, which allow a discharge of this lower limb of a portion of the body weight when walking a patient with a damaged lower limb.

Conservative fracture treatment (secondary bone healing) proceeds via various "callus stages", in which the callus (unstable bone cells) is secondarily transformed into bone. The doctor can follow the course of bone healing in X-ray image usually well. Depending on this, he gives the patient the further weight load of the leg. This burden must not be exceeded, as this would lead to a massive negative impact on the healing success.

Both after fractures on bones of the walking apparatus (thigh, lower leg, foot) and after operations on the hip joint, knee joint or ankles, this means for the patient: walking with the help of forearm or armpit support with partial load (pressure load) of the injured Games, ie with a slight appearance on the damaged leg. In the course of the healing process, the burden is gradually increased to full weight (with the patient's total body weight).

According to prevailing opinion of the physicians, the callus formation is promoted by metered stress stimuli of the fractures. In case of fractures, controlled partial loading not only protects against overloading, but also promotes the healing process.

From the EP 0 821 929 B1 is a training device known, with which the bone growth can be specifically promoted. For this purpose, a sound sensor is placed in the vicinity of the damaged bone and recorded the noise of bone friction during movement of the bone. As a result, an overload can be avoided.

The invention has for its object to provide an aid with which a patient with fractures or after joint surgery, especially on a lower limb, an overload of the damaged body part can easily avoid.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Further embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a walker with at least one support device, in particular a crutch.

It is proposed that the walker has a signaling device designed as a stop, which is intended to signal one end of a spring travel, wherein the spring travel depends on a force acting on the supporting device. Or, more generally, it is proposed that the walking aid has a signaling device that is provided to signal a value of at least one force parameter, wherein the force parameter depends on at least one force acting on the supporting device. By signaling the value carried out as the end of the travel, an operator of the walker, who, e.g. when walking, based on the support device and thereby exerts a force on the support device, be informed of this force advantageous. It can thereby be achieved, for example, a control of the force exerted on the supporting device, whereby a relief, e.g. a damaged lower limb of the operator, can be easily controlled.

In this context, a "force parameter" is to be understood as meaning in particular a parameter which serves to to determine a force. This parameter may be a mechanical parameter, for example a length, in particular a spring deflection, an electrical parameter, eg a voltage, a resistance, etc., and / or a parameter that appears appropriate to the person skilled in the art. The value may be a limit value, wherein the signaling may take place, for example, when this limit value is reached and / or exceeded. Alternatively and / or additionally, the value may be a current value of the force characteristic, whereby the operator can be informed precisely about a variation of the applied force.

It is also proposed that the support device comprises a first component, a second component and a spring which is tensioned during a relative movement of the components about the spring travel, which depends on a force acting on the second component from the first component, and the stop is provided for limiting the relative movement of the two components relative to one another. Thereby, a particularly simple embodiment of the support device can be achieved, wherein existing and / or inexpensive components can be used, and it can be a simple operation of the walker can be achieved.

Through the use of a spring and the formation of the parameter as a travel, for example, when a threshold value is reached, signaling can take place in a mechanical manner without the force parameter having to be detected or additionally determined. By mechanical signaling, costs associated with the use of electronic parts, eg, battery purchase, can be saved. As a spring, for example, a torsion spring, a bending spring, an air spring and / or other types of spring which appear to be appropriate to a person skilled in the art. In this context, a "spring travel" should be understood in particular to mean a distance by which the spring is deflected from a rest position in which it does not necessarily have to be relaxed.

More generally, it is proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that the walking aid has a limiting device which is provided to predefine the signaled value of the force parameter as a limit value. Thereby, an operator can advantageously be informed as to whether, when supporting him on the support device, he may use e.g. recommended by a physician relief of a lower limb has reached, with increased confidence and an associated surefootedness of the operator can be achieved.

