Patent Publication Number: US-10758453-B1

Title: Quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy and physical therapy apparatuses are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a buoyancy controlled quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus that includes a first vertical support frame and a second vertical support frame disposed atop a base frame, said first and second vertical support frames connectable around a patient disposed upstanding therein, wherein a leg support conformably engages against said patient&#39;s legs proximal said patient&#39;s knees, a sternal support conformally engages against the chest of said patient, a posterior support member ergonomically engages against the length of said patient&#39;s back, and a shoulder support member engages an arched portion over each of said patient&#39;s shoulders and a breast support portion against the upper breast of said patient, whereby said patient is supportable maintained upstanding for immersion in a water body and thereby subject to therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy and other physical therapy to resist muscle deterioration and problems of inhibited circulation. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus, and more particularly, to a buoyancy controlled quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus that includes a first vertical support frame and a second vertical support frame disposed atop a base frame, said first and second vertical support frames connectable around a patient disposed upstanding therein, wherein a leg support conformably engages against said patient&#39;s legs proximal said patient&#39;s knees, a sternal support conformally engages against the chest of said patient, a posterior support member ergonomically engages against the length of said patient&#39;s back, and a shoulder support member engages an arched portion over each of said patient&#39;s shoulders and a breast support portion against the upper breast of said patient, whereby said patient is supportable maintained upstanding for immersion in a water body and thereby subject to therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy and other physical therapy to resist muscle deterioration and problems of inhibited circulation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus which has many novel features that result in a quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus has been devised to enable quadriplegic and paraplegic patients supported upstanding for immersion in a water body for hydrotherapy therein. Buoyancy assists supporting a patient, and hydrotherapy can be beneficial for treating muscle deterioration and circulatory inhibition resultant from a maintained supine position over extended periods. Further, the buoyancy force from fluid immersion can assist physical therapy for paraplegic patients and other patients overcoming spinal cord and other motor coordination injuries. 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus, therefore, includes a first vertical support frame disposed upon a is base frame, said first vertical support frame disposed to conformably engage against basal portions of a patient&#39;s body, and a second vertical support frame pivotally securable to the first vertical support frame, said second vertical support frame disposed to conformably engage against dorsal portions of a patient&#39;s body, whereby a patient is supportable upstanding between said first and second vertical support frames without having to maintain musculature control of said patient&#39;s legs or torso. 
     Once supportively engaged between the first and second vertical support frames, a patient is positional into a water body for immersion. The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus may be weighted appropriately to remain negative buoyancy of a base frame and positive buoyancy of a shoulder support member during use, whereby a patient is supported upstanding in a water body without risk of displacement by action of the fluid thereabouts and said patient&#39;s head is maintained above any water surface. To move the apparatus, a first and second pair of wheels are disposed upon the base frame, whereby a patient supported upstanding in the apparatus is volubly positional, as desired, within and without an appropriate water body. 
     Negative buoyancy of the base frame may be adjustable by addition or subtraction of weights thereto. Positive buoyancy of the shoulder support member may be adjustable by increased or decreased inflation of arched portions and a breast support portion thereof, as case may be, whereby buoyancy control is enabled to maintain correct alignment of the apparatus when used immersed in an appropriate water body. 
     A patient is disposed atop the base frame by securement of each of said is patient&#39;s feet into each of a pair of foot supports. Each foot support is securable in position along the length of an underlying parallel frame member comprising the base frame. Each of the pair of foot supports includes a securement member whereby each of the patient&#39;s feet is securable atop each foot support. 
     To maintain support for a patient&#39;s legs, a leg support is disposed upon the first vertical frame support, said leg support moveable between a horizontal position and a vertical position for directed engagement against a patient&#39;s legs. The leg support is conformable and yielding, whereby engagement against the patient&#39;s legs is maintainable without injury rendered thereto. In an example embodiment herein disclosed, the leg support is dispositional to engage against a patient&#39;s legs proximal the knees, against said patient&#39;s thighs. 
     A padded sternal support is disposed upon the first vertical support frame for engagement against a patient&#39;s chest proximal said patients sternum. The sternal support likewise engages against the patient conformably to prevent injury during extended use. The sternal support engages against the patient&#39;s chest to support the patient&#39;s torso against a posterior support member, disposed conformably engaged against the patient&#39;s back, as will be described subsequently. Thus the first vertical support frame engages against basal portions of the patient&#39;s body to maintain said patient upstanding thereby. 
     The second vertical support frame includes a posterior support member disposed to engage against the length of a patient&#39;s back when the second vertical support frame is secured in the upright position. The posterior support member may be ergonomically configured to support the curvature of a patient&#39;s spine, and supportively uphold the is patient&#39;s torso in conjunction with the sternal support disposed upon the first vertical support frame. A patient&#39;s torso is thus engaged between the first and second vertical support frames by the sternal support and the posterior support member, and the patients legs are stabilized by the leg support engaging the users legs proximal the knees. 
