FR3056397A1 - CANE ANGLAISE, FOR AID TO A PATIENT'S MARKET - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an English cane for assisting the gait of a patient, which cane comprises two tubes: a proximal tube (2) and a distal tube (3), partially fitted into said proximal tube (2) . The distal tube (3) is slidable within said proximal tube (2), so as to allow a length adjustment of said English cane (1) to the size of said patient; which English cane (1) comprises locking means (5) sliding said proximal tube (2) relative to said distal tube (3), to block said adjustment in length, The distal tube (3) has an outer surface (33). ) along the length of which is provided a length scale (7) which is adapted to assist said adjustment in length of said English rod (1).

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of walking sticks which are adapted to aid walking for patients.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

The English canes, also called "crutches" or "antebrachial support canes", constitute an essential tool for walking aid for patients who have suffered a trauma to the lower limb (propulsion aid) or even patients suffering from various paralysis or balance problems (stabilization aid).

The patient's manual support on the English cane is carried out at a support member which comprises, on the one hand, a handle pointing forward and, on the other hand, an antebrachial crutch surmounting this handle and inclined from 20 ° to 30 ° on the vertical.

To obtain optimal discharge and maximum impulse, the length adjustment of the rod can be adapted to the size of the patient.

In particular, the patient's elbow should be bent about 30 ° for the contraction of the arm muscles to be more powerful. In addition, the hand-held handle should be located approximately at the level of the patient's greater trochanter.

However, in practice, the patient (or even the medical staff) may not know the optimal parameters for such a length adjustment. This length adjustment can also be relatively tedious, requiring an empirical approach by trial and error to obtain the optimal parameters.

Object of the invention

In order to remedy the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention provides a technical solution useful to medical personnel and / or to patients, which provides simple and effective assistance when adjusting the length of English rods.

More particularly, according to the invention, an English cane is proposed, for walking aid for a patient, which English cane comprises two tubes:

- a proximal tube, one proximal end of which is fitted with a support member comprising a handle and an antebrachial crutch,

- a distal tube, partially fitted into said proximal tube, which has a free distal end intended to rest on the ground, which distal tube is capable of sliding within said proximal tube, so as to allow an adjustment in length of said English rod the size of said patient, which English rod comprises sliding locking means of said proximal tube relative to said distal tube, to block said length adjustment.

The distal tube has an outer surface over the length of which is provided a length graduation which is adapted to assist said adjustment in length of said English rod.

Such a length graduation constitutes in fact a visual cue which guides the operator in the sliding of the distal tube relative to the proximal tube. This technical characteristic thus assists the person in charge of adjusting the length of the English rod.

Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of the English cane according to the invention, taken individually or in any technically possible combination, are the following:

- In an extracted end position, the distal tube has a maximum projecting section relative to said proximal tube, and the length graduation is provided over the length of said maximum projecting section, preferably over the entire length of said maximum projecting section;

- The length graduation comprises marks which are distributed over the length of said distal tube, and numbers which are juxtaposed with respect to said marks, the respective values of which are increasing from the distal end towards the proximal end; the numbers of the length scale advantageously have values ranging from 1 to 2 (preferably 1.5 to 1.9), or a decimal multiple or a decimal submultiple of said values; preferably, the distance between two marks is 0.5 to 3 cm, preferably 1 or 2.5 cm, and the value of the numbers between two successive marks is incremented by a value ranging from 0.02 to 0, 05 (for example 0.02 or 0.05), or where appropriate a decimal multiple or a decimal submultiple of said values;

- The proximal tube has a length ranging from 75 to 90 cm, and the distal tube has a length ranging from 55 to 65 cm;

- the length scale, formed on the outer surface of the distal tube, is formed by ink.

The invention also provides a method for adjusting the length of an English rod according to the invention, comprising the following successive steps:

- collecting the patient's height,

- the length adjustment of the English rod, taking into account the length graduation provided on the distal tube.

