FR3128114A1 - Orthopedic ambulation aid device comprising means for motorizing and means for spreading the patient's thighs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (D) for aiding the ambulation of a patient comprising a frame (1) fitted with wheels (11; 13), a saddle support (7) surmounting the said frame (1), two (91, 93) disposed on either side of said saddle support (7) and belonging to a crankset (90), characterized in that each movable segment (91, 93) is articulated around an axis (91 '', 93'') transverse to said frame (1) and slides along parallel longitudinal rails, said ambulation aid device (D) further comprising an element (6) for wedging the foot or leg of the patient and means (8) for spreading the patient's thighs arranged on either side of said saddle support (7), said spreading means (8) following the reciprocating movement of the patient's lower limbs held by said elements wedging (6) and by said spacing means (8) when the patient is installed on said device. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Orthopedic ambulation aid device comprising means for motorizing and means for spreading the patient's thighs

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to an orthopedic device for aiding ambulation and which can be used for rehabilitation of the type comprising at least one rigid frame, wheels, a crankset and a saddle.

Document EP3598961 describes an orthopedic ambulation aid device that can be used to rehabilitate walking, in particular for patients with multiple disabilities and with motor problems. This device comprises a base which comprises wheels, a saddle support equipped with a saddle and articulated arms arranged on either side of the saddle support. The end of each of the articulated arms comprises a wedging element for the patient's foot or leg which is mounted adjustable in position according to the width of the base. This wedging element makes it possible to spread the patient's legs on either side of the saddle, thus avoiding friction between the saddle and the patient's thighs.

However, it turns out that for some patients, it is necessary to separate both the patient's thighs and legs. Indeed, for people who have low muscle tone, a single blocking point in the thighs or in the leg creates tension on the patient's knees because the legs are no longer aligned with the thighs.

Furthermore, the aforementioned document describes a motorized embodiment of the device. In this embodiment, the articulated arms include a motor on each of their joints. These motors must then be controlled to simulate walking and train the patient's lower limbs. It turns out that the motors being too numerous, their control for the simulation of walking is complicated. In addition, these motors are fragile and it is difficult to connect them to a power source. It also turns out that the device described in the aforementioned document is difficult to direct, either by the patient or by a carer who pushes the device. Finally, when the device is equipped with a foot-rest sole, the patient finds it difficult to move and encounters problems changing direction.

The document WO2012/049442 describes a walking rehabilitation device which comprises a base equipped with rollers spaced along the width and length of the base. This device includes a harness that supports the patient's buttocks. The patient's thighs are inserted into straps that cannot be pulled apart. This device therefore does not allow the width of the patient's thighs to be adjusted and it does not include a pedal.

The document JP2007014698 describes a device which allows the patient to walk around. This device does not include a saddle support, nor a wedging element for the patient's foot or leg that can be adjusted and locked in position depending on the width of the device. This device also does not include a pedal.

Furthermore, the document US9907721 describes a device which does not include any means for wedging the patient's leg or thighs. This device does not include a pedal either.

In addition, the document CN107874984 describes a walking aid device which comprises a belt restraining the patient. The patient's legs are held at two uprights of the support, which cannot be moved apart. This device does not include a pedal.

Finally, document KR2018 0123939 describes a walking aid device which comprises an exoskeleton mounted on a mobile support comprising wheels. The two uprights on which the patient's lower limbs are fixed cannot be moved apart, so as to adjust the distance between the patient's thighs. This device does not include a pedal.

An object of the present invention is to solve any of the drawbacks associated with the use of the device of the prior art.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a walking aid device which comprises a pedal and makes it possible to adjust the spacing of the patient's thighs and feet/legs. Such a device makes it possible to adapt perfectly to the morphology of the patient and his pathology. Indeed, the presence of the pedals implies precise positioning of the different parts of the patient's lower limbs so as not to cause injury when using the device.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks with a totally innovative approach.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for assisting the ambulation of a patient comprising a frame equipped with wheels spaced along the width and length of said frame, a saddle support surmounting said frame and extending substantially vertically, said ambulation aid device comprising two mobile segments arranged on either side of said saddle support and belonging to a crankset, characterized in that each mobile segment is articulated around an axis transverse to said frame and slides along parallel longitudinal rails, said ambulation aid device further comprising a wedging element for the patient's foot or leg and means for spreading the patient's thighs arranged on either side on the other of said saddle support, said spacer means following the reciprocating movement of the patient's lower limbs held by said wedging elements and by said spacer means, when the patient is installed on said device.

