U.S. patent application number 13/065194 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-18 for method for treatment of children with developmental delay.
Invention is credited to Nancy Higgs.
Application Number | 20110201479 13/065194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44370054 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110201479 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Higgs; Nancy |
August 18, 2011 |
Method for treatment of children with developmental delay
Abstract
The invention disclosed herein is a method and device for
treatment of children suffering from conditions or diseases which
cause delayed neuromuscular development. A neck flotation device
such as an inflatable collar is affixed around the child's neck.
The child wearing the aforementioned neck flotation device is
immersed into the pool of water in which the water has been heated
to approximately 92-94 degrees Fahrenheit. The child's head is
supported by the neck flotation device to ensure safe breathing.
The child's torso and extremities are suspended vertically in the
therapy tank filled with warm water. The child can move in the pool
of warm water without being restrained by gravity. By the method
disclosed herein, children suffering from diseases and conditions
which cause delayed neuromuscular development are permitted to
exercise their muscles to develop muscle tone, increase lung
function and promote neuromuscular coordination.
Inventors: |
Higgs; Nancy; (Houston,
TX) |
Family ID: |
44370054 |
Appl. No.: |
13/065194 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11980906 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
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13065194 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 9/155 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/13 |
International
Class: |
A63B 23/18 20060101
A63B023/18 |
Claims
1. A method for the treatment of children suffering from conditions
or diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular development
comprising steps for: assembling a collapsible therapy tank;
filling said tank with warm water; attaching a neck flotation
device around the child's neck; immersing the child in said tank
filled with warm water so that the child is suspended vertically in
said tank of water with said child's head above the surface of the
water; allowing the child unrestrained movement in said tank of
water; whereby said child's muscle strength, coordination, range of
motion and lung function are improved.
2. The method for the treatment of children suffering from
conditions or diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular
development as defined in claim 1 wherein said water is heated to a
temperature of approximately 92-94 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. The method for the treatment of children suffering from
conditions or disease which cause delayed neuromuscular development
as defined in claim 1 wherein said water is unchlorinated.
4. The method for the treatment of children suffering from
conditions or diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular
development as defined in claim 1 wherein said condition or disease
which cause delayed neuromuscular development is selected from a
group consisting of: Spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy,
infantile spasms, trisomies , traumatic brain injury, acute brain
injury, infection, skeletal muscular imbalance, hemilegia, neonatal
stroke, Down's syndrome, holoprosencephaly, seizure disorder,
visual disorders, hearing impairment, failure to thrive,
intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, global delay
syndrome, hypoxia, anoxia, shoulder dystocia, mitochondrial
disease, Walker Warburg syndrome, lennox-gastaut syndrome,
pachygria, hypotonia, skull fracture, chromosomal disorders,
hydroencephaly, torticollis, Aicardi's syndrome, scoliosis,
pediatric osteoporosis, frozen hip syndrome, hip dysplasia, Cri Du
Chat, Wolf Hirschorn syndrome, muscular dystrophy, septo-opyic
dysplasia, Zellwegers syndrome, Canavan, static encephalopathy,
Prader-Willi syndrome, optic nerve hypoplasia, schizencephaly,
hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, biotin responsive basal ganglia
disease, Lesch Nyhan, hemiparesis, congenital disorders of
glycosylation, epilepsy, macrocephaly, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher
disease, clubbed feet, arthrogryposis, megalencephaly,
Potocki-Shaffer syndrome, brain tumor, development coordination
disorder, Charge syndrome, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
5. An inflatable neck flotation device to be worn around a child's
neck to raise the child's head above the surface of a tank of water
for water therapy of children suffering from conditions and
diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular development comprising:
a top circular inflatable bladder and a bottom inflatable circular
bladder to form a neck flotation device which is not a completely
enclosed circle; said neck flotation device having a top surface
and a bottom surface; said top inflatable circular bladder is
approximately 15% smaller in volume than said bottom inflatable
circular bladder causing said bottom inflatable circular bladder to
be commensurately larger in size than said top inflatable circular
bladder; an inflatable shelf of approximately 1.5 inches in width
extending around the interior circumference of said neck flotation
device and located approximately midway between the said top
surface and bottom surface of said neck flotation device; a
horizontal indentation in said shelf equidistant between and
opposite of said opening in said neck flotation device flotation
device bladder to accommodate a child's chin; two handles affixed
to the top surface of said neck flotation device in which each
handle is positioned to be on opposite sides of the neck flotation
device and to be out of visual field of the child; an
inflation/deflation port on the top of said top circular inflatable
bladder; an inflation/deflation port on the bottom of said bottom
inflatable circular bladder; an adjustable fastener on the top
surface of said neck flotation device to close said opening in said
neck flotation device; an adjustable fastener on the bottom surface
of said neck flotation device to close the opening of said neck
flotation device; a circular opening created by closing the space
in said neck flotation device; Whereby said top inflatable circular
bladder and bottom inflatable circular bladder part forms a neck
flotation device which supports the child's head above the surface
of the water and permits the child to be suspended vertically in
said tank of water for the improvement of neuromuscular
coordination, muscle tone, lung function and range of motion.