Preferably, the limiting device is formed by at least one stop, which serves to limit a relative movement of two components to each other. Thereby, a mechanical limitation of a relative movement of the components can be achieved, wherein a robust and / or simple configuration of the limiting device can be achieved. In addition, by striking an advantageous tactile signaling of the limit can be achieved because the striking of a component to the stop by an operator, for example, in his forearm, can be felt. Until reaching the stop or the end of the spring travel, the patient can be given an unstable feeling by the agility of the crutch, which gives the patient more pressure on the walking aid until a stable feeling is achieved caused by reaching the stop, whereby the damaged body part is relieved.

Advantageously, the signaling device comprises a spring with the limited travel by the stop, wherein upon reaching the stop by the force acting on the support force a stable connection between a handle for an operator of the support device and provided for placement on a bottom end of the support device is made , The stopper is designed to establish a firm connection between the operator's arm and the floor.

It is also proposed that the walker has an adjustment device for adjusting the end of the travel of the spring. This allows a high degree of flexibility in the application of the walker can be achieved, with a value can be adjusted by means of which a certain, in particular prescribed by the doctor relief of a lower limb of an operator can be signaled. It can also be advantageously achieved a stepwise variation of a discharge of the damaged lower limb in the course of a healing process of this lower limb.

Advantageously, the adjustment device is provided to set a maximum travel of the spring. It can be achieved by a particularly simple embodiment and / or operation of the adjustment, since the adjustment of the signaled path can be done in a mechanical manner.

In a preferred embodiment, upon reaching the value, a stable connection is established between an operator leaning on the support and the floor. It can thereby signal the value by a sense of stability of the operator. A "stable connection" is to be understood in particular a connection which is achieved by means of a fixed support device, in particular a support device whose length is fixed. In attaining the value corresponding to a certain load of the support device with a part of the body weight of the operator, the operator, who can feel a stable connection with the ground, can confidently shift the remainder of his body weight to a damaged lower extremity. In this case, an increased slip resistance can be achieved.

The signaling device is advantageously further developed in that it is intended to signal that the value has been reached by a tactile signaling. By a tactile signal, e.g. a vibration, a slight impact or an impact or a slight click which the operator, e.g. in his hand and / or in his forearm, he can be particularly effectively informed about the achievement of the value. This is particularly advantageous for use in eyesight and / or hearing impaired operators. Alternatively and / or additionally, the signaling device can be provided to acoustically signal that the value has been reached.

A further embodiment provides that the walker comprises a setting unit, which is provided to a bias to adjust the spring. As a result, increased ease of use, especially for operators with high body weight, can be achieved by short spring travel can be achieved at high loads on the support device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the walker comprises a setting unit for adjusting a force associated with the end of the spring travel, acting on the support device with a constant maximum travel or end of the spring travel. The walking aid can be easily adapted to a weight or a desired load without the value of the force parameter, e.g. the suspension travel value is changed. Even with large desired relief of the patient or burdens of the walker can thus be maintained a usual spring travel value.

By a damping means for damping a stop on the stop a hard and unpleasant signaling can be avoided.

If the walker has a means for rigidly bridging the spring travel, then the walker can easily travel without signaling, e.g. without travel, used. Here, the two components are advantageously rigidly coupled together.

Another application of the walker can be achieved if the spring has at least two spring elements with different spring constant. A spring element can be designed with a small spring constant designed for small reliefs and the other for large reliefs be, whereby a high dynamics of the signaling device can be achieved.

It is also proposed that the walker comprises a setting unit, which is intended to set a spring rate of the spring. Thereby, a hardness of the spring can be adjusted, e.g. adapted to a body weight of an operator. In particular, when using an air spring, this adjustment can be easily achieved by adjusting an air pressure.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the walker on a damping unit, which is intended to delay a relaxation of the spring. This allows a high ease of use of the walker can be achieved by a recorded energy in the spring can be delivered with delay. This can e.g. be realized by a targeted friction in the relaxation of the spring or a conversion of this energy in the form of heat.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the walking aid can be used without additional design as a training device, for example as an expander or the like. This can be signaled by, for example, a stop an upper limit for an allowable load of an arm or wrist joint. Also advantageous is the use of the support device in walking aids, such as sticks for "Nordic Walking" to achieve a targeted relief of the legs by supporting one or both arms.

