WO1989009040A1

WO1989009040A1 - 3-dimensionally mobile wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1989009040A1
Application number: PCT/EP1989/000320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhart Faber
Original assignee: Gerhart Faber
Priority date: 1988-03-26
Filing date: 1989-03-23
Publication date: 1989-10-05
Also published as: DE3810477C1; AU3298989A

Abstract

Device, called a three-dimensionally mobile wheel, comprises at least one ring (10, 10') with fastening means for positioning a person with stretched out limbs. Said ring (10, 10') is mobile in three spatial dimensions by means of motors (8) and may be excentrically driven so that the body can be subjected to an oscillatory movement, whether or not it simultaneaously turns with the ring. Said invention allows extension of specific parts of the body.

Description

Space wheel

The present invention relates to a space wheel, with the aid of which a human body which is detachably attached to it in extension on the four extremities can be brought into different positions within the three coordinates of the space and can optionally be torqued about the longitudinal axis of the body.

The device is therefore particularly suitable for treating disorders of the human musculoskeletal system, e.g. in the form of spinal and joint blockages, musculotendinous tension, stinging damage, for rehabilitation after orthopedic diseases of all kinds, for stimulating organ metabolism and cardiovascular training, but also for positive psychosomatic and vegetative influence on patients, but also as sports equipment.

So-called extenders for therapeutic vertical extension are known, which essentially consist of an inclinable support on which the patient is suspended with the feet suspended from the action of gravity.

For example, an orthopedic device is described in EP 01 06 304 A2 which has two vertically standing wheels mounted on rollers which are rigidly connected to one another via horizontal crosspieces. Fastening means for feet and handles for the hands are provided between the wheels. In order to change the spatial position, the user changes the grip position and thus the center of gravity, as a result of which the device is rotated around the wheel axes together with the user. Similar devices are described in GB 883 964 and US 42 05 665. However, the therapy option is limited to an axis of rotation, ie a degree of freedom of rotation, dynamic, in particular recurring, short-term treatment cycles cannot be carried out with such devices.

The present invention has therefore set itself the task of creating an extender acting around further axes of rotation, with the aid of which the extension can also be superimposed on a (low-frequency) oscillation. The extension should in particular be free, i.e. it can be carried out without a backing and be both longitudinal torsion, anteflexion and retroflexion of the body.

The solution to this problem consists in a device called a space wheel for displacing the human body and for stretching parts of the body, consisting of rings or ring pairs mounted on a frame with fastening means for the body extremities, which according to the invention has the following features:

a) the ring or the pair of rings has two degrees of freedom of rotation, for which purpose the rings are either gimbal-mounted or are connected to a rotatable crossbar via a drivable shaft;

b) the fastening means are arranged on the rings in such a way that the body is oriented essentially parallel to the plane of the ring,

c) the rings can be brought into static or dynamic, frequency and / or amplitude-changeable position change by drive means.

The ring is attached to a frame so that it can be placed in horizontal, vertical and oblique positions. The patient's body is connected to the ring via its extremities and slightly spread apart. With location Change increases the influence of gravity on the body's center of gravity on the individual but also on a group of extremities, so that parts of the body can also be extended in an arc shape in anteflexion or retroflexion and thus enable a precise and targeted mechanical action.

In addition, this extension can be given an oscillation, which is generated by the holders of the ring on the frame.

It is considered essential that, in addition to generating a vibration, the ring is also capable of imparting various repeatable circular and wobble movements by means of which the speed of the specific load increase can be varied.

In the simplest case, the invention consists of a ring which is rotatably supported at two opposite points, the bearings themselves being able to move up and down linearly or in opposite directions linearly or on a circular path. It goes without saying that the term ring is not limited to a circular shape, for example polygenic arrangements or ellipsoids can also be used.

The body can, depending on the suspension, be rotated or oscillated about the longitudinal or transverse axis and over the up and down or rotated bearings in inclined positions.

In order to minimize the forces to be exerted, it is proposed to arrange balancing weights on the wheel so that no or only small moments occur to the center through the body. The ring, together with the body attached to it, can preferably be driven by motors so that it can be brought into the desired position without any effort. The desired position can then be maintained or constantly changed, for example in the form of a rotation or a swinging or rocking movement. A frequency predetermined by the therapist, which is generated by switchable eccentrics, may be superimposed on these movements. This means that the waves driving the ring rotate in themselves and at the same time about an eccentric path, with a relatively higher frequency also acting on the body.