6. The neck flotation device described in claim 4 wherein said
inflatable collar is constructed from clear flexible plastic.
7. The neck flotation device for the treatment of children
suffering from conditions or diseases which cause delayed
neuromuscular development as defined in claim 4 wherein said
condition or disease which cause delayed neuromuscular development
is selected from a group consisting of: Spinal muscular atrophy,
cerebral palsy, infantile spasms, dystonia, lissencephaly, Miller
Deiker Syndrome, microencephaly, hydraencephaly, trisomies ,
traumatic brain injury, acute brain injury, infection, skeletal
muscular imbalance, hemilegia, neonatal stroke, Down's syndrome,
holoprosencephaly, seizure disorder, visual disorders, hearing
impairment, failure to thrive, intrauterine growth retardation,
prematurity, global delay syndrome, hypoxia, anoxia, shoulder
dystocia, mitochondrial disease, Walker Warburg syndrome,
lennox-gastaut syndrome, pachygria, hypotonia, skull fracture,
chromosomal disorders, hydroencephaly, torticollis, Aicardi's
syndrome, scoliosis, pediatric osteoporosis, frozen hip syndrome,
hip dysplasia, Cri Du Chat, Wolf Hirschorn syndrome, muscular
dystrophy, septo-opyic dysplasia, Zellwegers syndrome, Canavan,
static encephalopathy, Prader-Willi syndrome, optic nerve
hypoplasia, schizencephaly, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, biotin
responsive basal ganglia disease, Lesch Nyhan, hemiparesis,
congenital disorders of glycosylation, epilepsy, macrocephaly,
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, clubbed feet, arthrogryposis,
megalencephaly, Potocki-Shaffer syndrome, brain tumor, development
coordination disorder, Charge syndrome, and juvenile idiopathic
arthritis.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This continuation in part patent application specifically
references U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 11/980906 filed
on Oct. 31, 2007 pending in Art Unit 3769, Jeffrey B. Lipitz,
examiner. A copy of which is attached hereto by reference as if
fully set forth.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] The invention described in this application was not the
subject of federally sponsored research or development.
BACKGROUND
[0003] 1. Field
[0004] The field of the invention disclosed herein is a method and
device for treatment of children suffering from conditions or
diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular development.
Specifically, the invention disclosed herein is a method by which
children may further develop neuromuscular coordination, muscular
tone, and lung function despite their disease or condition.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Children suffering from delayed neuromuscular development
display decreased coordination, decreased muscle tone, decreased
lung function, neurocognitive disorders, delayed speech and other
problems. These problems are especially evident in infants born
prematurely, those children with genetic disorders, and in those
infants who suffer brain injury during the birth process. The
emotional and financial costs in supporting children suffering from
delayed neuromuscular development can last a lifetime and are
enormous. Prior art methods of rehabilitation of children with
delayed neuromuscular development have focused on physical therapy,
speech therapy, and vocational therapy initially delivered to the
child years after the child is born. Much time in rehabilitation is
lost from the time of birth until formal rehabilitation measures
are implemented. What is needed in the art is a method and device
for treatment of infants and young children suffering from diseases
or conditions which cause delayed neuromuscular development and
which is low cost and easy to perform.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention disclosed herein is a method and device for
treatment of children suffering from conditions and diseases which
cause delayed neuromuscular development and which is low cost, and
easy to perform. Those children suffering from conditions or
diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular development include the
following diagnoses: Spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy,
infantile spasms, dystonia, lissencephaly, Miller Deiker Syndrome,
microencephaly, hydraencephaly, trisomies, traumatic brain injury,
acute brain injury, infection, skeletal muscular imbalance,
hemiplegia, neonatal stroke, Down's syndrome, holoprosencephaly,
seizure disorder, visual disorders, hearing impairment, failure to
thrive, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, global delay
syndrome, hypoxia, anoxia, shoulder dystocia, mitochondrial
disease, Walker Warburg syndrome, lennox-gastaut syndrome,
pachygria, hypotonia, skull fracture, chromosomal disorders,
hydroencephaly, torticollis, Aicardi's syndrome, scoliosis,
pediatric osteoporosis, frozen hip syndrome, hip dysplasia, Cri Du
Chat, Wolf Hirschorn syndrome, muscular dystrophy, septo-opyic
dysplasia, Zellwegers syndrome, Canavan, static encephalopathy,