drawing

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

einen Patienten, der sich auf zwei Krücken stützt und gerade ein beschädigtes Bein belastet,

Fig. 2

eine der Krücken aus Figur 1 mit einer Torsi-onsfeder und einem Anschlag,

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht der Krücke aus Figur 2,

Fig. 4

eine Krücke mit einer einstellbaren Federvor-spannung,

Fig. 5

eine Krücke mit einer Luftfeder,

Fig. 6

einen Ausschnitt einer Krücke mit einer verdeckten Einstellung,

Fig. 7

einen Ausschnitt einer anderen Krücke mit einer kontinuierlichen Einstellung von unten,

Fig. 8

einen Ausschnitt einer weiteren Krücke mit einer einstellbaren Vorspannung und

Fig. 9

eine Krücke mit optischen und taktilen Signalisiervorrichtungen.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a patient who is leaning on two crutches and is straining a damaged leg,

Fig. 2

one of the crutches of Figure 1 with a Torsi-onsfeder and a stop,

Fig. 3

a detail view of the crutch of Figure 2,

Fig. 4

a crutch with an adjustable spring preload,

Fig. 5

a crutch with an air spring,

Fig. 6

a section of a crutch with a hidden setting,

Fig. 7

a section of another crutch with a continuous adjustment from below,

Fig. 8

a section of another crutch with an adjustable preload and

Fig. 9

a crutch with optical and tactile signaling devices.

Description of the embodiments

The invention is based on a combination of human sensors and a mechanical device and can therefore be regarded, inter alia, as a "man-machine system". This consists of an operator 36 with a partially loadable leg 44 and sensory perception in the hands / arms and walker comprising two crutched support devices 10a. The example considered in FIGS. 1 and 2 is based on the following assumptions: the body weight of the patient or operator 36 is 70 kg and for optimal healing of his injured leg 44 a maximum load of the leg 44 of 10 kg was set by a physician. In order to achieve the most accurate possible loading of the damaged leg 44 of 10 kg, the two support devices 10a must be charged with a total of 60 kg. With a uniform distribution so each support device 10a is charged with 30 kg.

FIG. 2 shows the supporting device 10a from FIG. 1 configured as a crutch. It has a first component 28a which comprises a piece 46 with a handle 48, an intermediate piece 50 with holes 52 for adjusting the height of the crutch and a tube 54 welded to the intermediate piece 50 , Furthermore, the supporting device 10a has a second component 30a, which comprises holes 56. In one of the holes 56 a designed as a stop limiting device 32a is arranged. The second component 30a is movable relative to the first component 28a, the relative movement being guided in the tube 54 of the first component 28a. In this tube 54 designed as a helical spring spring 26 is arranged, which at the intermediate piece 50 and abuts against the second component 30a. The spring 26 is slightly biased in the tube 54.

When the operator 36 is supported on the support device 10a, a force acting on the handle 48 sets the first component 28a in motion. In this case, the tube 54 slides around the second component 30a, and the spring 26 is tensioned by a spring travel x until the tube 54 abuts against the limiting device 32a designed as a bracket and used as a stop. The stop thus forms a preset end of the spring travel x and in this striking the spring 26 is tensioned by a maximum spring travel X. This maximum travel X corresponds to the desired load of the support device 10a, namely 30 kg. The maximum spring travel X is adjustable by means of an adjusting device 34a, which is formed by the holes 56 of the second component 30a. By adjusting the limiting device 32a into a lower or upper hole 56, a longer or shorter maximum spring travel X can be set in order to achieve a greater or lower load on the supporting device 10a.

When the supporting device 10a is loaded by only a few kg, the operator 36 feels an insecure, "spongy" feeling in the arms, which disappears only when, under a load of 30 kg, the limiting device 32a is struck by the tube 54 and the hands in the Walker find a stable support. When this stable point is reached, the operator 36 can safely move the remainder of his weight (in this example 10 kg) onto the damaged leg 44. The operator 36 senses the impact of the tube 54 on the second component 30a in his or her forearm, and this impact can therefore be regarded as a tactile signaling upon reaching the desired maximum spring travel X. The limiting device 32a designed as a stop and the first component 28a form a signaling device 20 in this context.

