EP2750653B1 - Therapeutic walking trainer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a therapeutic walk trainer for improving the walking ability, in particular for re-learning of walking, with a torsion-limiting body receiving and forward supporting upper hanger and a connected thereto by means of at least one support rod, a number of rollers having lower bracket.

The invention also relates to a combination of a therapeutic walk trainer with a motor-free treadmill.

A gait trainer is out of the WO 2008/145669 A1 known. This has an elaborate holding device, the advantage is that it is designed torsofrei. The pendulum movement of the body when walking is not restricted in the area of the torso. This gait trainer also supports forward, which prevents a fall in the direction of walking. A healthy person would like this fall by simply appearing One of their two feet to compensate for the front, which does not succeed in a limited person in their walking ability in most cases. The disadvantage, however, is that it takes a very long time to fix the person to be treated on this gait trainer until the actual training operation can be started. In addition, it is necessary in the gait trainer that the person to be treated has already re-learned a little of their walking ability to get out of the place with this gait trainer.

From the DE 20 2008 008 347 U1 a walk trainer of the type mentioned is known in which on the U-shaped lower bracket centrally on the lower bracket strut an inelastic support rod is arranged. This is circular tilted on all sides for direction and speed control.

It is an object of the invention to provide a therapeutic walk trainer of the type mentioned, which is stable and easily accessible and which ensures easy re-learning or improvement of walking ability.

Moreover, it is the object of the invention to provide a combination of a therapeutic walk trainer with a motor-free treadmill, which is a space-saving training session for a person to be treated.

The task concerning the gait trainer is achieved in a gait trainer of the type mentioned above in that two support rods are provided with an elastic lower part, that the support rods are connected with their elastic lower part with the U-shaped lower bracket, that the upper hanger has a cross member on The two armrests are slidable to laterally limit the hip of the patient the upper hanger is associated with at least one belt support for a fastened at the hip of the patient belt system, and that the number of rollers to compensate for acting on the vertical axis torque is at least four, of which at least one, preferably exactly two of the rollers formed as drivable rollers is. This has the advantage that a tilting of the exercise trainer is prevented, wherein the person to be treated is stopped by the drivable rollers to follow the locomotion of the walking trainer, whereby a particularly effective walking training is created. The elastic lower part protects the person exercising from shocks due to uneven ground. In addition, this elastic lower part can serve to push the exercising person in a tilting in an upright position. Since the lower bracket is U-shaped with a provided at the front end Unterbügelstrebe access to the gait trainer for a person to be treated is facilitated. In addition, the lower stirrup can have a greater weight in order to reduce the center of gravity of the total exercise. In order to provide additional security and support for the person to be treated, the upper hanger has two armrests.

In the context of the invention, it has proven to be preferred when the drivable rollers each by means of a control, a transmission and a rotary encoder having motor, preferably an electric motor can be driven. A different regulation of the drivable rollers ensures that the gait trainer maintains its stability even when driving around the bend, wherein the curve on the outer roller performs a faster movement than the more internal role. With two driven rollers, two controls are thus present, which regulates the respective roller speed. It makes sense if a so-called master control panel is present, which is preferably formed as a terminal, the
preferably synchronizes the two controllers by means of a serial transmission protocol.

It is also preferred if the drivable rollers can be regulated via a central control. This allows a single central control to control both drivable rollers in their speed, the central control having to have a high clock rate and a large memory in order to process the roller speed related feedback signals can.

It is also useful if at least one shutdown device stopping the drivable rollers when driving onto an obstacle is provided. This ensures that the walk trainer stops if he encounters an obstacle, such as a wall.

It is particularly preferred if the shutdown device is provided on a receptacle for the rollers, and if it can be activated by the adjustment of a floating mounted cap. This ensures that when adjusting the cap, a switch of the shut-off device is actuated, which interrupts the power supply of the drivable rollers. The switch can be designed electrically or mechanically in known for a person skilled in the art. Also, a therapist can now, by simply tapping against the cap, a shutdown and thus cause the walk trainer. Of course, one of the shutdown devices may be provided on each of the receptacles for the rollers, it being understood that it is also possible that only on selected recordings for the rollers a shutdown device is provided.

Another possibility to realize a stop function is in the DE 11 2006 002 246 T5 disclosed. It is also possible that the gait trainer has optical instruments that allow him to see a line on the floor, which he can follow automatically.

It is also useful if a lower pair of rollers formed from the drivable rollers is positioned between a drive-free first pair of rollers and a drive-free third pair of rollers on the lower bracket. This ensures that when starting the drivable rollers of the walk trainer can not tilt counter to the direction of travel, since it is supported by the first pair of rollers or the third pair of rollers. This also compensates for a torque acting on the vertical axis.