Preferably, the length adjustment is obtained by slidingly adjusting the distal tube in the proximal tube, so that the desired mark, the number of which corresponds to the size of the patient, is positioned at the distal end of said proximal tube .

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 shows, in general, an English cane according to the invention for walking aid for a patient, accompanied by a partial and enlarged view of its proximal tube, its distal tube and means of clip-on pin lock;

- Figure 2 is a partial view of the English rod according to Figure 1, showing its support member in an enlarged manner and in perspective;

- Figures 3 to 5 are still partial views of the English rod according to Figure 1, showing the maximum protruding section of its distal tube whose outer surface is provided with the length graduation adapted to assist the adjustment in length of the rod English.

English cane

The English cane 1, shown in Figures 1 to 5, is a walking aid for patients.

The English rod 1 consists of a telescopic tubular structure. For this, this English rod 1 comprises two tubes 2, 3, advantageously made of metal, which are fitted one inside the other and capable of sliding relative to one another.

This English rod 1 thus comprises:

- a proximal tube 2, intended to be located on the side of the patient's hand, and

- a distal tube 3, intended to be located on the ground side.

The proximal tube 2 has two ends:

a proximal end 21 equipped with a support member 4 for the patient, and

- a distal end 22, through which the distal tube 3 is fitted.

The support member 4 is advantageously made in one piece, made of plastic material.

This support member 4 has two parts:

a handle 41, pointing forwards and oriented approximately at right angles to the tubes 2, 3, and

- an antebrachial crutch 42 which surmounts the handle 41 and which is inclined to the vertical (for example of the order of 20 ° to 30 °).

The distal tube 3, partially fitted into the proximal tube 2, also has two ends:

- a proximal end (not visible), located within the proximal tube 2,

- a free distal end 31, equipped with a tip 32 intended to come to bear on the ground.

This distal tube 3 also has an outer surface 33 which is cylindrical in shape (Figures 3 to 5). The diameter of this outer surface 33 corresponds, apart from the clearance, to the diameter of the inner surface 23 (FIG. 1) of the proximal tube 2.

The distal tube 3 is able to slide within the proximal tube 2, so as to allow an adjustment in length of the English rod 1 according to the size of the patient.

This distal tube 3 is able to slide within the proximal tube 2 between two end-of-travel positions:

an extracted end position (FIGS. 3 to 5), in which the distal tube 3 has a maximum projecting section 3a relative to said proximal tube 2, and

- a retracted end position (Figure 1), in which the distal tube 3 is retracted into the proximal tube 2.

In the abovementioned extracted end position, the maximum projecting section 3a thus corresponds to the portion of distal tube 3 which extends between the free distal end 31 of this distal tube 3 and the distal end 22 of the proximal tube 2 .

Still in this extracted end position, the distal tube 3 retains a second section (not shown) which is retracted within the proximal tube 2.

The English rod 1 also comprises locking means 5 (shown very diagrammatically in the figures) which allow sliding locking of the proximal tube 2 relative to the distal tube 3.

The locking means 5 are provided for blocking / locking the length adjustment of the English rod 1, said length adjustment having been previously adjusted / adjusted by the medical personnel and / or the patient.

These locking means 5 advantageously allow a locking of the step-by-step type (for example each 1 to 3 cm) or a continuous locking.

Such locking means 5 are for example very schematically and partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

These locking means 5 comprise, for example, through holes 51, 52, regularly distributed and spaced along the length of the proximal tube 2 and / or the distal tube 3.

In this case, the proximal tube 2 has several through holes 51 (for example from 5 to 10) which are spaced by a distance L1 (at center distance) advantageously ranging from 2 to 6 cm; the distal tube 3 has several through holes 52 (for example 2) which are spaced by a distance L2 (at center distance) advantageously ranging from 1 to 3 cm.

The distances L1 and L2 then define the value of the step during the sliding adjustment.