Figure 3 shows the second component 30a of the support device 10a, which is rotated by 90 ° with respect to its representation in Figure 2. In order to prevent the second component 30a from falling out of the tube 54, a retaining device 33 designed as a locking pin and shown in FIG. 2 is provided. This moves together with the tube 54 and is movable in a slot 58 of the second member 30a. For each hole 56 of the adjusting device 34a, a size in kg is indicated, which corresponds to the load of the supporting device 10a with respect to the maximum spring travel X. If, as the healing progresses, a 10 kg higher load is prescribed by the physician, the limitation on both support devices 10a is reduced by 5 kg each. The resulting extension of the crutch can be compensated by an adjustment by means of the holes 52 for adjusting the height of the crutch.

Figures 4 - 9 show further support devices 10b - g, wherein the same or identically acting components are basically provided with the same reference numerals. Furthermore, with regard to features and functions that remain the same, reference may be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1-3. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences from the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 4 shows a part of a further support device 10b designed as a crutch, which comprises a spring 26 designed as a helical spring and an adjusting unit 38b designed as an adjusting ring. By means of this adjustment unit 38b, the bias of the spring 26 can be adjusted, by turning an adjusting ring. By adjusting the bias can be realized with a certain maximum travel X multiple loads of the support device 10b, which expediently pay attention to a low bias to avoid misinterpretation of the "solid support" by the patient. Furthermore, the support device 10b has a first component 28b and a second component 30b, which comprises a plurality of holes 56, on which a load in kg is indicated for different setting stages of the bias of the spring 26. In this case, a setting stage correspond to a plurality of rotations of the adjusting ring. In addition, the support device 10b has a damping unit 42 designed as a valve unit, by means of which a relaxation of the spring 26 can be delayed.

FIG. 5 shows a part of another supporting device 10c designed as a crutch with a first component 28c, a second component 30c and a spring 26 designed as an air spring. In order to adjust the hardness of the spring 26, an adjustment unit 38c is provided which adjusts the air pressure allowed within the spring 26. This is done by removing a flap 60 and connecting an air pump to an air duct 62.

FIG. 6 shows a further supporting device 10d with a first component 28d and a second component 30d. The first Component 28d comprises an intermediate piece 50 with holes 52 for the usual height adjustment and an adjusting device 34d, with which a maximum spring travel X of a spring 26 is adjustable in stages. A bolt 39 which is held with a spring tab 40 on a tube 41 of the first member 28d, this is simultaneously part of the adjusting device 34d and a limiting device 32d, which also includes a stop 43 with a designed as a rubber buffer damping means 45. The stopper 43 is fixedly connected by a further pin 37 to a tube 35 of the second component 30d, wherein the pin 37 is held in a bore in the stop 43 and guided through a slot in the tube 41 through the tube 41.

When loading the support device 10d, the first component 28d is moved against the spring 26 down to the second component 30d until the bolt 39 abuts against the stop 43 and its damping means 45 and the operator the desired force on the support device 10d or the desired value of travel x soft enough, but still clearly signaled. For rigid bridging of the spring travel x, the bolt 39 can be inserted into the lowest hole of the limiting device 32d, whereby it rests directly on the damping means 45 and the spring 26 can not be compressed. Here, the two components 20d, 30d are rigidly connected to each other, whereby a normal-acting crutch can be produced.

Another support device 10e with a first component 28e and a second component 30e is shown in FIG. Here, an adjusting device 34e has a threaded rod which is at the same time part of a limiting device 32e with a damping means 45. A spring travel x is limited by the striking of the damping means 45 to the threaded rod, which is held in a part 47 with an internal thread and is infinitely adjustable therein. As with the support device 10d, a bolt 37 in a slot of a pipe 41 ensures that the second component 30e does not fall out of the first component 28e.

