WO2014029998A1

WO2014029998A1 - Wheeled walking aid with sit to stand help

Info

Publication number: WO2014029998A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/052210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Nilsson
Original assignee: Arjo Hospital Equipment Ab; Huntleigh Technology Limited
Priority date: 2012-08-23
Filing date: 2013-08-22
Publication date: 2014-02-27
Also published as: GB201215013D0

Abstract

A patient wheeled walking aid includes a frame having an upright support (5) to which are coupled two handles (3) and at least two wheels (4). The frame also includes two rearwardly extending feet members (6) which in one embodiment have high friction brake elements (9) attached thereto. The handles (3) are movable between low positions and high positions, enabling a patient (2) to stand upright while still holding onto the walking aid. The brakes (9) give the aid stability as the patient rises (2) from a sitting position to a standing position.

Description

WHEELED WALKING AID WITH SIT TO STAND HELP

The present invention relates to a wheeled walking aid.

When starting to mobilize a patient after being bed ridden, a number of different levels of support are needed. This requires space and knowledge about the different pieces of equipment and also adjustment time whenever a new piece of equipment has been assessed for the patient.

The traditional rollator is well known and appreciated by patients, although it has some major drawbacks. During physiotherapy, the patient is taught how to walk with a correct posture. However, the patient very soon after walks in a crooked manner by relying upon the rollator and hanging onto its handles, which fails to train upper body stability and causes the patient to experience a loss of balance as soon as the patient lets go of the rollator. When the patient is walking with a walker or rollator, there is always need for several members of staff to be present if the patient needs to carry along an IV (intravenous) pole. Extra staff is also needed if the patient might be tired and need to rest during the way. Then an extra staff brings a wheelchair or gets a chair.

Various devices are known for helping patients gaining mobility, such as walking frames and rollators some even helping with the sit-to-stand motion. For example, WO-2009/097520, "Systems and Methods for Assisting a Seated Person to a Standing Position " discloses a rollator which when aided by a second person may help a first person up from a sitting position. In regard to the apparatus previously described, the disclosed system has two drawbacks, it needs a second person for aiding in the sit to stand motion and it is prone to give the first person a forward leaning posture when walking behind it since it relies on the person applying a partially downwards directed force onto the two handles.

In US-6,343,802 "Method and System for Concentrated Primary

Support for a User in Support Assistive Devices" a system is disclosed that lets a person have balance support when walking without relying on the person applying a partially downwardly directed force onto any handles in that there are no handles. Also this system has in regard to the apparatus previously described two main drawbacks: it does not help the person with the sit-to-stand motion in that it has to be applied from the rear side of the patient. Secondly, even if it does not have any handles to hold on to, it does not guarantee a correct posture while walking since it does not take into account how the upper body is positioned.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved patient walking aid.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient walking aid including a frame, the frame including an upright support and at least one rearwardly extending foot element; at least one roller coupled to the frame; at least one handle coupled to the frame, a brake element engageable with at least one of the at least one roller and a floor surface when a downward and/or rearward pressure is applied to the handle.

Preferably, the walking aid includes first and second rearwardly extending feet elements.

In one embodiment, the walking aid included first and second rollers in the form of wheels, the wheels being located at opposite sides of the frame. In this embodiment, the brake element is preferably engageable with a floor surface.

It is preferred that there are included first and second brake elements.

The or each brake element may be located at a rearward extremity of the or an associated rearwardly extending foot element.

Advantageously, the or each brake element includes a high friction member. There may be provided a low friction element or roller spacing by a biasing element the high friction member from an engagement surface until sufficient force is applied to the low friction element or roller to overcome the biasing element.

In another embodiment, the or each brake element includes a roller engagement member. In this embodiment, the or each engagement member may be coupled to the frame and movable against the force of a biasing element into an out of engagement with an associated roller. Preferably, there is provided at least one forward disposed low friction element coupled to the frame, which may be at least one roller or wheel.

The apparatus preferably includes at least two handles.

The or each handle is advantageously extendable between at least upper and lower positions relative to the frame. The lower position is preferably selected for a patient sitting position and the upper position is preferably selected to allow a patient to stand upright while holding onto the handle or handles.

Advantageously, the or each handle is coupled to the frame by a suspension system. The or each handle may be coupled to the frame by a ratchet mechanism, a spring arrangement, by a friction coupling, by motorized actuator or any combination of these.

Preferably, the or each roller is freely rotatable when no downward of backward force is applied to the handle or handles.

The preferred embodiment can provide a patient walking aid which can take upper body posture in consideration and can therefore provide improved walking posture and balance for the user.