For example, the through holes 51 of the proximal tube 2 are spaced 5 cm apart; the through holes 52 of the distal tube 3 are spaced 2.5 cm apart. This distribution allows adjustment in sliding according to a pitch of 2.5 cm.

The locking means 5 also comprise a clip-on pin (FIG. 1) which is intended to be attached within these through orifices 51, 52 so as to index the length adjustment carried out by the medical personnel and / or the patient.

In this case, this clip-on pin 55 has two parts:

a rod 551, intended to be introduced through two through orifices 51, 52 arranged coaxially to ensure the locking in sliding of the English rod 1, and

- an open ring 552, in the general shape of C, intended to be fitted by elastic deformation (clipping) around the proximal tube 2 so as to assemble and maintain the clipable pin 55 on the English rod 1.

The English rod 1 according to the invention also comprises means adapted to assist its length adjustment to the size of the patient.

To this end, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer surface 33 of the distal tube 3 has, arranged along its length, a length graduation 7.

In this case, the length graduation 7 is provided over the length of its maximum projecting section 3a, preferably over the entire length of this maximum projecting section 3a.

This graduation of length 7, formed on the outer surface of the distal tube 3, is formed by ink.

The length graduation 7 advantageously comprises two parts:

marks 71 which are distributed over the length of the distal tube 3, and

- numbers 72 which are juxtaposed with respect to these references 71.

By "benchmarks" is meant advantageously lines which are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the distal tube 3 (Figures 3 to 5).

The marks 71 can be regularly spaced by a constant distance E (Figures 3 to 5). These marks 71 can also be separated by a distance E which varies over the length of the distal tube 3.

For example, the distance E between two marks 71 is advantageously from 0.5 to 3 cm, preferably from 1 to 2.5 cm.

One or more of these references 71 are associated with “numbers” 72.

The numbers 72 have increasing values along the length of the distal tube 3, from the distal end 31 to the proximal end (not shown).

In other words, the values increase from the free distal end 31 of this distal tube 3 to the distal end 22 of the proximal tube 2.

The numbers 72 are advantageously representative of the size of the patient intended to use the English cane 1. These numbers 72 are then advantageously chosen from multiples and sub-multiples of the meter (m, dm, cm, mm in particular).

In this regard, the numbers 72 then advantageously have values ranging from 1 to 2, preferably 1.5 and 1.9.

The values of these numbers 72 can also be chosen from:

- a decimal multiple of the domain 1 to 2, namely for example 100 to 200, preferably 150 to 190, or

- a decimal submultiple of the domain 1 to 2, namely for example 0.1 to 0.2, or even 0.15 to 0.19.

According to a particular embodiment, the length graduation 7 uses a particular scale for a sliding adjustment in a step of 1 cm:

the distance E between two marks 71 is preferably of the order of 1 cm, and

- the values of the numbers 72 between two successive marks 71 are incremented by 0.02, or if necessary by a decimal multiple (for example an increment of 2 for a domain ranging for example from 150 to 190) or even a submultiple decimal.

In other words, the scale of the length scale 7 is adjusted so that 1 cm on the length scale 7 corresponds to 2 cm for the patient's height.

In this particular embodiment, the maximum projecting section 3a advantageously has:

- a length of 30 cm to 35 cm,

- markers 71 spaced 1 cm apart, and

- numbers 72 whose values have an increment of 2 for a range from 150 to 190.

According to another particular embodiment, the length graduation 7 uses a particular scale for a sliding adjustment according to a pitch of

2.5 cm:

the distance E between two marks 71 is preferably of the order of 2.5 cm, and

- the values of the numbers 72 between two successive marks 71 are incremented by 0.05, or if necessary by a decimal multiple (for example an increment of 5 for a domain ranging for example from 150 to 190) or even a submultiple decimal.

In other words, the scale of the length scale 7 is adjusted so that 2.5 cm on the length scale 7 corresponds to 5 cm for the patient's height.

