| 主权项 |
1. An accessibility apparatus, which is a control apparatus for engaging and actuating particular powered functions of anatomical support apparatus and auxiliary apparatus and is configured suitably for use by at least one patient having muscular or neural limitations that cause input limitations for the patient, the entire body or portions thereof of said patient being positioned and supported in a preferred configuration for treatment of said patient or in an optimal orientation for comfort or health for said patient, said input limitations of said patient including at least one input limitation selected from the group consisting of: limited muscle control, limited dexterity, and limited strength,
said control apparatus adjustably adapted to at least one input limitation of said patient, in which said control apparatus:
(i) determines at least one intended command of said patient from a physical contact input applied by said patient to some portion of a transducer mechanical assembly of said control apparatus, and(ii) generates at least one control signal therefrom for controlling at least one controlled apparatus of said anatomical support apparatus and/or said auxiliary apparatus; the adjustable adaptation to said at least one input limitation of said patient other than solely comprised of:
(i) geometry, orientation, or arrangement of input structures,(ii) timing or sequence of inputs, or(iii) any combination thereof; said physical contact input other than a voice signal and other than an exclusively electrical phenomenon generated by brain tissue; said physical contact input transduced otherwise than solely by:
(i) non-contact tracking of the motion of an eyeball,(ii) optical transducers not requiring physical contact with some portion of said transducer mechanical assembly,(iii) sip-and-puff apparatus,(iv) touch-responsive screens lacking adjustable adaptation parameters to adjust response by said control apparatus to said at least one input limitation of said patient, or(v) any combination thereof; said control apparatus comprising:
(a) a transducing apparatus configured to transduce said physical contact input of said patient operating under said input limitations, said physical contact input representing said at least one intended command of said patient to said controlled apparatus, said transducing apparatus containing transducers, wherein at least one of said transducers is selected from the group consisting of:
(i) digital transducers of at least two (2) bits of resolution,(ii) analog sensors and(iii) magnetically activated digital transducers, andsaid transducing apparatus further configured to generate from said physical contact input at least one electrical signal;(b) a decision making apparatus wherein said transducing apparatus and said decision making apparatus is adjustably adapted via at least one adjustable adaptation parameter such that said decision making apparatus determines said at least one intended command of said patient from said electrical signal,(c) at least one signal generator, wherein said decision making apparatus is further configured to direct said signal generator to generate said control signal sufficient to direct said controlled apparatus to effect said intended command; and(d) a transmittance apparatus configured to convey said control signal to said controlled apparatus such that it effects said at least one intended command of said patient; wherein:
a) said transducing apparatus is comprised of first and second hand-held pendants configured to at least transduce grip intensities of said patient on at least one of said pendants into at least one electrical signal corresponding to an applied intensity, wherein at least one of said first and second hand-held pendants comprises a first housing and second housing joined along at least one end or side, said first and second housing configured such that at least some portion of said first housing is separated from at least some portion of said second housing such that said portion of said first housing moves or deforms relative to said portion of said second housing upon application of said grip intensities,b) said decision making apparatus is configured (1) to advance from a current state to one of a plurality of available states upon an adjustably predetermined first grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said first hand-held pendant, and (2) to activate a new current state upon an adjustably predetermined second grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said second hand-held pendant, andc) adjustability of the grip intensity required for activation of either of said pendants is comprised of the at least one said adjustable adaptation parameter, whereby said control apparatus enables said patient to control at least one predetermined function of said controlled apparatus by applying said first grip intensity to said first hand-held pendant to induce said decision making apparatus to advance said current state of control apparatus through said available states until said new current state is a desired state for said patient, said desired state being subsequently activated by said patient applying said second grip intensity to said second hand-held pendant, and said desired state remaining activated until said patient ceases applying said second grip intensity (D19). |
