Patent ID: 12245978

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, identical reference signs designate the same or comparable components.

FIG.1ashows a side view of an embodiment of a device1according to the invention;FIG.1bshows the device fromFIG.1ain a perspective view. The device1shown comprises at least one connection element31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30, shown here for example as a connection blade, and at least one receiving unit12which can be arranged at the foot end801of the bed80; wherein the receiving unit12is designed corresponding to the connection element31, in particular the connection blade. The device1can preferably also comprise two connection elements31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30; and two receiving units12which can preferably be arranged on different sides of a longitudinal axis85of the bed80.

Moreover, a device1according to the invention comprises at least one transport means13for transporting the rehabilitation mechanism30toward the bed80and away from the bed80, wherein the transport means30and/or the bed80can be designed to be adjustable in height; and wherein the transport means13can be configured in such a way that, for releasing and for fixing the rehabilitation mechanism, it interacts with the at least one receiving unit or, in the case of several receiving units, with at least one receiving unit. The transport means13can advantageously be designed for example as a trolley, with the aid of which the rehabilitation mechanism30can be moved comfortably and without great effort. The transport means13, in particular the trolley, can advantageously comprise a height adjustment device1331, preferably a telescopic device, whereby the rehabilitation mechanism30, while being moved and also when being parked far from a bed80, can advantageously be brought into a comparatively low position close to the floor and thus, in the system composed of transport means13and rehabilitation mechanism30, a comparatively low center of gravity can be generated in order thereby to advantageously increase the safety against tipping of the entire system. Alternatively, the transport means13or the trolley can also be of a rigid design, particularly when used with height-adjustable beds80.

FIG.2shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a transport means13according to the invention. It is advantageous if the transport means13is configured for connecting the rehabilitation mechanism30to the bed80and/or for removing the rehabilitation mechanism30from the bed80by interacting with the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, with at least one receiving unit12, particularly for releasing and for fixing the rehabilitation mechanism30by interacting with the connection frame11and/or the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, with at least one receiving unit12. For this purpose, a trigger means134can preferably be arranged on the transport means13, for directly or indirectly interacting with the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, with at least one receiving unit12. As is shown inFIG.2, the trigger means134can be arranged below a support frame133on the transport means13. In addition, the transport means13can advantageously comprise a means135for centering the transport means13with respect to the bed80, which means135is preferably also arranged below a support frame133on the transport means13and advantageously has a V-shaped or U-shaped design, such that it can interact with a part of the bed80. In addition, there may also advantageously be arranged on the transport means13a holding element132for interaction with an anti-tipping device32of a rehabilitation mechanism30, and/or a control unit131which is configured to exchange control signals with the rehabilitation mechanism30.

FIG.3shows an enlarged perspective view of a support frame133of the transport means13fromFIG.2. The support frame133shown here, on which the rehabilitation mechanism30can be supported at least in part during the transport, preferably comprises a holding element132for an anti-tipping device32, which can in turn be arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30, preferably on the rear face of the latter (cf.FIG.1).

FIGS.4ato4cshow an embodiment of a connection frame11, with two receiving units12arranged thereon, in a perspective view (FIG.4a), in a plan view (FIG.4b) and in a rear view (FIG.4c). The connection frame11shown here advantageously connects two receiving units12firmly to each other, as a result of which a type of module is formed. In addition, the connection frame11is mounted pivotably relative to the two receiving units12about a pivot axis113. Alternatively to this, the at least one receiving unit12or the two receiving units12or the connection frame11can also be individually arranged (not shown) on the bed80, preferably at the side of and/or at the foot end801thereof. In the case of a modular set-up, as is shown inFIGS.4ato4c, the whole module can then preferably be arranged at the transverse side81of the bed80. The connection frame11advantageously extends at least along a portion of the transverse side81, preferably along the entire transverse side81. As can be seen in particular inFIG.4a, the connection frame11can advantageously comprise at least one locking plate114, which is preferably arranged centrally with respect to the longitudinal extent of the connection frame11. It is additionally advantageous if one or more wing elements115are arranged on one or both transverse sides112of the connection frame11(cf.FIG.4a).