The presence of means for spreading the patient's thighs or legs makes it possible to properly position the patient's thighs, legs, knees and feet according to an alignment that respects the physiology of the joints. The knees in particular can thus be put in a position which does not prevent walking and which does not cause damage to the joint. The spacing means also make it possible to correct the position of the hips of the patient, which determines the position of the lower limbs of the latter. The element for wedging the leg or the foot and the means for separating the thighs or the leg thus form means for guiding the leg during the walking movement.

The invention is implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or according to any technically effective combination.

According to a variant embodiment, said means for separating the thighs comprise two lower side plates mounted parallel to each other on the seat post, on either side of the latter, said lower side plates supporting respectively slender arms to which are attached supports for the thigh or leg receptacle, said slender arms pivoting in a synchronized manner from front to rear and vice versa around a first upper transverse axis and with the aid of connecting rods pivoting around 'secondary axes to move alternately from a first position to a second position, the rotation of a long arm in one direction causing the rotation of the other opposite arm in the opposite direction, and vice versa.

This solution makes it possible to accompany the movement of the patient's gait by guiding his alternating movements by keeping his thighs in a determined position and by imposing a natural and fluid gait.

Advantageously, each lower side plate is fixed to a double central jaw enclosing the saddle tube and is angularly adjustable individually with respect to said central jaw.

This solution makes it possible to adapt the device to different patient morphologies, and in particular the length of their stride.

More specifically, each lower side plate has arcuate adjustment slots cooperating with screws fixed to the central double jaw.

According to another aspect of the present invention, each lower side plate is traversed in its thickness by an arcuate guide groove inside which slide pairs of rings integral with the slender arms.

This solution allows a fluid and guided movement of the slender arms and the most natural possible gait of the patient.

Preferably, each arcuate guide groove comprises front and rear abutments against which the rings can rest respectively in the first and third positions.

This solution thus makes it possible to limit the movements of the patient.

According to another feature of the present invention, each slender arm comprises a pair of stabilizing and guiding pads bearing constantly against the outer side faces of the corresponding lower side plates.

This solution prevents rehabilitation from being carried out correctly, for example with jolts or untimely lateral movements.

According to a particular embodiment, which can be combined with any one of the embodiments of the invention, said device comprises means for driving the arms forming the crankset, said driving means being adapted to alternately drive said movable arms in a rotational movement combined with a translation. Since the pedal is activated due to an external force, it causes the device of the invention to move and the patient to walk. The drive means can, for example, be drive means in alternating rotation of the ends of the mobile arms. The alternative drive is obtained by means of selected gears known to those skilled in the art.

In particular, the device comprises a single common motorization device for controlling both the reciprocating movement of the pedal assembly and the movement of the rear wheels.

More specifically, the motorization device comprises a central motor driving on the one hand the arms of the crankset by means of a first belt connected to a first geared motor and on the other hand the rear wheels by means of a second belt connected to a second disengageable gearmotor.

According to a variant embodiment, the device comprises a first central motor driving the arms of the crankset and independent motors for driving each rear wheel.

In particular, the device equipped with a joystick/manual control lever integrated into an armrest and controlling one and/or the other of the motors.

According to a particular embodiment, each element for wedging the patient's foot comprises a spring-loaded front leg piece to exert an elastic return force on the lower part of the patient's leg, in particular from under his knee.

