Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
  • A61H1/006—Apparatus for applying pressure or blows for compressive stressing of a part of the skeletal structure, e.g. for preventing or alleviating osteoporosis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
  • A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H23/00—Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
  • A61H3/008—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses

Definitions

• the present disclosure generally, relates to medical system for the treatment of weak bone structures and specifically for the treatment of weak bone structures using a dynamic motion plate in conjunction with assisted-standing gear directed at aiding a patient unable to maintain an upright posture for the duration of a treatment cycle.
• Osteoporosis is a pernicious disorder usually, but not exclusively, afflicting elderly women.
• the osteoporotic state can also be manifested by those who are confined to bed and even to astronauts who are subjected to prolonged weightlessness.
• Osteoporosis occurs through a decrease in bone mass, which makes the afflicted bones more fragile and more susceptible to breakage.
• the reduction in bone mass from osteoporosis results when destruction outpaces bone formation.
• the balance between destruction and formation is affected by hormones, calcium intake, vitamin D and its metabolites, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, age, genetic determinants and especially exercise or other methods of dynamically loading the bone tissue as well as many other factors. Considering the vast array of factors which can compromise the healing process, any form of stimulation that can accelerate, augment and/or ensure the healing process are greatly needed.
• Osteoporosis is not easily determined in its early phases as physical deformity is not yet evident. Because osteoporosis develops progressively, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may avoid a serious condition. Appropriate diet and exercise can be used in early years to prevent the damaging effects of osteoporosis later in life. Methods for maintaining or promoting bone growth are described in numerous patents. For example, McLeod and Rubin, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,103,806, 5,191,880, 5,273,028 and 5,376,065 collectively describe means and methods for promoting bone growth and preventing bone loss. The method described in the above referenced patents relates to a mechanical vibrational loading of bones to promote growth in a non-invasive procedure. McLeod and Rubin, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,103,806, 5,191,880, 5,273,028 and 5,376,065 are all incorporated herein by reference.
• Mechanical loading on bone tissue at strains of between about 0.5 to about 500 microstrain and induced within a predetermined frequency range can prevent bone loss and enhance new bone formation.
• Such mechanical bone loading of tissue may be introduced by various system, including vibrating floor plates and chairs, electrical stimulation of muscles, isometric exercises, modulated ultrasound or transducers attached to the skin or external fixation devices to focus energy to the fracture site.
• the present disclosure provides a medical treatment system for stimulating bone growth in a living vertebrate body (i.e. patient).
• the system includes a dynamic motion plate, for imparting vibrational motion to the patient.
• the dynamic motion plate is dimensioned to provide an adequate platform on which the patient is to stand in a natural, essentially upright posture and configured to functionally bear the full mass of the patient, and an assisted-standing gear for providing support to the patient when the patient is unable to bear its full mass on the dynamic motion plate for the duration of the bone growth stimulation.
• the assisted-standing gear includes a harness wearable by the patient.
• the harness has at least one anchor point and straps for securing the harness in a manner that minimizes painful pressure on the patient when mass of the patient is fully supported by the assisted-standing gear.
• the assisted-standing gear also provides a lifting system for lifting the harnessed patient.
• the lifting system is attached to the harness by at least one cable attached to at least one anchor point on the harness.
• a method for stimulating bone growth in a living vertebrate body is also provided by the present disclosure.
• the method imparts vibrational motion to the patient using a dynamic motion plate dimensioned to provide an adequate platform for the patient to stand on while maintaining a natural, essentially upright posture and configured to functionally bear the full weight of the patient.
• the patient is supported in the event that the patient is unable to bear his/her full weight on the dynamic motion plate for the duration of the bone growth stimulation procedure.
• Supporting the patient is performed by harnessing the patient, in a manner so as to minimize painful pressure on the patient when the patient is fully supported, and, subsequently, lifting the harnessed patient by at least one cable attached to at least one anchor point on the harness.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an assisted-standing gear configured with a dynamic-motion plate in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a harness for use in the assisted-standing gear shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a method treatment using a dynamic motion plate in conjunction with assisted standing gear in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an additional embodiment of an assisted-standing gear configured as an add-on attachment to a dynamic-motion plate in accordance with the present disclosure.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an additional embodiment of an assisted standing assembly incorporating a lift system in accordance with the present disclosure.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a system 100.
• the system 100 provides a dynamic motion plate 101 incorporated into abase 102.
• the base 102 is equipped with handrails 103 for providing a patient with lateral stabilizing support while the dynamic motion plate 101 is in operation.
• a cantilevered pillar 104 is mounted to the base 102.
• the cantilevered pillar 104 provides a support for a lifting system 105 consisting of a winch 106, cable 107 and a connector 108.
• the cantilevered pillar 104 and lifting system 105 should provide adequate support, strength and stability to lift patients that may not be able to fully support their weight for the duration of a treatment cycle due to overweight, injury or paralysis.
