Closed-loop force controlled body weight support system
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsKeith Gordon, Bjorn Svendesen, Susan J. Harkema, Sam El-Alami
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body weight support system that monitors and controls the level of support force within a stepcycle to result in normative center of mass movement and ground reaction forces. The system comprises a harness connected to a lift line which in turn is connected to a means for advancing and retracting the lift line. A control system is configured to monitor load on the cable and to regulate lift line advancement and retraction in response to load information. The support system can be combined with a treadmill for locomotor training of a subject.
Claims39
A closed-loop support system for supporting the weight of a subject, comprising:
- a frame;
- a lift line supported by the frame, said lift line having a load bearing end;
- a harness connected to the load bearing end of the lift line, for receiving the subject;
- means for advancing and retracting the lift line;
- and
- a control system configured to monitor load on the lift line and in response to load information, to regulate lift line advancement and retraction and thereby control the amount of support provided to the subject.
A closed-loop system for supporting the weight of a subject, comprising:
- a frame;
- a cable supported by the frame, said cable having a load bearing end;
- a harness connected to the load bearing end of the cable, for receiving the subject;
- a fluid-operated cylinder for advancing and retracting the cable, said cylinder being moveably mounted to the frame;
- means for moving said cylinder relative to the frame;
- and
- a control system configured to monitor load on the cable and in response to load information, to regulate cable advancement and retraction and thereby control the amount of support provided to the subject, said control system comprising:
- a load cell,
- a control valve operatively connected to the cylinder, and
- a controller receiving load information from the load cell and in response,
- sending control signals to the control valve.
A system for locomotor training of a subject, comprising:
- a moveable surface located so as to be below and adjacent, or touching, one or both feet of the subject;
- and
- a closed-loop suspension assembly for suspending a subject over the moving surface, the assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a cable supported by the frame, said cable having a load bearing end;
- a harness connected to the load bearing end of the cable, for receiving the subject;
- a fluid-operated cylinder for advancing and retracting the cable, said cylinder being moveably mounted to the frame;
- a servo motor for moving said cylinder relative to the frame;
- and
- a control system configured to monitor load on the cable and in response to load information, to regulate cable advancement and retraction and thereby control the amount of support provided to the subject, said control system comprising:
- a load cell,
- a control valve operatively connected to the cylinder, and
- a controller receiving load information from the load cell and in response, sending control signals to the control valve.
A method of providing controlled support to a subject, comprising:
- suspending the subject by a lift line;
- monitoring the subject's load on the lift line;
- and
- automatically controlling lift line extension and retraction in response to monitored load information.
A method of providing controlled support to a subject performing locomotory movements, comprising:
- suspending the subject by a support cable connected to a fluid-operated cylinder;
- monitoring the subject's load on the cable;
- and
- controlling cable extension and retraction in response to monitored load information by automatically regulating the action of the fluid-operated cylinder.
A method of locomotor training, comprising:
- providing a moving surface;
- suspending the subject over the moving surface by a lift line so that one or both feet of the subject make contact with the surface;
- monitoring the subject's load on the lift line;
- and
- automatically controlling lift line extension and retraction in response to monitored load information, thereby controlling the amount of support provided to the subject.
A method of locomotor training, comprising:
- providing a moving surface;
- suspending the subject over the moving surface by a support cable connected to a fluid-operated cylinder so that one or both feet of the subject make contact with the surface;
- monitoring the subject's load on the cable;
- and
- controlling cable extension and retraction in response to monitored load information by automatically regulating the action of the fluid-operated cylinder, thereby controlling the amount of support provided to the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.