Patent Publication Number: US-6217057-B1

Title: Adjustable mobile orthosis seat appliance

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to therapeutic seating appliances for invalid or handicapped patients, and more particularly, to a seat appliance that accommodates an orthosis and a patient. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There is a need for a seat appliance that securely accommodates an orthosis, such as a GILLETTE seating orthosis, that conforms to the body of an individual patient, such as a child, to maintain body alignment and prevent deformities. The term “orthosis” as used herein includes, in addition to custom molded arrangements adapted to the specific physiology of a particular patient, other seating inserts for patients, such as students, that require more support than is provided by a conventional chair. The prior art provides various forms of walkers, table potty chairs, wheelchairs, and the like, which fall short of fulfilling certain needs of invalid or otherwise handicapped children. For example, it is desired that an invalid or handicapped child or student disposed on a seating appliance be positioned such that the student is brought closer to his or her peers. Such proximity provides significant psychological advantage to the student as it reduces the psychological impact of the ever-present hospital-like structures, including the seating appliance, the orthosis, etc. Known arrangements often include associated work tables for the students, because the structure of such known appliances often requires predetermined cut-outs in the table to accommodate the student and the seating appliance. Thus, in a conventional setting, the handicapped or invalid students are separated from one another and perform their classroom work on individual tables associated with their respective seat appliances. Such isolation limits interaction between the students, and since conventional seating appliances are bulky, the students cannot avoid the constant reminder of the hospital-like environment. 
     There is additionally a need for a mobile orthosis seat arrangement wherein a broader range of physical therapies can be administered to the patients than can be administered in a conventional handicapped seating arrangement. Such a seat should provide easy access for therapists to facilitate desired movements or hand-over-hand patterning for the patient. Such enhanced ergonomics would reduce the possibility of injury to the patients. In addition, there is a need for a streamlined orthosis seat appliance wherein a student can be brought, at an appropriate height, to a table work surface, such as a classroom table, with or without a cut-out. In addition, the improved seating appliance should facilitate the spatial orientation of the orthosis with the patient thereon to facilitate the administration of therapies to improve muscle tone and head and neck control. 
     It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a mobile orthosis seat arrangement for a patient suffering from a motor impairment, the mobile orthosis seat arrangement accommodating a seating orthosis in which the patient is seated. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable mobile orthosis seat arrangement for a patient that is seated in a seating orthosis, wherein the patient can be brought to a table at a predetermined correct patient-to-table relationship. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a compact mobile orthosis seat arrangement whereby the number of orthosis seats that can be arranged about a table is increased over known arrangements. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a mobile orthosis seat arrangement for a child in a seating orthosis, wherein motion of the arms of the child is not restricted. 
     It is additionally an object of this invention to provide an orthosis seat arrangement wherein therapies for improving muscle tone and head and neck control of the patient are easily administered. 
     It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a simple and economical orthosis seat arrangement that easily can be adjusted in response to a physical size characteristic of the patient. 
     It is also another object of this invention to provide a simple and economical orthosis seat arrangement that easily can be adjusted in response to a physical size characteristic of an operator or therapist of the patient. 
     It is yet an additional object of this invention to provide a simple and economical orthosis seat arrangement that easily can be adjusted to place the patient in a predetermined spatial orientation, such as tipped from front to back or from side to side, to facilitate the administration of physical therapy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides, in a first aspect thereof, a therapeutic support arrangement for a patient, the therapeutic support arrangement being mobile on a substantially horizontal surface in response to a directional force applied by an operator or therapist. In accordance with the invention, the therapeutic support arrangement is provided with a base member having an underside, a rear side, and a pair of distal lateral sides. A plurality of casters extend downward from the underside of the base member for facilitating multi-directional displacement of the base member along the substantially horizontal surface. A pair of handle support stanchions is coupled to, and arranged to extend upward from, the base member. A handle arrangement is coupled to the pair of handle support stanchions for receiving the directional force applied by the operator. There is additionally provided an orthosis support member for supporting an orthosis device for the patient. A pair of orthosis support member stanchions is coupled to, and arranged to extend upward from, the base member for supporting the orthosis support member. The orthosis support member is slidably engaged with, and fixable to, the pair of orthosis support member stanchions, whereby the height of the orthosis support member, with respect to the base member, is adjustable. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the handle arrangement is slidably coupled to the pair of handle support stanchions. Additionally, there is provided a handle lock arrangement for facilitating a height adjustment of a handle arrangement with respect to the pair of handle support stanchions. Thus, operators or therapists of different heights can operate the therapeutic support arrangement of the present invention comfortably. 