It has proved to be preferable if the first pair of rollers and / or the third pair of rollers are steerable, and if the second pair of rollers is rigidly mounted. As a result, the walk trainer is steerable as a whole, wherein the direction can be predetermined by the second rigidly mounted roller pair by driving the left or right roller of the walk trainer to different degrees.

It is useful if the lower bracket has a footprint forming free space, which is preferably provided axially below the upper bracket. This creates the necessary freedom of movement for a person to be treated, which is in the advanced training stage. This can now take larger steps without touching the lower bar.

In order to increase the stability of the person to be treated, it is favorable if the drivable rollers are provided in the vicinity of the ankle to a person to be treated.

An embodiment of the therapeutic walking trainer according to the invention is characterized. The upper hanger is associated with a belt support for a fastened to the hip of a patient belt system. This belt system consists of a lap belt, which is fastened in the area of the upper hanger with a lap belt coupling. The lap belt is constructed in such a way that it covers the pelvis and has leg loops for securing against vertical slipping. As a result, a pelvic stabilization is created, which comprises the pelvic region of the person to be treated and which allows it to sit in the holding device formed thereby, this holding device being no hindrance to the person during walking. Pelvic stabilization prevents the person being treated from falling during gait training. Preferably, the pelvic stabilization in forward and backward direction can be attached to the person.

It is also advantageous if the two support rods are formed having two degrees of freedom inclining. As a result, the difficulty of training with the therapeutic exercise trainer is increased, so he also requirements for in an advanced stage of training to be treated persons
does justice. This type of support rods is for example from the EP 1 305 087 B1 to which reference is made at this point and which is expressly intended to be part of this disclosure.

In order to be able to use the therapeutic walking trainer for persons in every training stage, it makes sense to provide a degree of freedom of the support rods releasing or blocking balance lever on the upper bar, preferably by a deflection of 0 degrees to 45 degrees in deflection stages or continuously feasible.

To protect the person exercising, it has proven to be preferable that the lower bracket has means for securing against pinching a person's foot, which protect him against bruising in the foot area in particular when reversing the walk trainer.

It is also advantageous if the support rods each have at least one adjustment device for adjusting the gait trainer height. As a result, the walk trainer can be used by people of different sizes.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the opening width of the lower bracket corresponds at least to the width of a wheelchair. This makes it easier for a wheelchair user, who would like to improve his walking ability or to relearn the walking, to get into the walk trainer. For this purpose, the support rods each have a perpendicular to this projecting support rod assigned to the wheelchair user can move into the gait trainer.

The task relating to the combination is achieved in a combination of a therapeutic walk trainer with a motor-free treadmill, that a connection device acting between the gait trainer and the treadmill is provided. As a result, when exercising a person to be treated, the therapeutic walk trainer does not have to move from one place to another to achieve the desired training effect.

It has proven to be useful if a ramp driving the driving coach is provided. This can be used in the combination of a walk trainer, as it was explained in the previous sections.

In order not to have to drive the treadmill exclusively by the steps of the person to be treated, it has proved to be particularly preferred when the treadmill is driven by means of a motor driven drivable rollers of the exercise trainer.

A preferred embodiment of the combination is characterized in that the connecting device is formed from a spring loaded with a locking pin receiving jaw and an insertable into this one-sided open bolt receiving coupling piece, that on the locking pin circumferentially a locking member and the bolt receptacle with a locking member corresponding latching receptacle is formed, and that preferably the coupling piece is associated with the walk trainer and the receiving mouth of the treadmill. This creates a secure and easy to connect or to be solved connection between the treadmill and the walk trainer.

Fig. 1

eine Perspektivansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Gehtrainers,

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht eines Teils des Unterbügels, und

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Kombination.

In the following the invention is explained in detail in exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing; show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the inventive walk trainer,

Fig. 2

a detail view of a part of the lower bracket, and

Fig. 3

a side view of a combination according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 is a therapeutic walk trainer 1 for improving the walking ability, in particular for re-learning the walking, with a torsionsbeschränkende, in particular a torso-free body shot 2 having and forward supporting upper bar 3 and a connected thereto by means of two support rods 4, a number of rollers 5 having lower bracket 6 shown. The number of rollers 5 to compensate for acting on the vertical axis torque is six in the illustrated embodiment, of which exactly two of the rollers 5 are formed as drivable rollers 32. The support rods 4 are connected via an elastic lower part 20 with the lower bracket 6.