Prader-Willi syndrome, optic nerve hypoplasia, schizencephaly,
hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, biotin responsive basal ganglia
disease, Lesch Nyhan, hemiparesis, congenital disorders of
glycosylation, epilepsy, macrocephaly, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher
disease, clubbed feet, arthrogryposis, megalencephaly,
Potocki-Shaffer syndrome, brain tumor, development coordination
disorder, Charge syndrome, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
[0008] Specifically, the invention disclosed herein is a method for
water therapy using a collapsible therapy tank to hold the pool of
warm water and a neck flotation device for water therapy which is
affixed around the neck of the child so as to support the child's
head above the level of the water. The value of the invention
disclosed herein is that children suffering from conditions and
diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular development have
compromised head control and would be unable to participate in
water therapy independently. The neck flotation device can be
designed and constructed to safely hold children of different
weights and sizes. The neck flotation device is also configured so
as to have handles on the top of the neck flotation device to
enable the caregiver to maneuver the child in the pool of water.
The neck flotation device is further configured to provide a
horizontal indentation in the shelf of the inner circumference of
the neck flotation device to keep the child properly placed in the
neck flotation device. The child to which the neck flotation device
is affixed is placed in the pool of water which has been warmed to
approximately 92-94 degrees Fahrenheit which enables the child to
maintain body temperature at approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
The neck flotation device supports the child's head and keeps the
child's head above the surface of the pool of water. The child's
torso and extremities are suspended vertically in the pool of warm
water. The muscles of the child's body are permitted free movement
in the water without the hindrance of gravity. By this method, the
child is permitted to move freely, exercising all of the muscles of
the torso and extremities. By this method of water therapy,
cognitive development, neuromuscular coordination, muscular tone
and lung function are all improved. Older children with recognized
delayed neuromuscular development may also benefit from the
treatment disclosed herein. A physician, physical therapist or
parent of a child may easily use the invention disclosed herein to
provide water therapy to infants and children suffering from a
condition or disease which causes delayed neuromuscular
development.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] a better understanding of the invention disclosed herein may
be had by review of the figures described below:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side oblique view of the invention disclosed
herein.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the disassembled therapy tank of
water.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side oblique view of the therapy tank being
assembled and insertion of the ribs supporting the portable therapy
tank of water.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side oblique view of the assembled therapy tank
filled with water.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the neck flotation device.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the neck flotation device.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view of the neck flotation device.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side view of the neck flotation device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Rehabilitation of children suffering from diseases or
conditions which cause delayed neuromuscular development usually
doesn't begin until several years after the birth of the child.
Nearly 85% of brain development occurs in the first three years of
life. By the time traditional rehabilitation methods are
implemented, much time has been lost. The invention disclosed
herein is a method and device which can be used at a treatment
facility to provide water therapy or which parents can use at home
to promote cognitive development, neuromuscular coordination,
muscular tone and lung function in their children. Such method can
be implemented shortly after birth in infants suffering from
conditions or disease which cause neuromuscular development delay
so as to maximize the effects of invention disclosed herein. Older
children with recognized developmental delays may also benefit from
water treatment. However, as described above much of the brain
development occurs early in life. The earlier water therapy begins
with a child the better the expected result. The preferred
embodiment is intended for children suffering from conditions or
disease which cause delayed neuromuscular development of the age 1
day to 4 years and who are otherwise stable, i.e. have no
intravenous lines or need for supplemental oxygen.