In this particular embodiment, the maximum projecting section 3a advantageously has:

- a length of 30 cm to 35 cm,

- markers 71 spaced 2.5 cm apart, and

- numbers 72 whose values have an increment of 5 for a domain ranging from 150 to 190.

In general, the proximal tube 2 advantageously has a length of 75 to 90 cm; the distal tube 3 advantageously has a length ranging from 55 to 65 cm.

English cane adjustment process

The length adjustment of the English rod 1 advantageously comprises the following successive steps:

- collecting the patient's height,

- the length adjustment of the English rod 1, taking into account the length graduation 7 formed on the distal tube 3.

In this case, the length adjustment is advantageously obtained by slidingly adjusting the distal tube 3 in the proximal tube 2, so that the reference 71 sought (whose associated number 72 corresponds to the size of the patient) is positioned at the level from the distal end 22 of the proximal tube 2.

For example, if the patient measures 170 cm, the English rod 1 will be adjusted so that the reference 71 associated with the number 72 of value "170" comes to be positioned at the distal end 22 of the proximal tube 2.

Once properly adjusted, the locking means 5 are activated to lock the proximal tube 2 slidingly relative to the distal tube 3 and to block the length adjustment of the English rod 1.

The length graduation 7 thus allows a first "standard" length adjustment of the English rod 1.

After fitting and to take into account the physiognomy of the patient, this 5 length adjustment can be further refined on either side of this "standard" length adjustment.

The English cane according to the invention can thus be adjusted without difficulty, intuitively and ergonomically by a single patient.

Its design also allows medical personnel to make this length adjustment more simply and quickly, in particular from the above-mentioned "standard" length adjustment.

Claims (9)

1. English cane, for a patient's walking aid, which English cane includes two tubes: - a proximal tube (2), one proximal end (21) of which is fitted with a support member (4) comprising a handle (41) and an antebrachial crutch (42), a distal tube (3), partially fitted into said proximal tube (2), which has a free distal end intended to rest on the ground, which distal tube (3) is capable of sliding within said proximal tube (2), so as to allow a length adjustment of said English rod (1) to the size of said patient, which English rod (1) comprises locking means (5) in sliding of said proximal tube (2) relative to said distal tube (3 ), to block said length adjustment, characterized in that said distal tube (3) has an outer surface (33) along the length of which is provided a length scale (7) which is adapted to assist said length adjustment by said English cane (1). 2. English rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, in an extracted end position, the distal tube (3) has a maximum projecting section (3a) relative to said proximal tube (2), and in that the length graduation (7) is provided over the length of said maximum projecting section (3a), preferably over the entire length of said maximum projecting section (3a). 3. English rod according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the length graduation (7) comprises: - marks (71) which are distributed over the length of said distal tube (3), and - Numbers (72) which are juxtaposed with respect to said marks (71), the respective values of which are increasing from the distal end (31) towards the proximal end. 4. English rod according to claim 3, characterized in that the numbers (72) of the length scale (7) have values ranging from 1 to 2, or a decimal multiple or a decimal submultiple of said values. 5. English cane according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance (E) between two marks (71) is 0.5 to 3 cm, and in that the value of the numbers (72) between two marks (71) successive is incremented by a value ranging from 0.02 to 0.05, or where appropriate a decimal multiple or a decimal submultiple of said values. 6. English rod according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 5 characterized in that the proximal tube (2) has a length ranging from 75 to 90 cm, and in that the distal tube (3) has a length ranging from 55 to 65 cm. 7. English rod according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the length scale (7) formed on the outer surface (33) of the distal tube (3), is formed by ink. 10 8. Method for adjusting the length of an English rod (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following successive steps: - collecting the patient's height, - the length adjustment of the English rod (1), taking into account the 15 length scale (7) provided on the distal tube (3). 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the length adjustment is obtained by slidingly adjusting the distal tube (3) in the proximal tube (2), so that the mark sought, the number of which corresponds to the size of the patient, is positioned at the distal end (22) of said tube 20 proximal (2). 1/2 2/2