These frequencies lead to periodic loading and unloading and are considered particularly valuable for therapy.

An advantageous construction of the suspension of the ring on the frame is that it is encompassed by a second, which can also carry displaceable counterweights, both of which are coupled to one another in the manner of a universal joint or universal joint and the outer is connected to the frame.

By combining these features with an eccentricity of the respective drives, any gyroscopic and wobbling movements can be produced and superimposed epicycloidally.

Another possibility of the special embodiment of the present invention is that the wheel is connected in parallel with an additional wheel via cross bars.

This creates a double wheel in the manner of a ring wheel, to which the patient can also be attached both inside and outside, for example on the crossbars. Such a double wheel can advantageously be driven via a shaft connected centrally to the additional wheel, which in turn is connected to a cross-piece extending transversely thereto and which is arranged on the frame so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The shaft driving the double wheel is surrounded on the outside by a hollow shaft and is mounted in it, which is connected to the crossmember in order to divert the counter torque generated by the driving motor via the crossmember into the frame. The traverse is also preferably driven by a motor, the motors being flanged to the frame.

Here, too, shafts and possibly traverse rotate both about their longitudinal axis and about an eccentric center, the distance to the center being particularly variable.

The weight is balanced using sliding weights on the wheel and on the shaft or hollow shaft. One possibility of superimposing the eccentric frequency is seen in a simple manner in a rotatingly driven disk, on which it rotates off-center and e.g. The shaft driving the wheel is arranged via a corresponding gear transmission.

Of course, separate motors can be provided for the shaft and the eccentric in the sense of the present invention.

In the same way, a crank drive, in particular variable in length, can be used, in which the driven crank part rotates.

It is also proposed to control the motors via computers so that the movements in space which are complicated and adaptable according to the invention can be predetermined and repeated, so that the therapy is able to run through a specific program, for example with increasing loads on the desired body part is. To support the head, it can be advantageous to attach a headrest to the ring between the fastening means for the hands. This can consist of a loop or also cover the head like a helmet. The support can be rotated so that the head can be put to one side but cannot fall forwards or backwards. It is therefore also possible to extend disabled people whose control over the neck muscles is limited.

With the present invention, torsion of the human body about its longitudinal axis is also possible. All that is required is to make the foot or hand fastening means rotatable relative to one another. It is therefore proposed to arrange either the hand or foot attachment means on a bracket which is attached to an extension of the shaft 17. If the angle between the bracket and ring changes from the parallel position, the body is twisted. The bracket has a releasable lock with the ring.

In order to be able to carry out the torsion by motor, a separate servomotor must be arranged on the shaft either on the head side or on the foot side, the opposite position being retained when the servomotor is in operation.

A solution is preferred in which the hand fastening means a are arranged on the bracket and the ring is rotated while maintaining the position of the bracket by the amount of the torsion to be exerted.

In order to adapt the device to different body sizes, the bracket or the handles can be made height-adjustable.

The present invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment with a universal joint.

2 to 7 show the double wheel design in several views

In Fig. 1 the ring 4 is shown, on which the person 7 is held on the laterally and length-adjustable fastening means 2, 2 'with holding loops 19 and secured with the aid of a belt 20. Weights 6 are additionally arranged on the ring 4, with the aid of which a weight compensation can be carried out in such a way that the center of the ring and the center of gravity coincide and an almost effortless displacement is possible.

In the present example, the ring 4 is gimbaled via the outer ring 3, which also carries counterweights 5.

The outer ring 3 is fastened on a frame 1 with frame 13 and feet 14 and driven by shafts 18 from motors 8 and at right angles to motors 9 with shafts 17 arranged on the outer ring 4 '.

The opposite turnstiles 21, 22 indicate the possibility of manual operation.

Shafts 17 and 18 are for eccentric, e.g. epicycloidal drive, which can run synchronously or asynchronously to intensify a shaking effect.