The drivable rollers 32 are each driven by means of a controller 7, a transmission 8 and a rotary encoder 9 having electric motor. The rotary encoder 9 of the embodiment is formed as a magnetic encoder 9, whereby the use of other rotary encoder 9 such as an optical incremental pulse generator or a direction sensor is possible. Likewise, a speed determination can also take place via a measurement of the actual motor voltage of the electric motor. In the controller 7, a 4-quadrant or H-circuit for directional specification of the motors 10 is provided. It can be through this H-circuit for each the two drivable rollers realize a braked forward run, an accelerated forward run, a braked reverse run and an accelerated reverse run, wherein the current is proportional to the torque of the electric motor. When starting or stopping the therapeutic walk trainer 1, it makes sense if the motor 10 does not start directly at full speed, or reduces it to zero. To avoid this jerky start and stop so-called measured by the encoder 9 speed ramps are driven by the motor 10, which accelerate the gait trainer 1 gently.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a second pair of rollers 11 formed by the drivable rollers 32 is positioned on the lower bracket 6 between a drive-free first pair of rollers 12 and a drive-free third pair of rollers 13. Here, the first pair of rollers 12 and the third roller pair 13 is steerable and the second roller pair 11 is rigidly mounted. The first pair of rollers 12 and the third pair of rollers 13 have, in a conventional manner, a tab 28 for detecting them. In addition, a receptacle 30 for the rollers 5 can be seen, on which a stop when driving on an obstacle, the drivable rollers 32 stopping device is provided which can be activated by the adjustment of a floating cap 33. In the embodiment shown, the cap 33 can be moved horizontally and actuated when displaced a switch, whereby the walk trainer 1 is stopped.

The lower bracket 6 of the therapeutic walk trainer 1 is formed in a U-shape with a lower bracket strut 14 provided at the front end. The lower bracket 6 has a free space 15 forming a walking surface, which is provided axially below the upper bracket 3. In addition, the lower bracket 6, a means 21 for securing against pinching a person's foot provided, which is formed here as a fuse strip 29. Overall, the lower bracket 6 is positioned very close to the ground, so that pinching a person's foot is difficult, and that a low center of gravity of the walk trainer 1 is achieved. In this case, however, it is also possible that the lower bracket 6 is arranged in a position spaced far from the ground, whereby a pinching of the patient's foot is also excluded. The opening width of the lower bracket 6 corresponds more than the width of a standard wheelchair and the support rods 4 each have an adjustment device 22 for adjusting the gait trainer height.

On the upper bar 3 exactly two armrests 16 and a handle 17 are arranged, wherein the upper bar 3 has exactly two transverse struts 18. Of course, this walking coach 1 can also manage with only one transverse strut 18. Also, the armrests 16 may be formed in the form of a support table. The two armrests 16 are displaceable along the two transverse struts 18, so that persons of different widths can use the therapeutic walking coach 1. The armrests 16 shown here can be applied close to the body in a patient to be treated and also serve as lateral boundaries for the hip of the patient, whereby this is supported efficiently. Furthermore, the upper bar 3 is assigned a belt receptacle for a fastened to the hip of a patient belt system, wherein in the drawing ( Fig. 3 ) embodiment of the belt system shown consists of a lap belt 34. The lap belt 34 is connected in the region of the upper bracket 3 with a lap belt coupling 35. The lap belt is constructed so that it covers the pelvis and has leg loops 36 to protect against vertical slippage.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two support rods 4 are formed having two degrees of freedom inclining. For this purpose, a degree of freedom of the support rods 4 releasing or blocking balance lever 19 is provided on the upper bar 3.

In FIG. 2 , the detail of the lower bracket 6 of the embodiment FIG. 1 , is clearly seen the cylindrical motor 10 with the controller 7, the encoder 9 and the gear 8, which is positioned next to the support rod 4. It can be seen that the drivable rollers 32 are formed larger than the steerable drive-free rollers 5, wherein the size of the drivable roller 32 is proportional to the speed of the walk trainer 1. It is further shown that the drivable rollers 32 are provided in a standing person to be treated near the ankle.

Finally, again as the fuse bar 29 formed means 21 for securing against pinching a person's foot is shown, further, the lower bracket 6 is lowered relative to the receptacle 30 for the drive-free rollers 5 close to the ground.

In FIG. 3 a combination of a therapeutic walk trainer 1 with a motor-free treadmill 23 is shown. Between the walking coach 1 and the treadmill 23, a connecting device 24 is provided. Furthermore, a run-up of the walk trainer 1 serving ramp 25 is provided.