• the lifting system 105 may provide a means for varying the percentage of the patient's mass that is being supported by the cantilevered pillar 104.
• the cantilever pillar 104 and the lifting system 105 are referred to herein as "assisted-standing gear”.
• the winch 106 is an electric stepping motor capable of reeling in specific and controllable lengths of cable 107 thus allowing an operator to accurately control the percentage of mass being supported by the lifting system 105.
• a weight sensor 109 may be included as a component of the lifting system 105 to provide an indication of the amount of weight being supported by the lifting system 105. The accuracy of the weight sensor 109 should preferably be better than ⁇ 1 lb.
• the connector 108 which may be a karabiner or snap-ring type connector, clips onto an anchor ring 204 or other such anchor point on a harness 202 (See FIG. 2) worn by the patient 206.
• the harness preferably a variation of commonly available sit or full-body harnesses, provides support for the patient's 206 torso and legs when the lifting system 105 is supporting the patient's 206 weight, thus avoiding discomfort to the patient, while still allowing the patient 206 to reap the benefits of the treatment.
• the anchor ring 204 is preferably positioned to rest on the mid to upper back of the patient 206 so that when the lifting system 105 is engaged the patient is maintained in an upright or nearly upright posture.
• Additional upper-body support straps 212 are attached to the upper back portion of the harness 202 at one end and to the anchor ring 204 at the other end.
• the upper-body support strap 212 is provided with a predefined or adjustable amount of slack in relation to the leg support straps 208.
• the slack is necessary so that when the patient is supported by the harness, the leg support straps 208 are loaded before the upper-body support straps 212 are, thus forcing the patient's legs to take on a slightly seated position, allowing the patients weight to be supported in a more comfortable manner while still maintaining proper posture with respect to the dynamic motion plate.
• the patient can be placed into more or less of a sitting posture.
• Additional embodiments of the present disclosure may include multiple anchor points on the harness 200 with corresponding multiple connectors 108 attached to either a single cable 107 or each connector 108 to a unique cable 107.
• a controller may also be included for providing control of the lifting system 105, collection and display of data received from any weight sensors, display of elapsed time and or time remaining in the current treatment cycle, and indicators for alerting an operator of problems that may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, e.g. the weight being supported by the lifting system 105 has suddenly changed, possibly indicating fatigue of the patient 202, etc.
• the controller may provide additional applicable diagnostic tools, such as blood pressure and heart rate monitoring - additional hardware components may be necessary.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the process for performing a bone growth stimulation treatment. Initially, the patient's treatment needs are determined in Step 301. Step 301 includes
• Step 302 it is determined if the patient will require assistance standing on the dynamic motion plate 101.
• a patient may require assistance due to injury, paralysis, excess weight or other medical conditions.
• the patient must apply a significant portion of his/her body weight on the dynamic motion plate 101 and maintain a correct upright posture throughout the treatment, which may last l o for 20 minutes or more.
• Step 303 the patient is placed in a harness 202.
• Step 304 at least one cable 107 is attached to an anchor point 204 on the harness 202. The tension on the cable 107 is adjusted until the proper portion of the patient's weight is supported in Step 305.
• the process subsequently, proceeds to Step 306, where the 15 treatment is prepared by adjusting the proper settings for the frequency, duration, etc. as determined in Step 301. Proceeding to Step 307, the treatment is performed.
• the patient is monitored for inappropriate fatigue, stress, improper posture and other related issues which may impact the benefits of the treatment. Appropriate action should be taken to correct these issues.
• an additional embodiment of the present disclosure provides for an assisted-standing gear 400 as an add-on to a pre-existing dynamic motion plate.
• the assisted- standing gear 400 incorporates all the components of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except for the dynamic motion plate 101.
• the assisted-standing gear 400 has a base 102 dimensioned to provide stability and a region 401 for insertion of a dynamic motion plate 101. This region 401 may be configured either as a cutout wherein the dynamic motion plate 101 fits or as a platform, whereupon the dynamic motion plate 101 is placed.
• the system 500 provides standing assistance via a user lift system 502 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,046, herein incorporated by reference.
• the lifting system 502 provides a supporting harness 504 and back support 506 and is integrated with a dynamic motion plate 508 positioned at the base. Additional supports and braces may be present, such as upper body supports 510, hip braces 512 and knee braces 514.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• Rheumatology (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
• Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34967588

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (6)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2005
  • 2005-05-05 WO PCT/US2005/015628 patent/WO2005115298A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-05-05 JP JP2007527272A patent/JP2008500130A/ja active Pending
  • 2005-05-05 AU AU2005247337A patent/AU2005247337A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-05-05 KR KR1020067002682A patent/KR20080005324A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-05-05 CA CA002531570A patent/CA2531570C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-05-05 CN CNA2005800006670A patent/CN1826093A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-05-05 EP EP05741806A patent/EP1699408A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-05-05 MX MXPA06000477A patent/MXPA06000477A/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (6)

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