The disclosed embodiments can aid a person in coming safely up from a sitting position to a standing position and then walking with a correct posture and be given balance help from the apparatus. When the person is in a sitting position and is to stand up, the preferred apparatus provide two grips positioned adjacent the person, in such a position that they allow the person to grip them and push with the arms to come to a standing position. The apparatus remains stable without any further action than pushing down on the handles. When the person is in a standing position the handles preferably adapt to the new distance from the floor of the persons hands versus the distance the handles had in the sit-to-stand sequence. The apparatus is designed in such a way that it will be in balance when a small amount of upward force is applied to the handles. When a downward force is applied the apparatus will be to some degree hindered from moving, thus fostering a correct posture when walking. As the apparatus gives the person two handles to hold on to, side stability and a very small turning radius provide a good alternative to having a second person assist the first person in the sit-to-stand motion and walk, giving the first person a better self-esteem in being able to perform the action personally, Furthermore, it will free up resources in the healthcare sector, which is the intended environment, since a second person does not have to oversee the first. The person using the apparatus will also gain in strength as the person with an aid like this will be able to walk more frequently than without an apparatus with the described functions.

The preferred embodiments disclosed combine the two elements which, from a physiotherapist perspective, form a workflow that promotes independence and good rehabilitation of a person in a healthcare environment, namely: 1 ) secure and supportive sit-to-stand and 2) aided walking with a correct posture-fostering design.

Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figures 1 , 2 and 3 show in schematic form an embodiment of walking aid in the course of use by a patient;

Figure 4 is a schematic side elevational view showing the detail of an embodiment walking aid;

Figure 5 is a schematic side elevational view showing the detail of another embodiment walking aid; and

Figure 6 shows two embodiments of side supports for the walking aids disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1 the predominately horizontal surface (1 ) of a bed is shown, herein called the top. The illustration shows a hospital bed but it is understood that it could also represent a sofa, a chair, a couch, a stretcher or any other surface that a person normally would sit on. The patient (2) starting position is sitting on the surface (1 ) with the apparatus in front of her. The two

predominately horizontal handles (3) are placed adjacent on either side of the patient (2). The handles (3) are located at a distance y1 from the floor in that they are adapted to the height of the surface (1 ) to serve the patient (2) with a good platform to push up from in the sit-to-stand motion. The handles (3) are attached to upright rigid support member (5), which extends from two rigid lateral members (6) and (7) and which form a frame on to which a plurality of rollers, in this example wheels (4), are connected on either side of the apparatus. The wheels (4) are arranged in this embodiment in such a way that as the frame tilts backwards when the patient (2), holding on to the two handles (3), pulls forward in the direction of the patient's (2) torso and when the system lacks an upwards directed force on one or both of the handles (3) of sufficient magnitude. Further, the handles (3) are arranged in such a way that the apparatus is given a sideways stability, for which preferably one wheel (4) on each side of the apparatus is used.

With this arrangement the end of the rigid member (6) will touch the floor as the patient (2) push down on to the handles (3) to aid in the sit-to-stand motion. Preferably, the end of the rigid member (6) is configured in such a way that it provides enough friction against the floor to make the handles (3) a stable and safe platform for the patient (2) to push up from in the sit-to-stand motion.

The number of rollers wheels (4) is not necessarily limited to two. Other configurations will give the same effect, for example but not limited thereto, four wheels will give the same effect.

With this arrangement it is still possible for the patient (2) to reposition the apparatus before a downward directed load onto one or both of the handles (3) has been applied.

Referring to FIG. 2 the end of the rigid member (6) provides enough friction against the floor to make the handles (3) a stable and safe platform for the patient (2) to push up from in the sit-to-stand motion, in that two wheels (4) are touching the floor distanced apart by the rigid member (5) by a distance exceeding the width of the patient (2) and together with the end of the rigid member (6) at least three points have contact with the floor and the system is stable.

Referring to FIG. 3 the patient (2) has come to a standing position. As a person's hands are positioned a greater distance from the floor when standing up compared to when sitting down, the handles (3) on the apparatus are suspended to the rigid member (5) in such a way that they are able to alter in height from the floor between two distinctive levels, one lower lever represented by y1 in FIG. 2 and one represented by y2 which is characterized by being bigger than y1 . Preferably, the distance y2 is adapted to the patient

(2) in that when she is having a good walking posture, characterized by a predominately vertical back and straight arms in a predominately vertical position, this results in an upwards directed force on one or both of the handles

(3) that the patient (2) is holding onto. The upwards directed force applied to one or both of the handles results in the end of the rigid member (6) having sufficient low friction or no friction against the floor to allow the apparatus to move in the direction allowed by the wheels (4).

The handles (3) may in one embodiment move freely between the two levels y1 and y2, possibly through a suspension system to the rigid member (5) being guided with low friction. In another embodiment the handles (3) may be able to be locked in the upper position by the suspension system to the rigid member (5). It is understood that these two arrangements can have variations in between such and may be provided by, but not limited to, a ratchet mechanism allowing downwards stability at either height, spring arrangements allowing semi-downwards stability, friction couplings allowing a rigid connection on any given position between y1 and y2, motorized actuator controlling the position of the handles (3).

