BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a relief system for at least partially relieving the body weight of a person, at least comprising: a suspension, a cuff for receiving at least part of an outer extremity of the person, a first support means for operatively connecting the cuff to the suspension, and a guide means arranged on the suspension for guiding the first support part.

In the context of rehabilitation of bedridden patients, and also during targeted walking and/or running training, it may be advantageous to control the weight load acting on the joints, bones, tendons and/or ligaments, etc., of a person who is training, and to reduce this weight load in relation to a load with the full body weight.

For this purpose, various systems for relieving the body weight have been disclosed in the prior art.

For example, DE 10 2007 050 575 A1 discloses an apparatus for securing patients and for relieving the weight of handicapped patients, in particular stroke patients, which apparatus can be used in treadmill training. The disclosed apparatus stands on the floor, has a frame-like shape and extends across a treadmill, such that rope suspensions can be fastened, with maximum utilization of the ceiling height by two separate rope suspensions for the patient to the left and right alongside the head at the shoulders. By providing two separate rope suspensions, which are subsequently joined together to a central main attachment, wherein the main attachment and the joining together are in turn located laterally alongside the patient and not above the head of the patient, the apparatus has a particularly small overall height.

DE 198 05 164 C1 discloses a training apparatus for the human gait, which apparatus can be used both for gait rehabilitation and also as a training apparatus. It is distinguished by, among other things, a strap system which is controlled by the center of gravity and which secures the patient.

Finally, DE 10 2014 004 997 A1 discloses a body weight relief apparatus for stabilizing the trunk and securing against falls, particularly for treadmill ergometer applications in ergometry, therapy, rehabilitation and running/sprinting training. It is distinguished by a fall prevention means with automatic switching off of the treadmill and with automatic lifting/uprighting of the patient/athlete in the event of a fall.

A common aspect of all the body weight relief systems mentioned is that the interaction between the respective apparatus and the user takes place via harnesses and/or straps, which have to be arranged on the upper body, the waist and/or the groin region of the user, in order to hold the user in a secure and stable manner. Particularly in the rehabilitation of seriously or critically ill patients who, for example on account of loss of consciousness, are unable to apply such harnesses/straps themselves, the known systems always cause healthcare personnel the problem of having to connect the patient to the respective apparatus from a lying position, which makes it necessary to lift the whole upper body of the patient. Moreover, seriously ill patients in particular are often connected to many other diagnostic and/or therapeutic medical devices, for example ECGs, catheters and the like, which cannot be disconnected during the rehabilitation measures and which must also not be interfered with and/or impeded by the connection to a body weight relief system.

Reference is also made to USA 2017/0246069 A1 and to U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,754 A1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the above, the object of the present invention is to make available a body weight relief system which is improved in relation to the prior art and which makes it possible, especially for a third party, to easily establish a connection between a user, in particular a seriously ill and bedridden patient, and the relief system. The body weight relief system is also intended to be designed in such a way as to avoid interfering with or impeding other medical devices connected to the patient, and at the same time to permit an unrestricted stepping/walking movement of the user.

This object is achieved by a relief system for at least partially relieving the body weight of a person, at least comprising a suspension, a cuff for receiving at least part of an outer extremity of the person, first support means for operatively connecting the cuff to the suspension, and guide means arranged on the suspension for guiding the first support means.

Compared to relief systems of the type in question, a relief system according to the invention is characterized in that the cuff is designed as a thigh cuff for receiving a thigh of the person, and that at least one first fastening means for fastening a first end of the first support means and at least one second fastening means for fastening a second end of the first support means are formed on the cuff, wherein the support means runs via the guide means, such that an equally distributed tensile force is exerted on the cuff at the first fastening means and second fastening means when the first support means is guided through the guide means during a movement of the cuff when loaded by at least part of the body weight of the person.

The relief system according to the invention advantageously permits comfortable movement of the cuff, with low resistance, and therefore of an outer extremity, in particular a leg, at the same time with constant relief of at least part of the body weight of the person who is training. Through the possibility of receiving at least parts of extremities of a person by means of the cuff of the relief system, it is advantageously possible, when connecting the person to the relief system before the start of the training or rehabilitation exercises, to avoid having to reposition the person. Particularly when using the relief system in the context of rehabilitation exercises by a bedridden patient in an intensive care unit, the fact that at least part of an outer extremity of the person is received by the cuff advantageously ensures compatibility with medical/therapeutic devices, for example catheters and/or diagnostic sensors, which are often arranged on the torso and/or in the groin region of the person. Finally, the cuff can be designed in the manner described in the parallel application 10 2018 102 107.1 which is filed today by the applicant and to which reference is made in full.

Further advantageous embodiments and developments which can be used individually or in combination with one another are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one third fastening means can be formed on the cuff for fastening a first end of a second support means whose second end is connected to the suspension, such that a variable tensile force is exerted on the cuff at the third fastening means when the second support means is guided through the guide means during a movement of the cuff when loaded by at least part of the body weight of the person. The three-point suspension ensured in this way means that the force acting on the cuff, in particular at the zero point of the movement, i.e. with the suspended extremity of the person extended and approximately straight, is advantageously distributed uniformly to the cuff, thereby advantageously increasing the stability of the relief system, in particular as regards lateral tilting of the cuff.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it has proven expedient that, on a closed cuff, the fastening means can be arranged variably, such that, in the case of two fastening means, these are arranged at an angle of 180° to each other, and, in the case of three fastening means, these are arranged at an angle of 120° to each other. Fastening means that are able to be arranged variably advantageously allow the positions of the fastening means on the cuff to be adapted to the diameter of the extremity received by the cuff and in this way advantageously lead to a uniformly applied, i.e. equally distributed, tensile force on the cuff or on the extremity received by the latter.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the guide means can have at least one slide eyelet or a deflection roller to which the first support means is operatively connected. A guide means designed as a deflection roller advantageously permits particularly smooth running of the first support means. A slide eyelet is a particularly cost-effective alternative to this.

