U.S. patent application number 10/987269 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for step width increaser.
Invention is credited to Robert Lincoln Chinchillo.
Application Number | 20060105884 10/987269 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36387132 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060105884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chinchillo; Robert Lincoln |
May 18, 2006 |
Step width increaser
Abstract
The apparatus provides a proper step width for patients during
gait training with neurological disorders, such as spasticity or
paraparesis of the lower extremities. The apparatus provides
proprioceptive feedback through the ankles during gait training
with an assistive device (cane, walker, or parallel bars). The
apparatus can be adjusted to different step widths depending on the
patient and the physical therapist's recommendation. The result
would be an improvement in the patient's gait pattern over time
(with less risk of injury to the patient) and an improvement in the
method used by the physical therapist for gait training for this
problem.
Inventors: |
Chinchillo; Robert Lincoln;
(North Reading, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT L. CHINCHILLO
2 BOXWOOD ROAD
NORTH READING
MA
01864
US
|
Family ID: |
36387132 |
Appl. No.: |
10/987269 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/0464
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/023 |
International
Class: |
A63B 26/00 20060101
A63B026/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing visual, tactile, and proprioceptive
feedback to patients with a decreased step width (as determined by
a physical therapist) due to a neurological disorder (e.g.,
increased tone of the lower extremity muscles such as the hip
internal rotators and hip adductors or decreased muscle tone of the
hip abductors) or profound lower extremity weakness due to disuse
atrophy.
2. An apparatus which is lightweight and portable allowing use in
the patient's home by a physical therapist. This would enable the
patient to receive gait training to increase step width in his or
her home by a physical therapist as opposed to having to travel to
a rehab unit or clinic for said training.
3. An apparatus which will help increase a patient's step width and
base of support. This will enable a patient to decrease the
complexity of his or her assistive device (move from a walker to a
4 point cane, from a 4 point cane to a standard cane, etc.) or to
regain the ability to walk without an assistive device at all.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates to rehabilitation equipment for the
physical therapy field. More specifically, it relates to a portable
apparatus which can be used in a clinic and/or a patient's home to
assist in attempting to increase the step width of the patient.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in Massachusetts,
I have spent a few years gait training the elderly using assistive
devices (e.g. walkers and canes). Many of them ambulated with a
very narrow base of support, or worse, displayed a scissoring gait
pattern (this happens when the patient's feet cross over each other
during gait as opposed to normal gait with the feet being parallel
to each other). This could be caused by a few problems such as weak
hip abductors, poor range of motion or spasticity in the hip
adductors, internal hip rotation due to spasticity or tightness, or
hemiplegia following a stroke. A crude (and unsafe) method of
trying to prevent this occurrence during gait training is to place
the foot of the therapist between the feet of the patient as he or
she walks. This method, although used quite often, is not the
safest. The patient is at risk for tripping and the physical
therapist is assisting the patient with less than optimal
stability.
[0006] I have created a device which would facilitate a normal step
width during ambulation without disturbing the patient's balance or
putting the physical therapist in a position of compromised
stability. The device would have a fixture placed between the
patient's ankles to maintain a normal step width (7-10 cm) as he or
she walked. It would prevent the patient's step width from
decreasing to less than 7-10 cm. The device would only be used
during gait training with a licensed Physical Therapist or Physical
Therapist Assistant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (PHOTOGRAPHS)
[0007] The objectives and benefits of this apparatus will become
apparent by referring to the following figures.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a view of 2 of the interlocking rubber mats with
the Velcro.RTM. strip and 2 unfastened step width "separators"
(bottom view and side view) of different widths: approximately 23/4
inches (7 centimeters) and 11/2 inches (4 centimeters).
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of 2 joined interlocking rubber mats
along with the 23/4 inch step width "separators" attached.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a closer view of 2 joined interlocking rubber mats
along with the 23/4 inch step width "separators" attached.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the Step Width Increaser being used
at home by a "patient" with a rolling walker. The width of the
separator being used in this photograph is approximately 23/4
inches (approximately 7 centimeters).
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the Step Width Increaser being used
at home by a "patient" with a rolling walker. The width of the
separator being used in this photograph is approximately 23/4
inches (approximately 7 centimeters).
[0013] FIG. 6 is a front view of the Step Width Increaser being
used at home by a "patient" with a rolling walker. The width of the
separator being used in this photograph is approximately 23/4
inches (approximately 7 centimeters).
[0014] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the Step Width Increaser being used
at home by a "patient" with a rolling walker. The width of the
separator being used in this photograph is approximately 11/2
inches (approximately 4 centimeters).
[0015] FIG. 8 is a front view of the Step Width Increaser being
used at home by a "patient" with a rolling walker. The width of the
separator being used in this photograph is approximately 11/2
inches (approximately 4 centimeters).
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] To use the apparatus, a user (e.g., a physical therapist)
would connect the interlocking 2' by 2' mats together on the floor
(or between the parallel bars) to provide the desired distance.
Then, the step width separators are attached by Velcro.RTM. to the
interlocking mats. The width of the separators used will be chosen
by the physical therapist on a patient by patient basis. The
patient will then line up at one end of the mat placing the left
foot on the left side of the separator and the right foot on the
right side of the separator (so the separator is between the
patient's feet). Depending on the patient, he or she may have his
or her wheelchair placed at one end of the mat and can be assisted
to stand by the therapist. The patient's assistive device will then
be given to the patient to use while keeping the feet separated by
the step width separator. Use of a gait belt would also be
recommended for this patient population during this gait
training.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The stability of the human body during gait depends on a
stable base of support and step width. The step width of a normal
gait is approximately 7-10 centimeters (or about 23/4-4 inches).
The smaller the step width, the more unsteady a person's gait. Gait
training with this apparatus can increase a patient's base of
support, thus allowing gait with the minimum assistive device
needed (or no assistive device).
[0018] Patients with neurological disorders (such as a stroke) or
muscle weakness may need more than just exercises (such as
strengthening of the hip abductors) to alleviate this problem. Some
patients present with no step width during gait (inside of
ankles--medial malleoli--actually rub together) or a scissoring
gait pattern (when the patient's feet cross over each other during
gait).
[0019] The apparatus will have "separators" of varying widths to
monitor patient progress. The step width increaser separators will
come in widths of approximately 2, 3, and 4 inches. This will
enable patient progress to be measured (such as the patient
reducing the separator width from 4 inches to 3 inches or 3 inches
to 2 inches over time).
[0020] This invention is a device and method for monitoring and
improving the mobility of patients with an unsteady gait due to a
decreased step width.
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