[0019] Neonatal swimming has been previously used to accelerate a
baby's growth in the early stage. Zhao et al., the Journal of
Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 2005; 17(1): 59-62. In this
study, normal babies were taken at birth and permitted to swim
twice a day for 10 minutes duration each from the time of delivery
until discharge from the hospital. These investigators monitored
body weight, time of first defecation and time of meconium turning
yellow following swimming. The study reported that those babies
participating in neonatal swimming had a significant increase in
weight and significant increase in the maturity and development of
the digestive system. These authors stated that the increase in
weight in those babies participating in neonatal swimming was
associated with 1) growth of the muscles and skeleton, 2) increased
development of the respiratory and circulatory system and 3)
increased development of the digestive tract. However, the Zhao
reference examined normal babies rather than babies suffering from
a condition or disease which causes delayed neuromuscular
development. The invention disclosed herein is a method employing
water therapy to improve development of the muscles, neuromuscular
coordination, and lung function in infants and children suffering
from conditions or diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular
development. It has been observed by physical therapists and
parents that infants and children suffering from diseases or
conditions which cause delayed neuromuscular development have
improved muscular tone, neuromuscular coordination, and increased
lung function following water therapy. Children suffering from
conditions or diseases which cause delayed neuromuscular
development have shown improvement through water therapy according
to reports in the medical literature. In Getz, et al, Clinical
Rehabilitation 2006; 20: 927-936, it was reported that children
suffering from cerebral palsy had increased lung function following
a course of water therapy. McIntyre and Plummer, Phys Occup Ther
Pediatr 2010; 30(2): 111-24, showed that aquatic therapy improved
motor skills in children with Development Coordination Disorder
(DCD). Fragala-Pinkham et al. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2009; 21(1):
68-78, demonstrated that water therapy produced clinically
significant improvement in functional mobility, walking endurance,
range of motion, muscle strength and/or pain reduction in children
with cerebral palsy, juvenile idiopathic arthritis or Prader-Willi
syndrome following water therapy. In another study, Fragal-Pinkham,
2009; Pediatr Phys Ther. 21(4):335-44, reported that water aerobic
exercise improved functional abilities, walking endurance and speed
in a child with cerebral palsy. Improvement in functional mobility
following water therapy was shown by McManus and Kotelchuck, 2007;
Pediatr Phys Ther. 19(4):275-82, in children with delayed
functional mobility. In Salem and Gropack, 2010; Phys Occup Ther
Pediatr. 30(4):313-324, children with spinal muscular atrophy
demonstrated improvement of gross motor function and gait following
a course of water therapy.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a neck flotation device such as an
inflated collar 1 is attached around the child's neck 2 to support
the child's head 3 and keep the head 3 above water 4. The child
wearing the neck flotation device 1 is placed in the the pool of
water 5 in which the water has been warmed to a temperature of
approximately 92-94 degrees Fahrenheit so that core body
temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is maintained without
additional caloric expenditure. The neck flotation device 1
surrounding the child's neck 3 permits the child's torso 6 and
extremities 7 to be suspended vertically in the water. In this way,
the child is able to twist and turn his torso 6 or move his
extremities 7, including fingers and toes without the restraint of
gravity. The water places more pressure on the child's chest than
does ambient air which requires increased contractual effort by the
torso muscles and thereby improving the child's lung function over
time. As the child moves about in the water, the child's muscles
are gently massaged and stimulated by therapeutically warm water of
92-94 degrees Fahrenheit. Handles 8 attached to the upper side of
the neck flotation device 1 enable the caregiver to maneuver the
child about the pool of water. The preferred embodiment of the
invention disclosed herein provides therapeutic benefit when
conducted between 30 minutes and 60 minutes, a day. It is
recommended that a parent or other responsible adult be in constant
attendance while the child is in the pool of water.
[0021] The child who suffers from a condition or disease which
cause delayed neuromuscular development can be difficult to
transport to therapy treatment centers. The method disclosed herein
allows frequent, daily therapeutic treatment in the home by parent
and/or therapist. In another embodiment of the method disclosed
herein, the parents or caregiver may use at home, a collapsible
therapy tank of sufficient size and dimension to hold enough water
when assembled and filled with water so that the child can suspend
vertically in the pool of water.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the collapsible therapy tank 9 in the
disassembled form. The collapsible therapy tank 9 is supported by a
plurality of ribs 10 which fit into sleeves 11 along the side of
the collapsible therapy tank 9. The ribs 10 provide rigidity to the
collapsible therapy tank 9 when the collapsible therapy tank 9 is
assembled and filled with water. The collapsible therapy tank 9 has
a drain 12 for removing the water from the collapsible therapy tank
9 following a therapy session. A drain hose 13 is attached to the
drain 12 to permit the water from the collapsible therapy tank 9 to
be removed.
[0023] Assembly of the collapsible therapy tank 9 and filling
collapsible therapy tank 9 with water is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
4. The collapsible therapy tank 9 is supported by a plurality of
ribs 10 which are inserted into sleeves 11 on the collapsible
therapy tank 9 to instill rigidity into the collapsible therapy
tank 9 so that it can be filled with water for a therapy session.
