GB2462999A

GB2462999A - Mobility aid

Info

Publication number: GB2462999A
Application number: GB0811758A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lindsay Newmark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-27
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Also published as: GB0811758D0

Abstract

A mobility aid comprises an upper side 6 which provides a deformable cushioning surface to cradle a portion of a limb of a user and a lower glide surface 8 which enables to user to slide the mobility aid on a plurality of different surfaces by moving the aid with the limb which requires mobilising after surgery or injury. The mobility aid provides a portable and self contained unit. The lower side 8 of the mobility aid may be saucer shaped with an upturned rim 10 which may be inserted into a receiving groove 14 in the cushion 6.

Description

Mobility Aid The present invention relates to mobility aids and in particular, but not exclusively, mobility aids used to exercise upper and lower limbs after surgery or injury.

It is advantageous to regularly exercise limbs after injury or surgery in order to regain mobility and strengthen the associated musculature of the affected joints. This can be done by supporting the affected joint, for example heel, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, on a surface and moving the joint back and forth across the surface. This has the disadvantage that friction injuries can arise due to the continuous rubbing of the joint across a carpet, or bed sheet etc. Conventionally to alleviate the possibility of friction burns a board and a so-called doughnut have been used to actively assist the movement. This is particularly useful in the early stages of rehabilitation when the patient is unable to actively move the affected limb.

The doughnut is made for each individual patient by the nurse or physiotherapist by rolling-up a tubular elasticated bandage into a doughnut shape.

The board is made of wood or plastics and the doughnut placed on the board and used to support the joint of the affected limb. The limb is then moved by the patient on the board with the doughnut moving with and supporting the joint above the board and providing an effective sliding cushion. To assist the sliding and to reduce friction between the surface of the board and the doughnut, talcum powder is often sprinkled on the board.

The disadvantage of the above described board and doughnut method is that it is necessary to form a dedicated doughnut for each individual patient in order to comply with infection control regulations. This means that considerable time is taken by the nurse to make each doughnut and a large amount of elasticated bandage is

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used, neither of which is a cost effective use of time or resources. Furthermore, each doughnut can vary in size. If the doughnut is too thin, then there is the risk of the patient's skin coming into contact with the surface of the board with the risk of friction trauma to the skin arising. If, however, the doughnut is too thick, then the patient's joint is liable to fall off the doughnut as they try to move it along the board.

This can be painful for the patient because this can jar the affected limb. Also, there are health and safety issues concerning the use of wooden boards, for example splinters. The size of the board, especially for mobilising hip joints, means that the board must be quite large. This has the drawback that the patient is often unable to move the board and for example place it on a bed for use without assistance. This is often an effective barrier to the patient performing the prescribed exercises on a regular basis. Finally, the use of talcum powder can lead to a health and safety hazard, talcum powder spilt onto a tiled or linoleum floor can increase the risk of someone falling or slipping and causes a further drain in resources, since the spilt talc must be cleaned up.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages.

The present invention relates to a mobility aid in the form of a portable self contained unit which has upper and lower sides, the lower side providing a glide which enables the mobility aid to selectively slide on a surface, and the upper side providing a cradle for releasabily retaining a portion of a limb of a user and which enables the user to slide the mobility aid about the surface.

By providing a self contained unit there is no need to provide separate board and so-called doughnut. The board can be dispensed with because the mobility aid is adapted to slide about an existing surface such as a bed, floor, table etc. Also there is a no need for the health care provider to form a separate doughnut, therefore saving time, because a cradle to rest the limb is directly provided on the glide.

The upper side of the mobility aid may comprise a deformable material which is deformable to provide the cradle. This enables the cradle to form in the upper side S when the limb is placed thereon and has the advantage that the cradle can effectively mould about the contacting surface of the limb, not only thereby forming a secure nest for the limb, but also providing means to drive the mobility aid with the limb. This also takes the guesswork out of forming a particular size of doughnut, because the aid automatically moulds to the correct size.

The material may also be resilient. This enables the user to place different limbs on the mobility aid, thereby using the aid to successively exercise more than one limb, with the upper side moulding to cradle each limb. This also enables the user to use the same mobility aid when for example wearing a plaster cast, and then after the cast is removed, and also more securely cradling the limb when the limb is at IS different stages of inflammation. This increases the lifespan of the mobility aid. The upper side may comprise at least a non-slip surface to the cradle. Thus further preventing the possibility of the limb slipping from its cradle in use.

A cushioning material may be provided between the upper and lower sides to prevent the limb pressing on the lower side. The cushioning material may comprise the deformable material.

The lower or glide side may be substantially flat. Thus enabling the aid to slide around various surfaces. The glide side may comprise a material having low friction properties. This has the advantage that the aid does not become warm when used. The material may have anti -static properties.

The glide side may comprise at least a semi-rigid material. This will help alleviate any bending or tilting of the aid when encountering a rough surface and thus provide a more stable support for the limb, thus reducing jarring. In a preferred embodiment the glide surface comprises plastics.

The periphery of the glide surface may have a bevelled edge. Thus enabling the mobility aid to slide more smoothly over less smooth surfaces, for example over small gaps between floor tiles, or to prevent snagging on rumpled bed sheets.

In a preferred embodiment the lower side is a saucer shaped holder and the upper side is an insert provided in the saucer. The insert may extend over surfaces of the saucer facing the insert to provide the or a cushioning material. The saucer may have an upturned rim. This helps firmly retain the insert in the saucer and further provides the glide surface with a bevelled edge. The insert may have a rim receiving groove facing the saucer by which it is fitted on to the saucer.

