Patent Publication Number: US-8968163-B1

Title: Unweighted therapy and training device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/462,440, filed Feb. 3, 2011 and entitled “UNWEIGHTED THERAPY AND TRAINING DEVICE”, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to gait training devices for exercise and rehabilitation. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to an unweighted therapy, exercise and training device which is suitable for supporting a client during each complete gait cycle in a completely weightless or partially weightless manner for gait training, fitness and sports performance enhancement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the new field of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT), used for human gait training in rehabilitation, fitness and sports performance enhancement, there have been previously two methods of lifting the body weight of clients or patients off of the ground or off of a treadmill. The most common and oldest method uses various types of parachute-like harnesses fit to the body, and then attached to a lifting frame or other apparatus whereby the body weight of the client could be partially removed during gait training. A second method exists in the field of BWSTT where the client is lifted in a chamber of air where a pressure differential can be altered to partially remove the body weight of the client. 
     Patients who suffer from various orthopedic and neurological conditions, such as hip replacement or stroke, for example, frequently suffer from limited movement capability severely compounded by the weight of the body. As such, the legs of such patients may not be able to completely or even partially bear the patient&#39;s weight during gait training. Further, many people are not able to fitness train because of the weight of their bodies causing pain to various orthopedic conditions and cumulative impact injuries to even healthy tissue while running or walking on treadmills. Further yet, many athletes benefit from performance enhancement capabilities such as over-speed training, stride lengthening, power and interval training without impact damage and with fewer recovery days 
     In the field of BWSTT, there exists the need to which the present invention is addressed for a portable, affordable, unweighted therapy, exercise and training device which is capable of supporting a client in a completely weightless and partially weightless manner during each complete gait cycle while engaged in rehabilitative gait training, fitness exercise and sports performance enhancement exercise; and the need for a device is tolerable for long time period treatment; and the need to allow for differential weight bearing to each leg; and to allow for lifting the legs from the treadmill completely between strides allowing the user to run or walk faster or slower than the treadmill speed. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved device for both the complete (non-weight bearing) and partial body unweighting of clients by pelvic suspension throughout each complete cycle of gait during even long session rehabilitative gait training and exercise, fitness exercise, and sports performance enhancement exercise; and to provide for differential weight bearing for each leg and to allow for lifting the legs from the treadmill completely between strides allowing the user to run or walk faster or slower than the treadmill speed. It is a further object of this invention to provide multiple additional functions which in combination can meet needs not fulfilled by prior art. 
     The invention, then, further provides for the portability and partibility of the device for convenience. It provides wheels and a method of using said wheels to allow clients to ambulate over the ground, and a method to allow the device to pass a wheel chair assisted client under the device to be raised into the standing position and then rolled over a treadmill or over the ground. It further provides for the use of a fall arresting harness or a balance harness allowing clients with balance impairments or frailty of the aged to ambulate freely without fear of falling. The device provides for complete and unencumbered access to the limbs of a client while training, allowing for manual facilitation, cueing and correction of gait abnormalities. The device provides multiple straps for adjusting the exemplary and unique pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly to allow saddle position adjustments that will accommodate comfortable inclinations for various back conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the foregoing objectives, this invention describes an improved device for rehabilitative gait training and exercise, fitness exercise, and sports performance enhancement exercise and is generally directed to an unweighted therapy, exercise and training device utilizing a unique pelvic suspension system. An illustrative embodiment of the device includes a device frame including a device frame base having a treadmill space, sized and configured to accommodate a treadmill platform of a treadmill, an upper frame portion carried by the device frame base and having a frame interior and a unique pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly having a saddle carried by the device frame and disposed in the frame interior. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, with a treadmill positioned in the device and a user running on the treadmill in exemplary application of the device; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an exemplary pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly suitable for an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, with a treadmill (illustrated in phantom) positioned in the device; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, with a treadmill and a wheelchair-bound user in proximity to the device preparatory to use of the device; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, with the wheelchair-bound user positioned in the device and the treadmill adjacent to the device; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, with the user seated in the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly and suspended over the treadmill in exemplary use of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is non-limiting and is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, ‘below”, “top”, “horizontal” and “vertical” as used herein are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not necessarily intended to be construed in a limiting sense. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the unweighted therapy, exercise and training device, hereinafter device, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The device  1  includes a device frame  2  which may include a device frame base  3 . The device frame base  3  may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side base frame segments  4 . In some embodiments, each side base frame segment  4  may have a wheel pad receiver  14 . Each wheel pad receiver  14  may be adapted to facilitate attachment of a corresponding frame wheel  9  ( FIG. 4 ) to the device frame base  3 , such as in the conventional manner. 