In the illustrated embodiment, the treadmill 23 is driven by means of a motor 10 driven drivable rollers 32 of the walk trainer 1 and the connecting device 24 is made of a loaded with a spring a locking pin having receiving mouth 26 and an insertable into this one-sided open bolt receptacle having formed coupling piece 27. On the securing bolt is peripherally a locking member and on the bolt receptacle corresponding to the locking member locking receptacle is formed. The coupling piece 27 is the walk trainer 1 and the receiving mouth 26 associated with the treadmill 23, wherein the securing bolt has a handle 31 to release the positive connection between the locking member and the locking receptacle against the pressure of the spring.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Walking trainer

2

Full Length

3

upper bracket

4

supporting rod

5

role

6

Becket

7

control

8th

transmission

9

encoders

10

engine

11

second pair of rollers

12

first pair of roles

13

third pair of roles

14

Becket strut

15

free space

16

armrest

17

grip

18

crossmember

19

balance lever

20

elastic lower part

21

Means for securing

22

adjustment

23

treadmill

24

connecting device

25

ramp

26

receiving mouth

27

coupling

28

flap

29

fuse strip

30

admission

31

handle

32

drivable roll

33

cap

34

lap

35

Beckengurtkupplung

36

leg loops

Claims (20)

1. A therapeutic gait trainer for improving the ability to walk, particularly for relearning to walk, with
   a top frame (3) having a torsion-limiting body holder (2) and providing forward support;
   a bottom frame (6) connected to the top frame (3) via at least one supporting rod (4) comprising a plurality of rollers, wherein the bottom frame (6) is made U-shaped with a bottom frame strut (14) provided on the front end, characterized in that two supporting rods (4) with an elastic bottom part (20) are provided, that the supporting rods (4) with the elastic bottom part (20) are connected with the U-shaped bottom frame (6), that the top frame (3) comprises a cross-strut (18), two arm rests (16) being movable along the cross-strut (18) for serving as lateral boundaries (1) for the patient's hip, that a belt system attachable to the hips of a patient is provided, which is connected to at least one belt receptable associated with the top frame (3) and that to compensate for a torque acting on the vertical axis, the number of rollers (5) is at least four, of which at least one, preferably precisely two of the rollers (5) are made as drivable rollers (32).
2. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the belt system is formed from a pelvic belt (34) attachable via a pelvic belt coupling (35) to the top frame (3) for encircling the pelvis with leg loops (36) for protection against vertical slipping.
3. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drivable rollers (32) are each drivable by a motor (10), preferably an electric motor having a control (7), a gear unit (8), and a rotary encoder (9).
4. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the drivable rollers (32) can be controlled via a central control.
5. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one shut-off device is provided that stops the drivable rollers (32) upon encountering an obstacle.
6. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the shut-off device is provided on a receptacle (30) for the rollers (5) and is activatable by the shifting of a float-mounted cap (33).
7. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that a second roller pair (11) formed by the drivable rollers (32) is positioned between a non-driven first roller pair (12) and a non-driven third roller pair (13) on the bottom frame (6).
8. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first roller pair (12) and/or the third roller pair (13) are steerable, and that the second roller pair (11) is mounted rigidly.
9. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottom frame (6) has a free space (15) forming a walking area and which is provided preferable axially below the top frame (3).
10. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the drivable rollers (32) are provided in the vicinity of the ankles of a standing person to be treated.
11. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that the top frame (3) has a gripping component (17).
12. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the top frame (3) has precisely two cross-struts (18).
13. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 12, characterized in that two supporting rods (4) are provided, which are formed inclinable with two degrees of freedom.
14. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that on the top frame (3) a balance lever (19) is provided which releases or blocks the degrees of freedom of the supporting rods (4) and realizes preferable an excursion from 0 degrees to 45 degrees in excursion steps or continuously.
15. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 14, characterized in that the bottom frame (6) has a device (21) for protecting a person's foot from being clamped.
16. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 15, characterized in that the supporting rods (4) each have at least one adjusting device (22) for adjusting the gait trainer height.
17. The therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 to 16, characterized in that the opening width of the bottom frame (6) corresponds at least to a width of a wheelchair.
18. A combination of the therapeutic gait trainer (1) according to claim 1 with a motor-free treadmill (23), characterized in that a connecting unit (14) acting between the gait trainer (1) and the treadmill (23) is provided, and wherein the treadmill (23) is drivable by drivable rollers (32) and movable via a motor (10)of the gait trainer (1).
19. The combination according to claim 18, characterized in that a ramp (25) for driving up the gait trainer (1) is provided.
20. The combination according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the connecting unit (24) is formed from a receiving mouth (26) having a safety bolt acted upon by a spring, and from a coupling part (27) having a bolt receiver open on one side and insertable in said mouth, a locking member is formed on the safety bolt circumferentially and a lock receiver, corresponding to the locking member, on the bolt receiver, and the coupling part (27) being associated with the gait trainer (1) and the receiving mouth (26) with the treadmill (23).

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