     Further in accordance with the invention, the orthosis support member is slidably coupled to the pair of orthosis support member stanchions for facilitating a height adjustment of the orthosis support member with respect to the pair of orthosis support member stanchions. In a preferred embodiment, there is additionally provided a third orthosis support member stanchion arrangement substantially intermediate of the handle support stanchions extending upward from the rear of the base member. The orthosis support member is slidably engaged with the third orthosis support stanchion, whereby respective sections of the orthosis support member are fixable at different heights from one another. This permits the orthosis support member to be positioned in a tipped spatial orientation that facilitates the administration of therapy to the patient. Therapies can therefore easily be administered to the patient for improving muscle tone and improving head and neck control. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the base member has a substantially rectangular configuration. There are therefore provided four casters arranged at respective corners of the base member. Each such caster is adapted to be steerable to improve the maneuverability of the therapeutic support arrangement in response to the directional force applied by the operator or therapist. In a preferred embodiment, each such caster has an associated braking arrangement for fixing the therapeutic support arrangement at a desired position on the horizontal surface. 
     In a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base member, the orthosis support member, and other portions of the therapeutic support arrangement are formed of vinyl coated steel tubing sections, in the form of tubular elements that are joined to one another. Such steel sections are commercially available under the trademark CREFORM, available from Creform Tech, Southfield, Mich. These structural elements are in the form of preformed piping that is lightweight, sturdy, and available with ready-made joints and connectors. 
     In use, the present invention has disposed thereon a seating orthosis installed in the orthosis support member. One such seating orthosis is available commercially under the trade name GILLETTE, and resembles a custom body armor for the patient. The seating orthosis is further provided with a patient footrest portion coupled thereto, and in some embodiments, a headrest. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a therapeutic support appliance for a patient disposed in a seating orthosis is mobile on a support surface in response to a directional force applied by an operator, as previously discussed. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a base member having an underside, a rear side, and a pair of distal lateral sides. A roller arrangement is coupled to the base member for facilitating multidirectional displacement of the base member along the support surface in response to the force applied by the operator. A handle arrangement receives the force applied by the operator and is coupled to, and arranged to be upwardly adjustable in height with respect to, the base member. Additionally, an orthosis support member supports the seating orthosis appliance. The orthosis support member is coupled to, and arranged to be upwardly adjustable in height and in tipped relation with respect to, the base member. 
     In one embodiment of this further aspect of the invention, there are further provided a handle support stanchion coupled to and arranged to extend upward from the base member, and a handle coupling arrangement for slidably engaging the handle support stanchion and the handle to one another. Thus, operators or therapists of various heights can comfortably be accommodated by the appliance of the present invention. 
     As previously noted, there is additionally provided an orthosis support stanchion coupled to and arranged to extend upward from the base member. Additionally, there is provided an orthosis support coupling arrangement for slidably engaging the orthosis support stanchion and the orthosis support member to one another. 
     In a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base member and the orthosis support member are formed of vinyl coated steel tubing sections in the form of tubular elements joined to one another. 
     In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a therapeutic support system for a patient disposed in a seating orthosis appliance. The therapeutic support system is mobile on a support surface, in response to a directional force applied by an operator or therapist. In accordance with the invention, the therapeutic support arrangement is provided with a base member having an underside, a rear side, and a pair of distal lateral sides. The base member is provided with an arrangement for communicating with the support surface and facilitating multidirectional displacement of the base member there along in response to the force applied by the operator. A handle receives the force applied by the operator, the handle being coupled to and arranged to be upwardly adjustable in height with respect to the base member. The handle is fixable at a handle height that is responsive to the physical size characteristic of the operator. Similarly, an orthosis support arrangement for supporting the seating orthosis appliance is provided and has an arrangement that is coupled to and arranged to be upwardly adjustable in height with respect to the base member. Thus, the orthosis support arrangement is fixable at an predetermined orthosis height by the operator or therapist in response to a physical size characteristic of the patient. The height adjustability of the orthosis support arrangement is independent from that of the handle. 
