Hands-free walking devices and methods
AssigneeUtah State University
InventorScott Greenhalgh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hands-free walking devices and methods of constructing the same are described herein. The devices can include a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee and one or more hinges connected to the receiving member. One or more vertical members can be each connected to one of the hinges. A ground-contact member can be connected to the vertical members. The receiving member can transfer at least a portion of the patient's weight through the vertical members to the ground-contact member. The hinges can rotate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates while walking to support a natural gait.
Claims23
A hands-free walking device, comprising:
- a receiving member configured to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee;
- one or more hinges connected to the receiving member, wherein each hinge is configured to articulate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates;
- one or more vertical members, wherein each vertical member is connected to one of the one or more hinges;
- a ground-contact member connected to the one or more vertical members and configured to contact the ground, wherein at least a portion of a patient's weight is transferred from the receiving member through the one or more hinges and the one or more vertical members to the ground-contact member in contact with the ground such that:
- a patient's foot is oriented and spaced above the ground-contact member during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;
- and
- the patient's lower leg remains parallel to the one or more vertical members during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;
- a saddle connected to the one or more vertical members, the saddle positioned above the ground-contact member and configured to support the patient's foot;
- and
- a resilient member connected to the saddle, wherein the saddle is configured to transfer at least some of the patient's weight through the one or more vertical members and the resilient member to the ground-contact member.
A method of constructing a hands-free walking device, comprising:
- configuring a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above the patient's knee;
- connecting one or more hinges to the receiving member, wherein each hinge is configured to articulate about an axis about which a patient's knee also rotates;
- connecting one or more vertical members to each of the one or more hinges;
- connecting a damper to each vertical member, respectively, and connecting each damper to the receiving member;
- connecting a ground-contact member to the vertical members wherein at least some of a patient's weight is transferred from the receiving member through the dampers and the vertical members to the ground-contact member such that:
- a patient's foot is oriented and spaced above the ground-contact member during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;
- and
- the patient's lower leg remains parallel to the one or more vertical members during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;
- determining an amount of weight to be borne by an injured portion of the patient's leg;
- and
- configuring a saddle to support a patient's foot and transfer the amount of weight through at least one resilient member and the vertical members to the ground-contact member, wherein:
- the saddle is positioned above the ground-contact member, and
- a spring constant of the at least one resilient member is proportional to the amount of weight transferred by the saddle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.