Gait training via perturbations provided by body-weight support system
OwnerJoseph Hidlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body-weight support system that allows individuals with severe gait impairments to practice over-ground walking in a safe, controlled manner is disclosed. The system includes a body-weight support system that rides along a driven trolley and can be controlled in response to the movement of the subject using the system. They system is also configured to apply strong, yet brief perturbations to a subject as they are stationary or performing a dynamic task, such as walking, side stepping, etc., via the trolley of a body weight support system.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- connecting a subject to an overhead trolley via a tether connected between the subject and the overhead trolley, wherein the overhead trolley is configured to move along an overhead track and control tension in the tether;
- providing a horizontal perturbation force to the subject via the tether;
- and
- providing, subsequent to the horizontal perturbation force, a first vertical force to the subject via the tether.
An apparatus comprising:
- an overhead trolley, wherein the overhead trolley is configured to move along an overhead track;
- a tether configured to connect between the overhead trolley and a subject, wherein the overhead trolley is configured to control tension in the tether;
- and
- a processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- control the overhead trolley to provide a horizontal perturbation force to the subject via the tether;
- and
- control the overhead trolley to provide, subsequent to the horizontal perturbation force, a first vertical force to the subject via the tether.
One or more non-transitory, computer readable mediums encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, are operable to:
- control an overhead trolley connected to a subject via a tether, to provide a horizontal perturbation force to the subject via the tether, wherein the tether is connected between the subject and the overhead trolley, and wherein the overhead trolley is configured to move along an overhead track and control tension in the tether;
- and
- control the overhead trolley to provide, subsequent to the horizontal perturbation force, a first vertical force to the subject via the tether.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.