The displacement of the human body 7 can thus take place in such a way that the pull caused by its weight is effected specifically on individual or on groups of extremities and spine and thus extends corresponding parts of the body. Due to the eccentricity of the drive and, for example, the corresponding gearbox, the body can be in the desired position when the body is stationary Wave and simultaneous rotation of the eccentric a vibration are brought to the body, the amplitude and frequency are variable and depend on the speed and the eccentricity

It is also within the meaning of the present invention to simultaneously rotate the body about any spatial axes and to apply a vibration to it.

For torsion of the body, the fastening means 2 can be arranged on a bracket 24 whose axis of rotation lies in the extension of the shaft 17 or coincides with it. A motor is flanged on the opposite shaft 17 for motor drive, which is supported on the outer wheel 3 and rotates the inner ring 4. The bracket 24 remains stationary, whereby the body 7 is twisted. For the non-twisting displacement, the bracket 24 can be locked with the ring 4.

The bracket or the handles are preferably height adjustable, i.e. formed with a variable distance from the ring 4.

2 to 7 show the design as a double wheel 10, 10 ', the wheels 10 and 10' being connected to one another via cross struts 11. The wheel 10 is spokes 23 with a shaft 18 with the possibility of an eccentric, e.g. epicycloidal or similar drive connected to the motor 8 via a pipe 16, at the same time the pipe 8 carries a displaceable counterweight 2.

The tube 16 rests on a rotatable (possibly eccentrically driven) crossbeam 12, which in turn is connected to the motor 8 ′ arranged on the frame 1. In principle, the frame can also be designed to be rotatable about its vertical axis while standing on a turntable. The wheels 10 and 10 'can also be provided with counterweights. 2, 4 and 6 show how the body can be rotated around the crossmember 12, whereas FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 each show a corresponding position rotated by 90 ° about the vertical axis.

6 and 7 show that the patient can be held inside (FIG. 6) or in particular outside on the cross struts 11 of the double wheel.

Reference list

1 frame 2 mounting 3 outer wheel 4 inner wheel 5 balance weight 6 balance weight 7 body 8.8 'motor 9 motor 10.10' double wheel 11 cross struts 12 crossbar 13 frame 14 feet 15 sliding weight 16 tube 17 shaft 18 shaft 19 retaining straps 20 belt 21 turnstile 22 turnstile 23 spokes 24 brackets

Claims

Patent claims

1. Space wheel for displacing the human body about its axes and for stretching parts of the body, consisting of rings or ring pairs mounted on a frame with fastening means for the body extremities, characterized by the following features:

a) the ring (4) or the pair of rings (10, 10 ') has two degrees of freedom of rotation, for which purpose the rings (4, 10, 10') are either gimbal-mounted or via a drivable shaft (18) with a rotatable traverse (12) are connected;

b) the fasteners (2,2 ') are such on the

Rings (4, 10, 10 ') arranged that the body is aligned substantially parallel to the ring plane,

c) the rings (4, 10, 10 ') can be brought into static or dynamic, frequency and / or amplitude-variable change in position by drive means (8, 8', 9, 21, 22).

2. Space wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (4,10,10 ') has displaceable counterweights (5,6).

3. Space wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rings (4,10,10 ') are driven by motors (8,9) which have switchable eccentrics.

4. Spacewheel according to at least one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the ring (4) is connected gimbally to a second ring (3) encompassing this outside.

5. Space wheel according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the wheel (10) via cross bars (11) with a further wheel (10 ') is connected to a double wheel.

6. Space wheel according to at least one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the motors (8,8 ') for setting predeterminable and repeatable static or dynamic spatial positions or dynamic spatial changes are computer-controlled.

7. spacewheel according to at least one of claims 1-6, characterized in that a rotatable headrest is attached to the ring (4).

8. space wheel according to at least one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the fastening means (2) or (2 ') via a bracket (24) on the shaft (17) of the drive (9) or (22) and arranged for Torsion of the body (7) is rotatably mounted, the bracket (24) also being rigidly connectable to the ring (4).

9. spacewheel according to claim 8, characterized in that on the shaft (17) between the rings (3) and (4) an auxiliary drive is arranged, which rotates either the bracket (24) or the ring (4), the opposite Position remains unchanged.

10. Space wheel according to claim 8-9, characterized in that the bracket (24) is adjustable in height.