     The device frame base  3  of the device frame  2  may further include a front base frame portion  6  which extends from the side base frame segments  4 . The front base frame portion  6  may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart front base frame members  7  which extend upwardly from the respective side base frame segments  4 . At least one connecting member  8  may connect the front base frame members  7 . 
     The device frame base  3  may further include a rear base frame portion  10 . The rear base frame portion  10  may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart rear base frame members  11  which extend upwardly from the respective side base frame segments  4 . At least one connecting member  12  may connect the rear base frame members  11 . Frame braces  13  may extend between each side base frame segment  4  and each front base frame member  7  and each rear base frame member  11  for reinforcing purposes. A treadmill space  5  may be formed by and between the side base frame segments  4 , the front base frame portion  3  and the rear base frame portion  10  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     An upper frame portion  20  may be supported by the front base frame portion  6  and the rear base frame portion  10  of the device frame base  3 . The upper frame portion  20  may include a front frame segment  21  which extends generally upwardly from the front base frame portion  6 . A generally curved top frame segment  22  may extend rearwardly from the front frame segment  21 . A generally curved rear frame segment  23  may extend rearwardly and downwardly from the top frame segment  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the rear frame segment  23  may be welded and/or otherwise attached to the rear base frame portion  10  of the device frame base  3 . A frame interior  24  may be formed by and between the front frame segment  21 , the top frame segment  22  and the rear frame segment  23  of the upper frame portion  20 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in exemplary application of the device  1 , which will be hereinafter described, a pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  may be suspended in the frame interior  24  of the upper frame portion  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  may include an assembly frame  29 . The assembly frame  29  may include a saddle supporting portion  30  and a brace supporting portion  36 . A saddle support shaft  31  may extend from the saddle supporting portion  30 . A saddle  32  may be supported by the saddle support shaft  31 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a brace support shaft  37  may extend from the brace supporting portion  36  of the assembly frame  29 . A brace neck  39  may be telescopically extendable from the brace support shaft  37 . A user brace  40  may be provided on the brace neck  39 . In some embodiments, the user brace  40  may be padded and may be configured in a generally curved or arced configuration. The brace neck  39  may be telescopically adjusted in the brace support shaft  37  to selectively adjust the height of the user brace  40 . A pin (not illustrated) may be inserted through a selected pin opening  38  in the brace support shaft  37  and through a registering pin opening (not illustrated) in the brace neck  39  to secure the user brace  40  at the selected height according to the preferences of the user. 
     The pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  may be suspended in the frame interior  24  of the upper frame portion  20  according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, at least one rear strap attachment point  16  may be provided on the rear frame segment  23  of the upper frame portion  20 . At least one front strap attachment point  17  may be provided on the front frame segment  21  of the upper frame portion  20 . In some embodiments, at least one top strap attachment point  18  may be provided on the top frame segment  22  of the upper frame portion  20 . In some embodiments, the rear strap attachment point or points  16 , the front strap attachment point or points  17  and the top strap attachment point or points  18  may include a D-ring or the like. 
     At least one rear attachment strap  42  may be attached to the saddle supporting portion  42  of the assembly frame  29  and to at least one of the rear strap attachment points  16 . Each rear attachment strap  42  may terminate in an attachment hook  42   a  to facilitate attachment of the rear attachment strap  42  to the rear strap attachment point  16 . At least one front attachment strap  44  may be attached to the brace supporting portion  36  of the assembly frame  29  and/or to the brace neck  39 . In some embodiments, a pair of front attachment straps  44  may be attached to the brace supporting portion  36  and the brace neck  39 , as illustrated. Each front attachment strap  44  may terminate in an attachment hook  44   a  to facilitate attachment of the front attachment strap  44  to the front strap attachment point  17 . Each rear attachment strap  42  and each front attachment strap  44  may be length-adjustable to facilitate for-aft and vertical positional adjustment of the saddle and brace assembly  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, a shoulder strap  46  may be attached to the top strap attachment point  18  on the top frame segment  22  of the upper frame portion  20 . The shoulder strap  46  may be adapted for use as a vest like balance harness to stabilize the erect position of the user  60  or to an extension under the arm and over the shoulder of the user  60  to arrest an unexpected fall of the user  60  on the saddle  32  of the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  during use of the device  1 , which will be hereinafter described. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in exemplary application, which will be hereinafter described, the device  1  may be used with a treadmill  50 . The treadmill  50  may be conventional and includes a treadmill platform  51  and a treadmill display  52  upward-standing from the treadmill platform  51 . In use of the device  1 , which will be hereinafter further described, the treadmill platform  51  of the treadmill  50  may be positioned in the treadmill space  5  ( FIG. 3 ) between the side base frame segments  4  of the device frame base  3 . In some embodiments, the treadmill  50  may be fastened or integrally attached to the device frame  2  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     The device frame  2 , the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  and other components of the device  1  may include commonly found tubing or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as high-strength plastic, metal and the like, webbing, vinyl, padding, paints, wire, nuts and bolts. In some embodiments, the device frame  2  may be constructed as an integral part of the treadmill  50  where the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  may be supported by the flexible rear attachment strap or straps  42  and front attachment strap or straps  44 . In some embodiments, an adjustable, rotatable post (not illustrated) or other support structure which is known by those skilled in the art may support the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  in the frame interior  24 . In some embodiments, the device frame  2  may be constructed with partible joints  26  to facilitate collapsing the device frame  2  for ease of transport and storage. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, in exemplary application, the device  1  may be used in the field of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT) for corrective gait training of a user  60  having compromised standing or ambulatory ability due to a stroke or other medical condition. Accordingly, the treadmill platform  51  of the treadmill  50  is placed in the treadmill space  5  ( FIG. 3 ). The user  60  steps onto the treadmill platform  51 . In some cases, a therapist (not illustrated) may assist the user  60  onto the treadmill platform  51 . The user  60  places the pelvic ischial tuberosities or, alternately, the sacrum at the coccyx on the saddle  32 , which may be set at an angle sufficient to allow an unrestricted range of extension and flexion of the user&#39;s hips and legs  61 . The user  60  adjusts the front attachment straps  44  and the rear attachment straps  42  to achieve an upright ambulatory stature, dons the shoulder strap  46  as desired and then walks or runs on the treadmill platform  51  as the treadmill  50  is operated. The therapist may manually assist the user  60  in proper limb motion to correct for gait abnormalities. The pelvic hip bones (ASIS, or anterior superior iliac spine) rest against the padded user brace  40  and therefore, capture and support the pelvis in counterpoise between the ASIS and Ischium. With the pelvis of the user  60  thusly held within the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28 , a range of from zero up to 100% of the user&#39;s body weight can be lifted by shortening the rear adjustment strap or straps  42  and/or the front adjustment strap or straps  44  to rest the user&#39;s feet on the treadmill platform  51  of the treadmill  50  and establish a desired knee bend for the specific treatment or workout desired. By this adjustment, varying degrees of ground reaction force across a range from zero to 100% body weight can easily be achieved. 
     As the treadmill  50  is operated, the user simulates a walking motion on the moving treadmill platform  51 . Therefore, the treadmill platform  51  enables the user  60  to ambulate in place on level terrain for corrective gait training of the user  60 . The user  60 , supported in the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28 , will not experience pressure on the sensitive perineal tissues at the crotch or the restrictions and pain normally associated with use of harnesses or undue pressure on hands, arms, elbows, and shoulders associated with parallel bars and other conventional equipment. The user  60  may experience significantly more core muscle challenges and balance challenges than can be attained using conventional equipment and methods known by those skilled in the art. When not in use, the device  1  may be collapsed by rotating at the partible joints  26  and typically may be transported through a standard doorway. 
     Throughout use of the device  1 , the user brace  40  comfortably grasps the user  60  by the ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), which is held in counterpoise to the ischium with no pressure on the crotch. The rear attachment straps  42  and the front attachment straps  44  maintain the saddle assembly  28  in a raised position such that the user  60  is weightless to partially weighted on the treadmill platform  51 . Therefore, up to 100% of the body weight of the user  60  is transferred from the saddle  32  through the rear attachment straps  42  and the front attachment straps  44  to the device frame  2 , which may be quickly assembled and fit over a conventional treadmill  50  or fabricated in one piece with a treadmill  50  so that the patient  60  may be unweighted from full body weight to completely unweighted or toe touch on the treadmill platform  51 , facilitating unrestricted gait training. Moreover, the design of the device  1  may allow a therapist access for manual manipulation of the legs of the user  60  for the facilitation or cued correction of gait abnormalities. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in embodiments in which the treadmill  50  is separable from the device  1 , the device  1  can be rolled away from the treadmill  50  for storage and to allow the treadmill to be used as a treadmill. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 4-6  of the drawings, the device  1  can be used by a person who depends primarily or exclusively on a wheelchair  56  for transportation. Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the device  1  may initially be rolled in place over the user  60  as the user  60  sits in the stationary wheelchair  56 . Thus, the treadmill space  5  ( FIG. 3 ) in the device frame base  3  receives the wheelchair  56  and the user  60  seated therein as the wheelchair  56  is rolled between the rear base frame members  11  of the rear base frame portion  10 . Next, the shoulder strap  46  may be fastened under the arm and around the shoulder of the user  60 , after which the user  60  may stand safely or may be assisted to stand with the balance harness, and the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28  placed under the pelvis of the user  60 . The rear attachment strap or straps  42  and/or the front attachment strap or straps  44  may then be adjusted to impart an ambulatory stature to and lift the user  60 , after which the treadmill platform  51  of the treadmill  50  may be rolled in place under the user  60 . The treadmill  50  may then be operated to enable the user  60  to ambulate in place on level terrain as the user  60  simulates a walking motion on the treadmill platform  51  for corrective gait training of the user  60 , as was heretofore described with respect to use of the device  1  in  FIG. 1 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a wide range of potential users may benefit by training using the device  1 . These users include but are not limited to those with severe orthopedic or neurological mobility impairments, users who experience debilitations due to aging and users who seek fitness training and weight loss, and users training for high level sports seeking stride lengthening, overspeed training and unweighted aerobic conditioning without the need for recovery days. Unweighted training using the device  1  allows users to train for very long periods of time compared to conventional devices, substantially without restriction to movement of the body as may be attained in unaided outdoor walking or running. Moreover, the device  1  allows a user  60  to move in a corrected gait pattern much faster than the limitations of their pathologies (stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson&#39;s, etc.) or orthopedic complications would otherwise allow. This corrected fast gait movement greatly facilitates the neuroplastic nature of the brain and nervous system in connecting new pathways between the brain, nerves and muscles, resulting in a high degree of functional carryover of the fast and corrected gait into the user&#39;s unassisted, over-the-ground ambulatory ability as seen in multiple studies. Furthermore, orthopedic surgery recovery is greatly accelerated and correction of gait abnormalities is viable and consistent. 
     The device  1  allows individuals and athletes to enhance their sport performance abilities through very fast unweighted walking and running to facilitate stride lengthening, over-speed coordination, muscle training and aerobic conditioning with a high degree of functional carryover into the unassisted, over-the-ground ability of the individual or athlete. The device  1  further allows exercise, training or therapy on consecutive days at higher intensities for longer durations without risk of injury from cumulative impact, from mobility-impaired patients to highly-competitive athletes. This allows athletes and therapy patients to exercise and maintain fitness while recovering from injuries, actually accelerating recovery from injuries or surgery. Moreover, the shoulder strap  46  or balance harness (not shown) assists users  60  having balance impairments and others such as the aged who may require additional assistance for safety purposes while walking or running even without the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28 . Moreover, the device  1  allows for differential training such as training hard on one leg while the other leg is held up or worked lightly, allowing patients to aerobically train while an injured limb is favored. Therefore, the device  1  offers athletic, fitness and disability workouts for users  60  having an injured or missing limb or intense training through rehabilitation of injury or disability. In some embodiments, the device  1  can be readily disassembled for travel with sports teams to facilitate or continue training of athletes away from a home gym. The device  1  facilitates conversion of a treadmill  50  into an effective BWSTT equipment at a fraction of the cost of alternative conventional devices. 
     In the various embodiments, the unweighted training device  1  may transfer the body weight of a user  60  to the device frame  2  by holding the pelvic ischial tuberosities or, alternately, the sacrum at the coccyx in counterpoise against the pelvic hip bones or ASIS in the saddle  32  and against the user brace  40  of the pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly  28 , allowing a zero to 100% unweighting of the user  60  while facilitating corrected gait training throughout the range of human ambulation. The device  1  may have particularly effective application in the fields of neurological and orthopedic therapy and personal and sport fitness training. 
     The device  1  facilitates pain-free exercise and gait training of the user  60  at any intensity or duration by facilitating complete unweighting and body support between steps of the user  60  on the treadmill platform  60 . For neurologically-impaired patients, the extra body support from the saddle  32  allows many clients to experience marked and documentable progress and functional improvements in normalizing gait, improving walking and running speed, increasing exercise intensity, smoothing gait and improvements in trunk and core control that are rapid and carry over to normal walking after training. The saddle  32  supports the user  60  100% between steps on the treadmill platform  51 , making the user  60  feel more stable, secure and confident so the user  60  is better able to work beyond his or her limitations. The pelvic suspension saddle and brace and harness assembly  28  assists users  60  who may be too weak to stand, who have significant balance impairments or those who have spinal compression problems and therefore require decreased spinal pressure to tolerate standing and walking. 
     While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the disclosure such as the application and use of the unique pelvic suspension saddle and brace assembly lifting the pelvis to embodiments of exterior frame for use outdoors, or for use in ambulation and corrected gait training for sport, therapy or rehabilitation.