The collapsible therapy tank 9 is of such size and dimension so as
to hold sufficient water to permit the child suffering from a
condition or disease which cause delayed neuromuscular development
to be suspended vertically in the pool of water 5. Vertical
suspension of the child 3 suffering from a condition or disease
which causes delayed neuromuscular development permits the child 3
to move freely in the pool of water 5 to promote muscle strength,
neuromuscular coordination and range of motion. The collapsible
therapy tank 9 is constructed from an insulating material which
minimizes heat loss from the water in the pool. In some
circumstances, lung function may be adversely affected by
chlorinated water. Chlorinated water has been shown to increase the
risk of bronchiolitis and lung infection in children which may lead
to asthma and respiratory allergies. European Respiratory Journal,
online Jan. 14, 2010. The invention disclosed herein provides a
mechanism for water therapy in a pool of unchlorinated water.
[0024] The neck flotation device 1 is shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and
8. The neck flotation device consists of a top inflatable circular
bladder 15 and a bottom inflatable circular bladder 16 as shown in
FIG. 8. The top inflatable circular bladder 15 is approximately 15%
smaller in volume when inflated than the bottom inflatable circular
bladder 16 which is commensurately larger in size than the top
inflatable circular bladder 15. The purpose of the difference in
size between the bottom inflatable circular bladder 16 and the top
inflatable circular bladder 15 is to improve buoyancy in the neck
flotation device 1. The neck flotation device 1 is open in one
place forming two ends 17 as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the neck
flotation device 1 is designed and constructed to resemble a
circular horseshoe with a circular opening 14 in the middle. The
top inflatable circular bladder 15 is inflated through a sealable
port 18. The bottom inflatable circular bladder 16 likewise has a
sealable inflation port. When not in use the neck flotation device
1 may be deflated through the sealable port 18. A shelf 19 is
constructed along the inner circumference of the neck flotation
device. A recess 13 in the shelf 19 is located along the inner
circumference of the neck flotation device 1 at a point equidistant
between the two disconnected ends 17. The child to receive
treatment is placed into the neck flotation device 1 in such a way
that the child's head 3 is above the circular opening 14 in the
neck flotation device 1. The placement of the child's chin in the
horizontal indentation 13 places the child in the neck flotation
device 1 so that the child faces the opposite direction from the
two disconnected ends 17. The neck flotation device 1 is
constructed with handles 8 on the top surface of the neck flotation
device 1 and arranged so as to not obscure the visual field of the
child. The neck flotation device 1 is affixed around the child's
neck by adjustable fasteners 21 on the top surface and bottom
surface of the neck flotation device 1 near the disconnected ends
17 as shown in FIG. 6. The handles 8 provide a convenient method to
maneuver the child in the pool of water 5. Maneuvering the child by
way of the handles 8 affords therapeutic manipulation to increase
sensory stimulation. The neck flotation device 1 is constructed
from a flexible material such as a clear plastic to enable the
child to see his hands and feet below the neck flotation device 1
in the water. Enabling the child to see his hands during water
therapy promotes neuromuscular development such as eye hand
coordination which is crucial for the overall physical development
of the child. The neck flotation device 1 may be constructed in
various sizes to accommodate children of varying weights. In
determining the proper size the inside circumference is the
distance around the circular opening 14 created by connecting the
top and bottom of the neck flotation device 1 and the outside
diameter is the distance across the top of the neck flotation
device 1 from one outside edge to another of the neck flotation
device 1. For example, an extra small neck flotation device 1 would
fit infants from 7-10 pounds body weight and have an inside
circumference of 8 inches and an outside top inflatable circular
bladder 15 diameter of 13 inches. A small neck flotation device 1
would fit children of 10-20 pounds body weight and have an inside
circumference of 11 inches and an outside top inflatable circular
bladder 15 diameter of 16 inches. A large neck flotation device 1
would be appropriate for children weighing between 20-40 pounds
body weight and have an inside circumference of 12.5 inches and an
outside top inflatable circular bladder 15 diameter of 17 inches.
An extra large neck flotation device would fit a child of 40-75
pounds in body weight and have an inside circumference of 13 inches
and an outside top inflatable circular bladder 15 diameter of 19
inches. The invention disclosed herein is an improvement over prior
art in that a child with delayed neuromuscular development has a
neck size disproportionate to their head circumference due to
inherent reduced muscle tone that accompanies delayed neuromuscular
development.
[0025] Other embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Those other
embodiments, even though not specifically disclosed herein are
encompassed within the specification and the scope of the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *