Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-07
2004-02-10
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C601S053000, C005S600000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06689076
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mechanism for generating wave motion, and more particularly the invention relates to beds and chairs having wave generating mechanisms incorporated therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patients who are immobilized due to partial or complete paralysis, or are recuperating from major surgery or otherwise bedridden for extended periods of time, or passengers in vehicles or office workers immobilized in chairs are often unable to exercise or move sufficiently under their own power. In many cases this is problematic and can lead to complications such as thrombosis or bed sores, and disuse atrophy of joints and soft tissues. Most solutions to this problem involve changing pressure points exerted on the patient's body by the bed or couch on which they are supported. Mattresses having fluidized beds incorporated into the structure or inflatable/deflatable devices are common but these units typically involve complicated mechanisms and circuitry and are quite expensive. A propagating wave through a body support is a desirable alternative to these other solutions.
Several types of wave generating devices have been patented. U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,612 issued to Bunger et al is directed to a wave generating apparatus which uses a set of rollers mounted on a carriage that is driven along a set of rails. A flexible sheet is secured at the ends of a frame and as the carriage is driven along the rails the roller displaces the sheet upwardly so that a wave motion is produced along the sheet. This device is quite bulky and is only able to produce one displacement wave for only one set of rollers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,584 issued to Kashubara discloses a device for converting fluid flow into mechanical motion using an airfoil movable within a vertical track. As air flows over the air foil the foil moves vertically up or down in the vertical track thereby transmitting movement to a set of crank arms thereby rotating an axle which is attached at the ends to the two crank arms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,941 issued to Wilson et al is directed to a water engine for converting water flow into other types of mechanical energy. Water flowing toward one side of the device engages a set of butterfly valves and a wheeled carriage is pushed along the frame of the barrage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,651 issued to Hufton discloses a fluid flow apparatus that may operate as a pump or motor. The device includes several flexible sheets driven in oscillatory motion by a bulky crank assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,861 issued to Huang describes a therapeutic bed with a wave surface generated through two longitudinal shafts, a multitude of offset cams and a support mechanism.
A PCT patent application PCT/EP98/01276 issued to Nestle S. A. uses a method similar to Huang's wave bed in a peristaltic pump. A longitudinal shaft drives a number of cams that sequentially compress a tube in a wavelike manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,364 issued to Volk also describes a wave bed activated through inflation and deflation of air pockets.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a compact wave generating device that can be used for producing wave motion for use in chairs, beds or other therapeutic devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that can be used for generating transverse wave motion.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus for generating transverse wave motion that can be adapted for numerous applications including but not limited to wave beds, wave chairs, wave pumps, visual display surfaces and propulsion systems.
In one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for generating wave motion, comprising:
a) a flexible member and at least one link member having opposed first and second end portions and being rigidly attached at said first end portion to said flexible member; and
b) oscillatory drive means operably connected to an inertial anchor, said oscillatory drive means including a crank assembly, and said at least one link member being attached to said crank assembly at said second end portion so that when said oscillatory drive means is engaged said second end portion undergoes oscillatory motion to produce transverse wave motion along said flexible member.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a wave generating device for pumping bodily fluids in a person, comprising;
a) a flexible member;
b) oscillatory drive means attached to said flexible member, said oscillatory drive means including a crank assembly;
c) at least two link members each having opposed first and second end portions, the at least two link members being spaced apart a pre-selected distance from each other and each being rigidly attached at their respective first end portions to said flexible member;
d) at least one elongate beam, said at least two link members being pivotally attached at said second end portions to said at least one elongate beam, and said at least one elongate beam being attached to said crank assembly for imparting oscillatory motion to the at least one elongate beam so that when the oscillatory drive means is engaged the at least one elongate beam undergoes oscillatory motion which produces transverse waves in the flexible member; and
e) securing means for temporarily strapping said wave generating device to a person with said flexible member bearing against a part of a person's anatomy through which body fluids are to be pumped.
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Hill & Schumacher
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Saringer Research Inc.
Schumacher Lynn C.
Thanh Quang D
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