Referring to FIG. 4 the dynamics of the apparatus is shown. When an upwards directed force is applied to one or both of the handles (3), the end of the rigid member (7) will close the gap B to the floor (8) and ultimately come in contact with the floor (8), by having the gap B sufficient small and with the end of the rigid member (7) being longitudinal spaced forward of the handles (3) by a distance enough for the system to form a stable platform taking account of the weight and speed of the walking patient (3) this will prevent any hazardous unwanted tilt forward motion. The end of the rigid member (7) will preferably be configured to have low friction in that the apparatus shouldn't come to a sudden stop when it comes in contact with the floor (8). The end of the rigid member could be designed, for example but not limited to, as a sphere in a low friction material such as plastic, a wheel or castor, a flat surface in a low friction material such as plastic. Preferably the rigid member (6) is made to have a weight resulting in the upwards applied force to one or both of the handles (3) being pleasant for the patient (2) while still fostering a good upright walking posture.

Referring to FIG. 6 the end of the rigid member (6) can be configured in a number of ways to provide enough friction against the floor to make the handles (3) a stable and safe platform for the patient (2) to push up from in the sit-to-stand motion. In one embodiment the end of the rigid member (6) is made out of a high friction material (9) such as, but not limited to, polyurethane or rubber. In another embodiment the end of the rigid member (6) is designed with a wheel (1 0) in contact with the floor (8) when the system lacks an upwards directed force on one or both of the handles (3) of sufficient magnitude and where the wheel (1 0) is suspended (1 1 ) to the end of the rigid member (6) in such a way that when a downwards directed force on one or both of the handles (3) of sufficient magnitude is applied the high friction part (9) at the end of the rigid member (6) comes in contact with the floor (8) as the wheel is allowed to move in regard to the end of the rigid member (6). It is understood that the wheel (1 0) can represent any form of low friction contact point to the floor (8).

Referring to FIG. 5 is shown another embodiment 3 (the wheels) of the apparatus as described above having plurality of wheels (4), preferably four or more, spaced apart to provide a stable platform forward, backwards and sideways, in regard of the patient (2), connected by a rigid member (1 3) or a plurality of rigid members (1 3). The rigid member (5) is connected to the rigid member (1 3) by a flexible member (1 2) in the form of, for example but limited to, a spring, polyurethane, rubber, or a hinge. When an upwards directed force is applied to one or both of the handles (3) the end of the rigid member (7) will close the gap C to the rigid member (1 3) in that it is rigidly connected to a rigid member (5) and ultimately come in contact with the rigid member (1 3) and prevent any hazardous unwanted tilt forward motion. When the patient (2) pushes down on the handles (3) to aid in the sit-to-stand motion, the end of the rigid member (6), rigidly connected to the rigid member (5), is configured in such a way that it provides enough friction against one or more of the wheels (4) to make the handles (3) a stable and safe platform for the patient (2) to push up from in the sit-to-stand motion, in that the wheels (4) will be sufficiently locked against the floor (8). It is understood that the end of the rigid member (6) can be configured to be directed to the floor (8) as described earlier, thus giving the same result.

It is understood that the rigid member (5), the rigid member (6) and the rigid member (7) can consist of a plurality of rigid members, preferably but not necessarily, spaced apart in that they form a symmetric apparatus in the same plane as the sagittal plane of a patient (2) holding on to the two handles (3).

Claims

1 . A patient walking aid including a frame, the frame including an upright support (5) and at least one rearwardly extending foot element; at least one roller (4) coupled to the frame; at least one handle (3) coupled to the frame, a brake element (6) engageable with at least one of the at least one roller (4) and a floor surface when a downward and/or rearward pressure is applied to the handle.

2. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 , including first and second rearwardly extending feet elements (6).

3. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 or 2, including first and second rollers in the form of wheels (4), the wheels being located at opposite sides of the frame.

4. A patient walking aid according to claim 3, wherein the brake element (6) is engageable with a floor surface.

5. A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, including first and second brake elements (6).

6. A patient walking aid according to claim 5, wherein the or each brake element is located at a rearward extremity of the or an associated rearwardly extending foot element (6).

7. A patient walking aid according to any one of claim 6, wherein the or each brake element includes a high friction member (9).

8. A patient walking aid according to claim 7, including a low friction element or roller (1 0) spacing by a biasing element (1 1 ) the high friction member (9) from an engagement surface until sufficient force is applied to the low friction element or roller (1 0) to overcome the biasing element (1 1 ) .

9. A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each brake element includes a roller engagement member (6).

1 0. A patient walking aid according to claim 9, wherein the or each engagement member (6) is coupled to the frame and movable against the force of a biasing element (1 2) into an out of engagement with an associated roller (4).

1 1 . A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, including at least one forward disposed low friction element (7,4) coupled to the frame.

1 2. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 1 , wherein the at least one forward disposed element is at least one roller or wheel (4).

1 3. A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, including at least two handles (3).

1 4. A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each handle (3) is extendable between at least upper and lower positions relative to the frame.

1 5. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 4, wherein the lower position is selected for a patient sitting position and the upper position is selected to allow a patient to stand upright while holding onto the handle or handles.

1 6. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 4 or 1 5, wherein the or each handle (3) is coupled to the frame by a suspension system.

1 7. A patient walking aid according to claim 1 4, 1 5 or 1 6, wherein the or each handle (3) is coupled to the frame by a ratchet mechanism, a spring arrangement, by a friction coupling, by motorized actuator or any combination of these.

1 8. A patient walking aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each roller is freely rotatable when no downward of backward force is applied to the handle or handles.