Whilst the upper and lower sides may be permanently attached, the upper side may be selectively removable, enabling replacement of the upper side with a fresh upper side.

The upper and/or lower side may be constructed from materials which are able to be sterilized. Thus enabling the mobility aid to be cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment the mobility aid is constructed from lightweight material. This enables the mobility aid to be easily transported by the user, for example can be carried to work and used during a break to mobilise the affected limb.

Thus encouraging the user to keep to and maintain an exercise schedule on their own without requiring assistance from a third party to set up the equipment needed for the exercise.

By way of example only a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a plan view of the holder member of the mobility aid constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is a perspective view of the holder member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the holder member of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a support member of the mobility aid constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the support member of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional side view showing the support in place on the holder member; and Fig. 7 is a side view of the mobility aid showing the support member in place in the holder member.

In a first embodiment of mobility aid 2 as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the aid 2 comprises a saucer shaped holder 4 and a support member in the form of a cushion 6.

The holder 4 (as best illustrated in Figs. I to 3) comprise a substantially planar base 8 with an upturned rim 10, with the rim 10 bounding the interior cavity of the holder 4. A curved edge 12 or bevel is provided between the base 8 and rim 10. The exterior of the base S forms a glide surface to enable the holder to slide on a surface.

The cushion 6 (as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5) is in the form of a disc shaped insert. The cushion 6 (as best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7) has a larger diameter than that of the holder 4. The cushion 6 has on one side an annular groove 14, stepped in from its outer periphery, which groove corresponds to the rim 10. In use the cushion 6 is inserted into the bolder 4 by press fitting the rim 10 into the groove 14. In this configuration the main body of the cushion 6 sits in the interior of the holder 4 whilst its peripheral edge 16 extending outwardly of the groove 14, extends over the rim 10 of the holder 4, thus providing a cushioning material over the rim 10.

In use the mobility aid is placed on a surface, for example a floor, and the user places a joint of an affected limb, for example heel on the cushion. The user then proceeds to perform exercises to mobilise the leg by pushing the mobility aid about the floor, for example with a series of back and forth movements, circular movements etc. The cushion 6 acts to cradle the heel in the holder 4 with upturned rim 10 and the push fit connection of the groove 14 of the cushion 6 over the rim 10 retaining the cushion in a fixed position with respect to the holder 4, thus preventing slipping of the cushion and therefore slipping of the heel on the mobility aid. Furthermore the extension of the cushion over the rim prevents the skin of the user contacting the holder. The mobility aid enables 3600 of active assisted movement on a relatively flat surface such as a floor or bed surface, whilst offering maximum protection from injury during use.

Whilst the mobility aid illustrated is circular it is to be understood that other shapes of holder could be provided, for example oval, triangular, square or other polygonal shapes.

The mobility aid has been described as a holder with a separable cushion. The cushion could however be permanently fixed in place, further increasing its stability.

Or the mobility aid could be a unitary moulding with one side treated to provide a glide surface, for example coating a low friction material on one surface to constitute the glide surface of the base.

The cushion 6 forms an upper side to the mobility aid and a rest for the joint of the affected limb. The cushion in the described embodiment is deformable in order that when the weight of the joint pushes down into the cushion the cushion deforms about the contacting surfaces of the joint. Thus the joint is held within the holder, but also cushioned from the holder. The deformed material surrounds the joint providing a soft wall which can be pushed by the joint. The deformable material could be for example foam, rubber or a sack of polystyrene balls. The cushion could also be resilient, thus when the joint is removed the cushion could return to its original form and subsequently mould to a fresh shape. Although a deformable cushion has been described it is to be understood that the cushion could be provided with a permanent indentation for supporting a portion of a limb or joint.

The base has a glide surface for sliding on a surface, for example a floor. This could be formed by highly polishing one surface, i.e. the outer surface of the base, or the base co&d be constructed from a low friction material for example a plastics material.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mobility aid in the form of a portable self contained unit which has upper and lower sides, the lower side providing a glide which enables the mobility aid to selectively slide on a surface, and the upper side providing a cradle for releasably retaining a portion of a limb of a user and which enables the user to slide the mobility aid about the surface.
2. A mobility aid according to Claim 1, wherein the upper side of the mobility aid comprises a deformable material which is deformable to provide the cradle.
3. A mobility aid accordingly to Claim 2, wherein the material is resilient.
4. A mobility aid according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said upper side comprises * at least a non-slip surface to the cradle.
5. A mobility aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cushioning material is provided between the upper and lower sides to prevent the limb * pressing on the lower side.
6. A mobility aid according to Claim 5, wherein the cushioning material **** comprises the or a deformable material. Sa*

*
7. A mobility aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the * lower or glide side is substantially flat.

*
8. A mobility aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the glide **.*S. * *side comprises a material having at least one of low friction properties and static properties.
9. A mobility aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the glide side comprises at least a semi-rigid material.
10. A mobility aid according to only one of the preceding claims, wherein the glide surface comprises plastics.
11. A mobility aid according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the periphery of the glide surface has a bevelled edge.
12. A mobility aid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower side is a saucer shaped holder and the upper side is an insert provided in the saucer.
13. A mobility aid according to Claim 12, wherein the insert extends over surfaces of the saucer facing the insert to provide the or a cushioning material.
14. A mobility aid according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the saucer has an upturned rim.
15. A mobility aid according to Claim 14, wherein the insert has a rim receiving groove facing the saucer by which it is fitted on to the saucer.*
16. A mobility aid constructs and adapted to operate substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. S... **I * . . * SS *SSS S. * .,*5*5* 54 5.