     A positional shoulder support member is disposed extendibly upon the second vertical support frame, positional to arch over a patient&#39;s shoulders and engage against said patient&#39;s shoulders and upper breast. The shoulder support member includes a pair of arched portions for engagement over each of the patient&#39;s shoulders, and a breast support portion disposed to engage against the upper breast of a patient therein disposed. Thus the shoulder support member is positional to secure the upper body of a patient between the first and second vertical support frames. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Objects of the present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric front angled view of an example embodiment with a second vertical support frame disposed in an upright position connected to a first vertical support frame of supportively maintaining a quadriplegic or paraplegic patient upstanding for immersion in a water body. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric side angled view of an example embodiment with the second vertical support frame disposed disconnected from the first vertical support frame. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of an example embodiment with the second vertical support frame disposed disconnected from the first vertical support frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 3  thereof, example of the instant quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3  a preferred embodiment of the present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10  is illustrated. 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10  has been devised to supportively uphold a quadriplegic or paraplegic patient upstanding in a water body, while maintaining said patient&#39;s head above a water surface, whereby said patient may enjoy the therapeutic benefits of upright posture, buoyancy, and hydrotherapy. 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10 , therefore, includes a first vertical support frame  40  and a second vertical support frame  60  endwise connected to a base frame  20 . The second vertical support frame  60  is pivotally attached to the base frame  20 , and thereat moveable between a lowered position and an upright position. When moved to the upright position, the second vertical support frame  60  is connectable to a pair of connect bars  50  disposed horizontally projected from the first vertical support frame  40 . A patient is thereby securable bodily erect and upstanding between said first and second vertical support frames  40 ,  60 , as will be described subsequently, and thereby maintainable is an erect posture while submerged into a water body for hydrotherapy therein. 
     The base frame  20  is disposed most proximal a ground surface and includes a forward frame member  22  disposed parallel and spaced apart from a rearward frame member  24 . A pair of parallel frame members  26  is disposed endwise between said forward frame member  22  and said rearward frame member  24 . Each of a pair of foot supports  28  is disposed atop each of the pair of parallel frame members  24  of said base frame  20  whereby a patient&#39;s feet are securable onto the base frame  20 . Each foot support  28  includes a securement body  30  disposed to engage over a foot of a patient securable therein. Each foot support  28  is securable in desired position longitudinally along the length of each parallel frame member  26 . 
     The base frame  20  is voluble and includes each of a pair of first wheels  32  disposed endwise upon the forward frame member  22  and each of a pair of second wheels  34  disposed endwise upon the rearward frame member  24  of the base frame  20 . 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10 , therefore, is moveable upon the pair of first and second wheels  32 ,  34 , whereby a patient disposed supported between the first and second vertical support frames  40 ,  60  is moveable upon the base frame  20  and positional, as desired, within and without a water body. 
     The present quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10  is securable against displacement upon said first and second pairs of wheels  32 ,  34 , by brake members  36  positional to inhibit rotation of at least the second pair of wheels  34  whereby the base frame  20  is prevented from volubility upon a ground surface, as desired. 
     The first vertical support frame  40  is disposed endwise vertically atop the forward frame member  22  of the base frame  20 . The first vertical support frame  40  includes a first vertical member  42  disposed upwardly in parallel with a second vertical member  44 . An extensible member  46  is disposed vertically extendible out each first and second is vertical member  42 ,  44 , each said extensible member  46  thereby positional at a desired height extended out each of the first and second vertical members  42 ,  44 . 
     A leg support  48  is pivotally connected to the first vertical member  42  and the second vertical member  44 , said leg support  48  moveable between a horizontal position and a vertical position whereby a patient&#39;s legs may be stabilized engaged by the leg support  48  when said patient is disposed supportively upstanding interior to the quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10 . The pair of connect bars  50  is disposed pivotally endwise from the first vertical support frame  40  to position rearwardly projecting in a horizontal plane therefrom, each of said pair of connect bars  50  disposed proximal the leg support  48 . Each of the pair of connect bars  50  may be longitudinally adjustable to accommodate patient&#39;s of different girths. 
     A central cross support  52  is disposed between the first and second vertical member  42 ,  44  proximal each extensible member  46  and a planar tray member  54  is disposed horizontally atop each extensible member  46 . The planar tray member  54  has a padded edge  56  and a padded sternal support  58  disposed edgewise thereon in position to engage against a basal portion of a patient&#39;s chest when said patient is supportively upheld upstanding within the quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10 . 
     The second vertical support frame  60  is pivotally disposed endwise upon the rearward frame member  24  of the base frame  20 . The second vertical support frame  60  is thereat moveable between a lowered position and an upright position releasably connectable to each of the pair of connect bars  50 . The second vertical support frame  60  includes a third vertical member  62  pivotally disposed endwise upon the base frame  20  proximal the juncture between the rearward frame member  24  and one of the pair of parallel frame members  26 , and a fourth vertical member  64  pivotally disposed endwise upon the base frame  20  proximal the juncture between the rearward frame member  24  and the other of the pair of parallel frame members  26 . 
     A planar cross member  66  is vertically disposed between said third and fourth vertical members  62 ,  64  in a position proximal the height of the leg support  48  when the second vertical support member  60  is moved to the upright position and a posterior support member  68  is disposed upon the planar cross member  66 , said posterior support member  68  disposed to supportively contact the back of a patient and conformably support said patient upstanding between the first and second vertical support frames  40 ,  60  when the second vertical support frame  60  is secured in the upright position to each of the pair of connect bars  50 . The posterior support member  68  may be ergonomically configured to accommodate the curvature of a patient&#39;s back. 
     A positional shoulder support member  70  is disposed atop the second vertical support frame  60 , said shoulder support  70  extensible and securable to engage over the shoulders of a patient supported upstanding between the first and second vertical support frames  40 ,  60 . The shoulder support member  70  includes an arched portion  72  engageable over each of a patient&#39;s shoulders and a breast support portion  74  disposed to conformably engage against the upper breast of a patient. The shoulder support member  70  may be positively buoyant to maintain a patient&#39;s head above a water surface during immersion therein, whereby the base frame  20  weights the feet of a user down and the shoulder support member  70  maintains said patient&#39;s head above the water surface, whereby horizontal orientation of the instant quadriplegic and paraplegic patient hydrotherapy standing support immersion apparatus  10  in a water body is preventable. 
     Thus the second vertical support frame  60  releasably secures in the upright position connectable to the first vertical support frame to supportively uphold a quadriplegic or paraplegic patient in an erect position upstanding for immersion in a body of water whereby hydrotherapy is treatable to said patient.