| 摘要 |
A body-weight support system is disclosed, including an improved lift system and method. The system enables not only the support of patients undergoing rehab therapies, but including exercise modes that are both customizable and dynamic in nature, as well as a track system, wherein the system is capable of providing alternative functionality at differing locations. Other features disclosed include a system by which a movable support unit tracks or follows a patient, adjustable and variable supportive forces for users based upon, for example, a percentage of sensed body weight, and a user-interface that may be employed in a mobile, wired or wireless manner and will allow the use of multiple lift systems on a single, looped track system. |
| 主权项 |
1. A system for supporting the weight of a person, comprising:
a track; a movable support unit operatively attached to the track, the movable support unit being movable along a path defined by the track in a first direction and in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction; a first drive attached to the movable support unit, said first drive moving the support along the path defined by the track, wherein the first drive is frictionally coupled to a surface of the track to control a horizontal position of the movable support unit along the track; an actuator attached to the movable support unit, said actuator including a second drive for driving a rotatable drum, said drum having a first end of a strap attached thereto and the strap wound in an overlapping coil fashion about an outer surface of the drum, and a second end of the strap being coupled to a support harness attached to support a person; a first sensor configured to detect an amount of horizontal force applied to the movable support unit via the strap, wherein the first sensor includes a strap guide and a first load cell, said strap guide operatively attached to and extending downward from said movable support unit, a top end of said strap guide being attached to the first load cell in a manner causing a change in the first load cell output when the strap is pulled in a direction forward from or backward from a vertical by a person; a second sensor configured to sense a vertical force applied to the strap, wherein the second sensor includes a second load cell and at least one pulley between the drum and the person supported by the strap, wherein the pulley is connected to one end of a pivoting arm, said arm being pivotally attached near its midsection to a frame member coupled to the movable support unit, and where an opposite end of said pivoting arm is operatively associated with the second load cell such that the second load is placed only in compression in response to a load suspended on the strap; and a control system configured to receive signals from the first sensor, the second sensor, and a user interface, and configured to control, in response to the received sensor, the movement of at least the first and second drives to facilitate the support during movement of the person, where the control system dynamically adjusts the amount of support provided to the person by moving the moveable support unit horizontally along the track to follow the person, and by dramatically altering, the vertical force applied to the person via the strap, the drum and the second drive. |
