Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Device with applicator having specific movement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2003-09-16
Yu, Justine (Department: 3764)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Device with applicator having specific movement
C601S084000, C601S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06620117
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for vibrationally stimulating a human body. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for mechanically stimulating tissues and organs, including bone tissue and soft tissue in the legs, arms and spinal region of a human user, as well as skin, ears, nose, throat, vascular structures, muscles and joint regions including ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage, and the cardiovascular system and venous circulation, by applying mechanical vibration to the user's body.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to encourage bone growth with vibration and impact devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,028 to Kenneth J. McLeod discloses an apparatus for stimulating bone growth in a living organism such as a human by transmitting vertical vibrations through a plate upon which the person stands. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,103,806, 5,376,065, and 5,191,880, also to McLeod, claim methods for preventing osteopenia, and promoting growth, ingrowth, and healing of bone tissue including bone fractures, through the step of subjecting bone to a mechanical load. U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,484 to Bassett et al. describes a method of providing passive exercise treatment to increase the size and strength of bone by transmitting vertical impact loads to the heel of a patient. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,599 to Halpern claims a similar method for the prevention or alleviation of osteoporosis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,822 to Ricken describes a resonance frequency stimulator for increasing blood circulation in horses comprising a vibrating platform upon which a horse is made to stand, and which vibrates at the resonant frequency for the horse being treated.
The devices currently known in the art are typically focused on a concentrated stimulation of bone tissue through vertical vibration. The McLeod patents, for example, suggest vertical vibration with optimal ranges of load and vibration frequency. In addition to these limitations, the devices currently known in the art do not utilize horizontal vibration or address the concept of independent control of vertical and horizontal motion.
The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vibrational conditioning and/or therapeutic therapy device.
It is yet another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device for home use that is easy to operate.
It is an additional object of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device that provides horizontal vibrations as well as vertical vibrations.
It is another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device that provides both horizontal and vertical vibrations that may be operated independently of each other, and are independently controllable as to frequency.
It is another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device that is relatively low to the ground for ease of stepping onto and off of the base platform.
It is another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device that includes handrails for assisting the user in stepping onto and off of the base platform.
It is yet another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such a device that includes vibrational handrails that will impart vertical vibration to the arms and upper body of the user when grasped.
It is still another object of this invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide such as device that permits more versatility to the user for composing vibrational treatments of tissues and organs, including bone tissue and soft tissue in the legs, arms and spinal region of a human user, as well as skin, ears, nose, throat, vascular structures, muscles and joint regions including ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage, and the cardiovascular system and venous circulation of the user.
The above and other objects are realized in an apparatus for mechanically stimulating a human user comprising a base frame, a rigid plate or platform connected to the base frame and having an area sufficient to support a standing human, vibration means attached to the bottom of the horizontal plate whereby the plate oscillates in both vertical and horizontal directions at a desired frequency within an amplitude of preferably 2.0 millimeters or less, and frequency control means whereby the frequency of the vertical and horizontal oscillations may be selectively and independently adjusted. Hand rails are preferably connected to the device such that vibrations may be transmitted to the arms and upper spinal and head regions of a user's body when grasped.
Some of the above objects are also realized in a unique method for using the above-referenced apparatus for mechanically stimulating tissues and organs, including bone tissue and soft tissue in the legs, arms and spinal region of a human user, as well as skin, ears, nose, throat, vascular structures, muscles and joint regions including ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage, and the cardiovascular system and venous circulation, by applying mechanical vibration to the user's body. Such vibrational stimulation may also improve the digestive system and bowel habits.
The ability of the device disclosed herein to accomplish the objectives is significant. Horizontal vibration provided by applicants' home-use device may be desirable for improving cartilage nutrition in joints, for alleviating joint pain, stimulating articular cartilage in hip, ankle, and knee joints, for example, and other joints, and for stimulating muscle compartments including their vascular elements. In addition, bending the knee joint through various knee flexion angles during vibrational treatment will achieve wider stimulation of weight-bearing zones and may be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It would therefore be desirable to have a device and method that combines vertical vibration with horizontal vibration to provide these benefits. Such a method would be beneficial for the treatment of tissues and organs, including bone tissue and soft tissue in the legs, arms and spinal region of a human user, as well as skin, ears, nose, throat, vascular structures, muscles and joint regions including ligaments, tendons, articular cartilage, and the cardiovascular system and venous circulation. The benefits to articular cartilage may be provided either with or without osteogenic or chondroprotective agents.
Applicants' vibrational conditioning and/or therapeutic therapy device will allow independent control of the presence and frequency of vibrations in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. This will allow the selection of an appropriate vibration regime, whether it involves vertical vibration alone, horizontal vibration alone, or both vertical and horizontal vibrations simultaneously.
Still further, the prior art devices do not achieve adequate vibration of the upper spinal region or the head region, nor of the upper extremities where osteoporosis and associated fractures are a major health risk. When a user stands or even sits upon vibrating platforms as taught by the prior art, the mass of the user's body dampens the vibrations before they reach more distant regions of the upper body. Thus the benefits of vibrational loading of bone and connective tissue are attenuated in those regions. A preferred vibrational conditioning and/or therapeutic therapy device will provide means whereby th
Greenwald Richard M.
Johnson Stephen C.
Rosenberg Thomas D.
Clayton Howarth & Cannon, P.C.
Connextech, L.L.C.
Yu Justine
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