FIG. 8 shows a further supporting device 10f with a first component 28f and a second component 30f. Here limits a limiting device 32f the spring travel x so that a maximum travel X or desired value of the spring travel x is unjustifiable. By adjusting unit 38f with a guided in a part 47 threaded rod, however, the bias of a spring 26 can be adjusted continuously. As a result, a desired force of the first component 28f assigned to the maximum spring travel Xf can be set to the second component 30f with the same maximum spring deflection X, so that a desired load on a leg 44 of the operator 36 can be set as described above.

To achieve a high degree of dynamics, instead of the single spring element shown in FIG. 8, the spring 26 may comprise two spring elements each having different spring constants, namely a thin helical spring and a thicker helical spring. When setting a hard bias, so a large discharge of the leg 44 of the operator 36, the thinner coil spring can be completely compressed, so that only the thicker coil spring is used and determined by their hard tension the force value associated with the maximum travel.

It is also possible to use one or more spring elements with non-linear characteristic instead of the two spring elements. Furthermore, the spring 26 can generally have a plurality of spring elements arranged in series or in parallel. This pressure or tension springs can be used. All of this, of course, applies quite generally to the invention and to all the embodiments discussed.

FIG. 9 shows a further, crutch-shaped supporting device 10g with two signaling devices 22 and 24, wherein the signaling device 22 is formed by an LED indicator and the signaling device 24 by a tactile signaling unit. A pressure sensor unit 64 comprises a piezoelectric element, not shown in the figure, by means of which a voltage can be detected which forms a force parameter for a force acting on the support device 10g. This force is displayed by means of the signaling device 22 in an output form which can be easily understood by an operator 36, in the form of a numerical variable in kg. In addition, when the tension reaches a limit corresponding to a desired load on the support 10g, the operator 36 may feel a slight impact from the signaling device 24 in his hand holding a handle 66.

reference numeral

10a-g

support device

20

SIGNALING

22

contraption

24

26

feather

28a-f

first component

30a-f

second component

32a,

boundary

d, e

contraption

33

holder

34a,

adjustment

d, e

35

pipe

36

operator

37

bolt

38b,

adjustment

c, f

39

bolt

40

spring shackle

41

pipe

42

damping unit

43

attack

44

leg

45

damping means

46

piece

47

part

48

handle

50

connecting piece

52

hole

54

pipe

56

hole

58

Long hole

60

flap

62

air duct

64

Pressure sensor unit

66

handle

x, X,

travel

Claims (10)

Walking aid having at least one supporting device (10a-g), in particular a crutch, characterized by a signaling device (20, 22, 24) designed as a stop, which is provided to signal one end of a spring travel (x), the spring travel (x ) depends on a force acting on the support device (10a-g). Walking aid according to claim 1,
characterized in that the support device (10a-g) comprises a first component (28a-f), a second component (30a-f) and a spring (26), which upon relative movement of the components (28a-f, 30a-a) f) is tensioned by the spring travel (x), which depends on a force acting on the second component (30a-f) from the first component (28a-f), and the stop (43) for limiting the relative movement of the two Components (28a-f, 30a-f) is provided to each other. Walking aid according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized by adjusting means (34a, 34d, 34e) for adjusting the end (X) of the spring travel (x) of the spring (26). Walking aid according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized by an adjustment unit (38b, 38f) adapted to adjust a bias of the spring (26). Walking aid according to one of claims 2 to 4,
characterized by a damping means (45) for damping a stop on the stop (43). Walking aid according to one of claims 2 to 5,
characterized by a means for rigidly bridging the spring travel (x). Walking aid according to one of claims 2 to 6,
characterized by an adjustment unit (38c) adapted to adjust a spring rate of the spring (26). Walking aid according to one of claims 2 to 7,
characterized in that the spring (26) has at least two spring elements with different spring constant. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that prior to reaching the end of the spring travel (x) the support device (10a-g) imparts an unstable, mobile feel to an operator (36) and upon reaching a stable connection between an operator (36) resting on the support device (10a-g), and the soil is created. Walking aid according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by an adjustment unit (38f) for adjusting an end of the spring travel (x) associated, on the supporting device (10f) acting force at the same maximum travel (X).

Images