APPARATUS ENABLING DISABLED PERSONS TO WALK

Abstract: An apparatus enabling disabled persons to walk, comprising a rigid elliptic jacket (1) abutting against and supported by wearer's pelvis, attached to the movement direction change mechanism (2), open in its rear portion and provided with a lock (4), whereas on vertical members of the rectilinear movement mechanism (3) there are mounted cylindrical shank clamps (5), each having open rear portion, and skids (7) rigidly attached to foot supporting platforms (6), constituting lowermost members of the rectilinear movement mechanism; the skids (7) resting on surface of available walkway.

Description: Apparatus enabling disabled persons to walk The invention refers to an apparatus enabling disabled persons to walk. The Polish patent application P-307 620 discloses an apparatus assisting disabled persons in walking. This apparatus comprises two mechanisms in the form of articulated rectangles, one of them, being two-dimensional one, is for rectilinear motion whereas another, the three-dimensional one, is responsible for movement direction changes. This solution provides effective means for stiffening lower limbs of a disabled person involved as well as to perform rotational motion of lower limbs around their natural pivots i.e. hip joints. This apparatus presents a serious disadvantage consisting in that it does not allow a disabled person involved to attach it to and detach from his/her body self-dependently. Furthermore it does not ensure complete stability of user's body while standing. The apparatus according to this invention is devoid of such disadvantage. The apparatus according to this invention comprises a rigid elliptic jacket abutting against and supported by wearer's pelvis, attached to the movement direction change mechanism, open in its rear portion and provided with a lock, whereas on vertical members of the rectilinear movement mechanism there are mounted cylindrical shank clamps, each having open rear portion, and skids rigidly attached to foot supporting platforms, constituting lowermost members of the rectilinear movement mechanism; the skids resting on the ground or floor, as appropriate. An embodiment of the apparatus according to invention enabling disabled persons to walk is described below by way of example with reference to the attached drawing wherein the left-hand half of the apparatus, symmetrical to the right-hand one, is shown schematically. The apparatus shown there comprises a jacket I, attached to the movement direction change mechanism 2. The rectilinear movement mechanism 3 is coupled to the former mechanism. The mechanisms are designed as three- and two-dimensional articulated rectangle, respectively. The jacket I is of rearwardly open design so as a disabled person is able to enter the apparatus self-dependently directly from a wheel-chair standing at the back of that apparatus. After entering the apparatus and assuming straight erect position the patient's trunk becomes immobilised within the jacket I by closing the lock 4. On vertical members of the rectilinear movement mechanism 3 there are mounted shank clamps 5, preventing articulation of knee joint while standing. To the foot platforms 6 the skids 7 are attached. These skids rest on surface over which a patient wishes to walk. They stabilise the apparatus in vertical position and ensure that patient's feet are being kept always parallel to walkway surface in each phase of walking. The apparatus according to present invention prevents occurrence of decubital changes on patient's body normally resulting from seating by enabling disabled persons being bound to their wheel-chairs to change positions from seating to erect one and vice versa always when they are wishing to do so, allowing thereby to avoid prolonged spot pressure exerted at fixed points of patient's body. Furthermore the seating position results in incorrect arrangement of body organs which in turn is conductive of degenerative changes in such body organs. The apparatus according to present invention allows to load in natural way the osseous system of lower limbs thus preventing decalcification of bones and occurrence of joint ankylosis. By assuming erect position increase in blood pressure is caused which results in better heart action, better blood supply to patient's brain, preventing at the ϊame time occurrence of haemostasis in lower limbs. By making use of the apparatus of present invention better action of patient's respiratory system is ensured too. A psychological aspect of using the apparatus of present invention is also of great importance as a patient is able e.g. to stand face-to-face against his/her interlocutor and can use any equipment located at normal height.

Claims: Clai An apparatus enabling disabled persons to walk, comprising a vertical rectilinear movement mechanism and a three-dimensional movement direction change mechanism, characterised in that it comprises a rigid elliptic jacket (I) abutting against and supported by wearer's pelvis, attached to the movement direction change mechanism (2), open in its rear portion and provided with a lock (4), whereas on vertical members of the rectilinear movement mechanism (3) there are mounted cylindrical shank clamps (5), each having open rear portion, and skids (7) rigidly attached to foot supporting platforms (6), constituting lowermost members of the rectilinear movement mechanism; the skids (7) resting on surface of available walkway.

Inventors: OLEDZKI ANDRZEJ, SZYMCZAK BOGDAN, OLEDZKI, ANDRZEJ, SZYMCZAK, BOGDAN
Applicants: OLEDZKI ANDRZEJ, POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKA, SZYMCZAK BOGDAN, OLEDZKI, ANDRZEJ, SZYMCZAK, BOGDAN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61H3
IPC codes: A61H3