In a preferred embodiment, the cuff can moreover be designed as a thigh cuff for receiving a thigh of a person. A cuff designed as a thigh cuff advantageously allows the person to be received directly at the thigh and thereby avoids further holding and/or stabilizing means that could impede the movement of the person. Moreover, a thigh cuff in particular advantageously avoids interference with other medical/therapeutic devices such as catheters, in particular with inguinal catheters. In contrast to a waist strap or upper body jacket for example, a thigh cuff is advantageously fitted in place without the person being repositioned, wherein the user, in particular the physiotherapist, in each case only has to move a leg, which is relatively light compared to a person's trunk.

Moreover, an embodiment of the relief system has proven expedient in which the suspension is part of a head end of a hospital bed, in particular of a hospital bed that can be raised to a vertical position. A suspension designed as part of a head end of a hospital bed, in particular of a hospital bed that can be raised to a vertical position, advantageously permits simple and at the same time stable fastening of the relief system and advantageously saves on further structural parts, e.g. additional frames.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the relief system can have a means for longitudinal displacement, which is designed to displace the suspension along a longitudinal direction, in particular of a hospital bed. With the aid of such a means for longitudinal displacement, it is possible, when using the relief system together with a stationary base plate or with a treadmill or the like, to relieve at least part of the body weight of the person by pulling, i.e. by a longitudinal displacement of the suspension along a longitudinal direction, in particular of a hospital bed. Particularly in the case of persons who are physically quite large and/or strong, a relief system configured in this way can advantageously facilitate individual adaptation to the respective user, without having to move the actual person in the hospital bed.

It has also proven expedient if an additional means is provided for at least partially taking up further weight of the person. The additional means can be designed as a base plate arranged at the foot end of the hospital bed or, particularly preferably, as a foot module of a rehabilitation mechanism that permits step movements. Particularly in the case of intensive care patients, who should be moved (moved lengthwise) as little as possible in their bed, an additional means for at least partially taking up further weight of the person permits relief by displacement of a base plate/foot module along a longitudinal direction of the hospital bed, wherein the person, in this case in particular the intensive care patient, can remain in position as regards a longitudinal movement.

Moreover, an embodiment of the invention is preferred in which a sensor can be provided for measuring a weight force on the person, in particular for measuring the force acting on the outer extremities, which sensor provides control data for the control of a means for longitudinal displacement, of an additional means for at least partially taking up further weight of the person, and/or of a verticalization mechanism of a hospital bed. A sensor-controlled relief system of this kind advantageously allows the weight force acting on the extremities of the person to be set automatically according to the sensor data actually measured.

According to the invention, an embodiment of the relief system is preferred in which, in particular at the head end of a hospital bed, two suspensions are arranged spaced apart from each other, wherein a cuff can be operatively connected to each suspension via a first support means. A relief system configured in this way with two suspensions advantageously permits uniform relief on both sides of the body and is particularly suitable for the performance of (automated) walking therapy and/or mobilization, in particular using a foot module of a rehabilitation mechanism arranged, for example, on the hospital bed.

Moreover, in a further embodiment, the first support means and/or the second support means can be configured as a band, belt, strap and/or a chain.

Particularly preferably, the first support means and/or the second support means can be formed from a disinfectable plastic, in particular from polyurethane, or can be provided with a disinfectable coating, in particular of polyurethane. Support means made from a disinfectable plastic, or those provided with a disinfectable coating, advantageously permit time-efficient and thorough cleaning of the support means and, particularly when used in the intensive care unit of a hospital, meet the stringent hygiene requirements in place there.

It has moreover proven expedient if the first support means and/or the second support means are designed to be longitudinally adjustable at least at one end. The support means can thus be advantageously adapted easily and quickly to the height of the person training. Particularly when used at a rehabilitation center, in which various users use the same relief system in quick succession, the “change-over” time for adaptation to the next user is advantageously shortened.

Finally, an embodiment of the invention is preferred in which a holding system is provided for the upper body and/or the waist of a person. A holding system can advantageously improve the stabilization during the movement of the person who is training, particularly if only one cuff is provided on the relief system.

The present invention makes available a relief system which is improved in relation to the prior art and which at least partially relives the body weight of a person and makes it possible, especially for a third party, to easily connect a person, in particular a seriously ill and bedridden patient, to the relief system before the start of the training or the rehabilitation exercises, advantageously without repositioning of the person. Furthermore, particularly when using the relief system in the context of rehabilitation exercises by a bedridden patient in an intensive care unit, the fact that at least part of an outer extremity of the person is received by the cuff advantageously ensures compatibility with medical/therapeutic devices, for example catheters and/or diagnostic sensors, which are often arranged on the torso and/or in the groin region of the person. Moreover, the present invention advantageously permits the performance of rehabilitation and/or mobilization exercises with at least partial relief of the body weight of the person, without impeding the stepping/walking movement of said person. It is of course therefore also suitable for use in traditional rehabilitation apparatuses and/or sports apparatuses for non-bedridden patients.

Additional details and further advantages of the invention are described below on the basis of preferred illustrative embodiments, to which the present invention is not limited however, and in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawing.