Brief description of figures

Other advantages, objects and characteristics of the present invention emerge from the description which follows given, for the purpose of explanation and in no way limiting, with regard to the appended drawings, in which:

There represents a general view in perspective of a variant of engine;

There shows another general view in perspective of the ;

There shows a detail view of the ;

There shows a general perspective view of another engine variant;

There represents a detail view in the ;

There shows a general perspective view of another engine variant;

There shows a three-dimensional view of a device for holding the patient's thighs in a first position of use;

There shows another three-dimensional view of the device for holding the ;

There represents a three-dimensional view of the holding device of FIGS. 7 and 8 but in a second intermediate position of use;

There shows another three-dimensional view of the device for holding the ;

There represents a three-dimensional view of the holding device of FIGS. 7 to 10 in a third position of use;

There shows another three-dimensional view of the device for holding the ; And

There shows a detail three-dimensional view of part of a pedal assembly of the device of the present invention.

Claims (13)

Device (D) for aiding the ambulation of a patient comprising a frame (1) equipped with wheels (11; 13) spaced along the width and length of said frame, a saddle support (7) in the form of a rod surmounting said frame (1) and extending substantially vertically, said ambulation aid device (D) comprising two movable segments (91, 93) arranged on either side of said saddle support (7) and belonging to a crankset (90), characterized in that each mobile segment (91, 93) is articulated around an axis (91'', 93'') transverse to said frame (1) and slides along parallel longitudinal rails (10) , said ambulation aid device (D) further comprising an element (6) for wedging the patient's foot or leg and means (8) for separating the patient's thighs arranged on either side said saddle support (7), said spacer means (8) following the reciprocating movement of the patient's lower limbs held by said wedging elements (6) and by said spacer means (8) when the patient is installed on said device. Device (D) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said means for separating the thighs (8) comprise two lower lateral plates (101a, 101b) mounted parallel to each other on the saddle post ( 7), on either side of the latter, said lower side plates (101a, 101b) respectively supporting elongated arms (105a, 105b) to which are fixed supports (106a, 106b) for receptacles (94a, 94b) thigh or leg, said slender arms (105a, 105b) pivoting in a synchronized manner from front to back and vice versa around a first upper transverse axis (120a, 120b) and with the aid of connecting rods (115a, 115b, 116a, 116b) pivoting around secondary axes (117a, 117b, 118a, 118b, 119a, 119b) to pass alternately from a first position to a second position, the rotation of a slender arm (105a; 105b) in a direction causing the rotation of the other opposite arm (105b; 105a) in the opposite direction, and vice versa. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that each lower lateral plate (101a, 101b) is fixed to a double central jaw (102) enclosing the saddle post (7) and is individually angularly adjustable with respect to said central jaw. (102). Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that each lower lateral plate (101a; 101b) comprises arcuate adjustment slots (104) cooperating with screws (103) fixed to the double central jaw (102). Device according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each lower lateral plate (101a, 101b) is traversed in its thickness by an arcuate guide groove (107a, 107b) inside which slide pairs of rings (113a, 113b) integral with the slender arms (105a, 105b). Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that each arcuate guide groove (107a; 107b) comprises front and rear stops (108a; 1089b) against which the rings (113a; 113b) can bear respectively in the first and second positions. . Device according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each longilinear arm (105a, 105b) comprises a pair of stabilizing and guiding pads (130a, 130b) bearing constantly against the external lateral faces of the lateral plates corresponding bottoms (101a, 101b. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for driving said segments (93; 91) forming the crankset, said driving means being adapted to alternately drive said mobile segments (93; 91 ) in a rotational movement combined with a translation. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a single and common motorization device (201) for controlling both the reciprocating movement of the pedal (91, 93) and the movement of the rear wheels (11). Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the motorization device comprises a central motor (201) driving on the one hand the segments (91, 93) of the crankset via a first belt (202) connected to a first gear motor (203) and on the other hand the rear wheels (11) via a second belt (206) connected to a second disengageable gear motor (207). Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a first central motor (211) driving the segments of the pedal assembly and independent motors (221, 222) for driving each rear wheel (11). Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that it is fitted with a manual control joystick/lever (247) integrated into an arm rest (245) and controlling one and/or the other of the motors. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each element (6) for wedging the patient's foot comprises a spring-loaded front leg piece (16) for exerting an elastic return force on the lower part of the patient's leg , especially from below his knee.