Assistive ambulatory device
AssigneeClarkson University
InventorsGeorge D. Fulk, James J. Carroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing a natural gait by a patient using an ambulatory device having a patient positioned in the middle of the ambulatory device to allow for an upright trunk, minimizing abnormal lower extremities kinematics and weight bearing on arms. By having hinged corners with an adjustable friction the device allows reciprocal arm swing when unlocked. The use of four wheels permits a continuous stepping motion that does not disrupt normal gait kinematics. Having an adjustable height allows the ambulatory device to have an optimal height for placement of patient hands that minimizes weight bearing on arms.
Claims30
An assistive ambulatory device comprising:
- a four sided walker further comprising a plurality of hinging devices mounted on each leg of said walker wherein said walker can be continuously changed from a rectangular shape to a parallelogram shape with a left side of the walker in a forward position or from a rectangular shape to a parallelogram shape with a right side in a forward position
- wherein said walker maintains a parallelogram shape when in use and further wherein said plurality of said hinged legs exert a variable friction of movement of said hinges so as to provide a therapeutic natural gait of a patient's movement
- further wherein using said four sided ambulatory device by having a patient positioned in a middle area of said device to allow for an upright trunk, minimizing abnormal lower extremities kinematics and weight bearing on arms;
- further wherein said ambulatory device having hinged corners with adjustable friction permitting a change of shape of said ambulatory device from a rectangular shape to a parallelogram shape having a left side forward and/or a parallelogram shape having a right side forward allowing said patient's reciprocal arm swing when unlocked;
- further wherein using four wheels permitting a continuous stepping motion that does not disrupt patient's normal gait kinematics;
- further wherein having an adjustable height allows said ambulatory device to have an optimal height for placement of patient hands to minimize weight bearing on arms;
- and
- further wherein said adjustable friction of said hinges assists a patient in reacquiring a proper natural gait.
A method for producing a natural gait by of a patient comprising:
- using a four sided ambulatory device having said patient positioned in a middle area of said device to allow for an upright trunk, minimizing abnormal lower extremities kinematics and weight bearing on arms;
- said ambulatory device having hinged corners with adjustable friction permitting a change of shape of said ambulatory device from a rectangular shape to a parallelogram shape having a left side forward and/or a parallelogram shape having a right side forward allowing user's reciprocal arm swing when unlocked;
- using four wheels permitting a continuous stepping motion that does not disrupt normal gait kinematics;
- and
- having an adjustable height to allow said ambulatory device to have an optimal height for placement of patient hands to minimize weight bearing on arms
- wherein said adjustable friction of said hinges assists a patient in reacquiring a proper natural gait.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.