FIGS.5ato5cshow an embodiment of a receiving unit12in a side view (FIG.5a), as a section along A-A through the receiving unit12(FIG.5b), and as a section along B-B through the receiving unit12(FIG.5c).

It will be seen that the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, at least one receiving unit12can have an opening122, preferably tapering toward the floor, for receiving a connection element31of the rehabilitation mechanism30. The opening122, preferably on its inner face1221directed toward the bed, can be made of a plastic, in particular Teflon®, and/or can be coated with a plastic, in particular Teflon®. The receiving unit12shown here additionally comprises a locking device121which has at least one stamp element1211and a spring element1212. It will be seen inFIG.5cthat the stamp element1211can be designed, for example, as an approximately rectangular, preferably solid component which, preferably in the direction of the opening122of the receiving unit12itself, has an in particular elongate opening through which a connection element31, preferably designed as a connection blade, can pass. In this way, the stamp element1211can advantageously come into operative connection with the connection element31. Moreover, one end of the stamp element1211, in particular the end directed away from the bed80, can advantageously emerge through a further, lateral opening of the receiving unit12and is thus accessible for operative connection to the connection frame11, preferably to the wing element or wing elements115thereof. Moreover, at the other end of the stamp element1211, preferably at the end directed toward the bed80, a spring element1212can advantageously be arranged which is designed to interact with the stamp element1211, preferably by virtue of the fact that it is able to push the stamp element1211out of the lateral opening of the receiving unit12when no opposing force is exerted on the stamp element1211and thus on the spring element1212.

The receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, at least one receiving unit12can additionally have at least one means123for exchanging information with a verticalization mechanism of a bed80, which means123is configured to interact directly or indirectly with a connection element31of a rehabilitation mechanism30. Such a means123for information exchange can be, for example, a sensor which detects the position of the stamp element1211inside the receiving unit12and supplies a verticalization mechanism, which can be integrated in the bed80, independently with information as to whether a rehabilitation mechanism30is or is not properly connected to the receiving unit12. This information can advantageously increase patient safety by avoiding an uncontrolled start of a verticalization procedure.

FIG.6shows a side view of part of an embodiment of a rehabilitation mechanism30with a connection element31arranged thereon. The connection element31is designed here as a so-called connection blade, which can be inserted into the opening122of the respective receiving unit12and, on account of its shape, likewise tapering toward the floor, moves virtually by itself into a suitable position inside the opening122during the connecting process. The connection element31shown here also has a notch, which serves to strengthen the interaction with the stamp element1211, in particular a “locking”, preferably by form-fit engagement.

Finally,FIGS.7ato7fshow a series of images illustrating an exemplary sequence of the method according to the invention for reversibly connecting a rehabilitation mechanism30to a bed80.

In a first method step, a rehabilitation mechanism30is arranged on a height-adjustable transport means13and is transported in a transport position T to a bed80(FIG.7a). The distance of the rehabilitation mechanism30from the floor in this transport position T is preferably chosen to be small, so that the center of gravity of the system composed of rehabilitation mechanism30and transport means13is as low as possible, i.e. in particular close to the floor. In this transport position T, the rehabilitation mechanism30is preferably carried by a support frame133and, by means of a holding element132arranged on the transport means13engaging in the anti-tipping device32arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism, is secured against tipping downward during transport.

In a further method step, the rehabilitation mechanism30is moved, with the aid of the height-adjustable transport means13, from the transport position T into a first connection position V1(FIG.7b). For this purpose, the rehabilitation mechanism30is preferably brought to a height, preferably with the aid of a height adjustment device1331, in particular with a telescopic device, such that connection elements31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30can be inserted from above into receiving units12arranged on the bed80.

In a further method step, the rehabilitation mechanism30is moved, with the aid of the height-adjustable transport means13, from the first connection position V1into a second connection position V2(FIG.7c). The transport means13interacts here with at least one receiving unit12, which can be arranged at the side of and/or at the foot end801of the bed80, so as to unlock the receiving unit12, by virtue of the fact that, when a trigger means134arranged on the transport means13approaches the bed80, it presses against a connection frame11arranged on the bed80, in particular against the locking plate114arranged thereon. Wing elements15arranged on the connection frame11can advantageously interact with a locking device121of the receiving unit12, in particular with the stamp element1211of the locking device121, and can release the receiving unit12for connection to the connection element31or connection elements31of the rehabilitation mechanism30.

In a further method step, the rehabilitation mechanism30is moved, with the aid of the height-adjustable transport means13, from the second connection position V2into a third connection position V3, wherein at least one connection element31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30comes into operative connection with the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, with at least one receiving unit12(FIG.7d).

Finally, in one method step, the height-adjustable transport means13is moved from the third connection position V3to the transport position T (FIG.7e); and, in a last method step, the height-adjustable transport means13is moved away from the bed80(FIG.7f). While the transport means13moves away from the bed80, the pressure exerted by the trigger means134on the locking device121, in particular on the stamp element1211thereof, also decreases, and a spring element1212preferably arranged in the receiving unit12can move the stamp element1211back to its starting position (locking position) and thus fix the rehabilitation mechanism30in the receiving unit or units12. For uncoupling the rehabilitation mechanism30from the bed80, the described method steps can preferably be carried out in the reverse order.

In a second example of the sequence of the method according to the invention for reversibly connecting a rehabilitation mechanism30to a bed80, which is not explicitly shown here, it is alternatively or additionally possible for a height-adjustable bed80to be lowered to a height, such that connection elements31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30can be inserted from above into receiving units12arranged on the bed80. Height-adjustable beds advantageously also permit the use of rigid and therefore cost-effective transport means13.

For this purpose, in one method step, a rehabilitation mechanism30can be arranged on a transport means13and transported in a transport position T to a bed80. A height-adjustable bed80can then be moved to a first connection position V1. In a further method step, the height-adjustable bed80can be moved from the first connection position V1to a second connection position V2, wherein the transport means13interacts with at least one receiving unit12, which can be arranged at the side of and/or at the foot end801of the bed80, so as to unlock the receiving unit12. The height-adjustable bed80can now be moved from the second connection position V2into a third connection position V3, wherein at least one connection element31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30comes into operative connection with the at least one receiving unit12or, in the case of several receiving units12, with at least one receiving unit12. Finally, in a last method step, the height-adjustable bed80can be moved from the third connection position V3to the transport position T, and then the transport means13can be moved away from the bed80.

To operate the device1in a method according to the invention for reversible connection as described above, the rehabilitation mechanism30, by direct interaction between at least one connection element31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30and at least one receiving unit12that can be arranged at the side of and/or at the foot end801of the bed80, is able to exchange control data with a verticalization mechanism of the bed80and/or with a control unit131arranged on the transport means13. The data exchange can take place via a wired connection or wirelessly.

The present invention relates to a device1and a method for reversibly connecting a rehabilitation mechanism30to a bed80, in particular to a hospital bed that is preferably designed to be able to be brought to a vertical position. The device1at least comprises: at least one connection element31arranged on the rehabilitation mechanism30; at least one receiving unit12, which can be arranged at the side of and/or at the foot end801of the bed80; wherein the receiving unit12corresponds in design to the connection element31; and a rigid or preferably height-adjustable transport means13for transporting the rehabilitation mechanism30toward a rigid or preferably height-adjustable bed80and away from the bed80. The invention further relates to a method for operating a rehabilitation mechanism30connected to a bed80by means of a device1according to the invention. The invention advantageously enables easy, fast, reversible connection of a rehabilitation mechanism30to a conventional hospital bed80, in particular a hospital bed that can be brought to a vertical position. The invention is also suitable in particular for quickly and economically retrofitting existing beds80with a robot system for kinesiotherapy.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1device11connection frame111longitudinal side of the connection frame11112transverse side of the connection frame11113pivot axis114locking plate115wing element12receiving unit121locking device1211stamp element1212spring element122opening1221inner face123means for exchanging information with a verticalization mechanism of the bed8013transport means (trolley)131control unit132holding element for the anti-tipping device32133support frame1331height adjuster for the support frame133134trigger means135centering means30rehabilitation mechanism31connection element32anti-tipping device80bed, in particular: care bed, hospital bed, sickbed or intensive care bed801foot end (end of the bed80)81transverse side82longitudinal side85longitudinal axisV1first connection positionV2second connection positionV3third connection positionT transport position