     In one embodiment of this further aspect of the invention, the base member and the orthosis support member are formed of vinyl coated steel tubing sections in the form of tubular elements joined to one another, illustratively of the type available under the trademark CREFORM. 
     In a further embodiment of this further aspect of the invention, there is provided a table arrangement having a predetermined table height. The predetermined orthosis height is determined by the operator or therapist in response to the predetermined table height. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic isometric representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric representation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with an orthosis installed thereon. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic representation of a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in partially exploded isometric form. As shown, an adjustable mobile orthosis seat appliance  10  has a base member  11  with a plurality of casters  12  extending downward therefrom. As shown, each of casters  12  is provided with an associated caster brake  13  that permit secure placement of the adjustable mobile orthosis seat appliance at a desired location. Casters  12  rotate along a horizontal surface (not shown) and are steerable in response to a directional force applied by an operator (not shown) at a handle portion  15 . 
     Base member  11  has a front  16 , a rear portion  17  and respective sides  18  and  19 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a pair of handle stanchions  20  and  21  are arranged to extend upward from base member  11  and are coupled thereto at respective ends of rear rear portion  17 . Handle portion  15  is slidably engaged with handle stanchions  20  and  21  whereby it is adjustable in height with respect to base member  11 , in the direction of arrow  23 . 
     Each of base member sides  18  and  19  is provided with an associated one of stanchions  24  and  25  for supporting an orthosis support member  27 . In this embodiment, there is additionally provided a further stanchion  28  coupled to rear portion  17  of base member  11 . Stanchions  24 ,  25 , and  28  support the orthosis support member, as will be described hereinbelow. Each of the stanchions is provided with a stop  30  that is slidably engaged with its associated stanchion, and can be fixed at a predetermined location there along, upon actuation of a set bolt  31 . 
     In this specific embodiment of the invention, base member  11  and orthosis support member  27  are formed of a plurality of tubular members that are joined to one another as shown. In a highly advantageous embodiment, the tubular sections are formed of CREFORM vinyl coated steel tubing available from Creform Tech of Southfield, Mich. Preferably, all of the stanchions, including handle stanchions  20  and  21 , as well as handle portion  15 , are formed of CREFORM tubing. 
     Orthosis support member  27  is formed of a base frame  35  which is arranged to underlie an orthosis support frame  36 . Each such frame, in this embodiment, has four sides (not specifically designated), the frames being coupled to one another at respective comers thereof via coupler stanchions  37 . 
     Orthosis support member  27 , as previously indicated, is formed of tubing sections, and further is provided at its respective sides and rear portion of base frame  35  with stanchion engagement members  33 . Each stanchion engagement member has an aperture  34  therethrough through which is accommodated a respective one of stanchions  24 ,  25 , and  28 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the apertures in the stanchion engagement members are dimensioned smaller than the diameter of stops  30 . Thus, the location along the respective stanchions where stops  30  are fixed determine the height of orthosis support member  27  above base member  11 . Additionally stops  30  are not all necessrily arranged at the same height above the base member, whereby the orthosis support member, upon being installed on the stanchions, need not be oriented parallel to the base member. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric representation of the adjustable mobile orthotic seat appliance  10  of FIG. 1 showing orthosis support member  27  installed thereon and an orthosis  40  mounted on the orthosis support member. In this specific embodiment, orthosis  40  is provided with a footrest portion  41  coupled to orthosis  40  by a pair of brackets  43 . In addition, orthosis  40  has a headrest  44  coupled therewith. 
     In this embodiment, orthosis  40  is of the known GILLETTE seating orthosis type and comprises a custom support that has been contoured for a specific patient (not shown). 
     The height of orthosis  40 , and its spatial orientation is determined in this embodiment by appropriate location of stops  30  along their respective stanchions. The height of handle portion  15  is adjustable independently from the height and orientation of orthosis support member  27 . As S can be seen from the depiction of FIG. 2, the orthosis is installed on the adjustable mobile orthosis seating appliance without significant structure there around. Thus, the arms of the patient are readily available for performing school work at a work table (not shown) with other similarly seated patients, or for the administration of therapy. In addition, when the patient is brought to a classroom work table, very little of the structure of the appliance is visible, thereby providing psychological motivation for the patients to interact without the presence of hospital-like structures. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.