INFLATABLE-DEPLATABLE PASSIVE EXERCISE UNIT

The present invention relates to passive exercise.

More particularly, the invention provides a multi-compartment inflatable- deflatable garment and mattress which is powered by compressed air.

Everyone can derive benefits, physical and mental, from regular appropriate exercise. Those in good physical condition typically engage in sports, jogging, swimming, gymnastics, use an exercise machine or exercise in any other manner of their choice. Elderly people and those disabled or recovering from stroke or other illnesses are unable to exercise in such an active manner, yet totally refraining from exercise will cause health deterioration. Passive exercisers connected to a power source are designed to enable those unable to exercise actively to exercise by being supported by a powered device.

Manufacturers of passive exercise equipment claim that their device improves immune function, blood production, the autonomic nervous system, increases good cholesterol, decreases bad cholesterol, reduces weight, reduces the chance of developing cancer, retains the flexibility of muscles, joints and tendons, improves bowel and bladder control, improves the immune system, helps overcome learning disabilities, increases energy levels, clears up male prostate problems, improves functioning of Parkinson's sufferers and more. While some of these claims are based more on individual experiences rather than on statistically designed tests, nevertheless if only a fraction of such benefits are indeed obtained in practice, marketing and use of passive exercise devices can well be justified.

Different types of exercisers are known in the prior art. Many devices are driven by an electric motor, which usually drives a machine that is complicated, heavy and expensive. As the subject of the present invention concerns a pneumatically operated device, the reviewed items include pneumatic devices and can be considered to be representative of the state of the art in this field.

In US Patent no. 4,300,759 Caplan discloses a multi-chambered aquatic exercise jacket for the arms and legs. The device is to be used in water, which would need to provide a wave action to qualify as a passive device.

Kesler in US Patent no ^' . 4,612,917 discloses a motor-driven passive exercise machine provided with a head rest, two shoulder pads, two buttock pads and two

foot pads aimed at weight loss. The machine is probably suitable for use in weight- loss clinics, but is likely to be unsuitable for the home use market. The passive exercise cushion disclosed by Feldman in US Patent no. 4,759,543 is used in combination with a chair backrest and is aimed at preventing back pain. The cushion includes a plurality of air-inflatable members. The volume of air in the pouch can be controlled, but once inflated remains static rather than being dynamic.

Stressing the abdominal muscles is the object of the inflatable sit-up exercise device disclosed by Johnson et al. in US Patent no. 5,033,742. The device has at least two chambers and assists the performance of sit-up exercises. The electrically driven passive exercise apparatus described by Duke in US Patent no. 5,099,828 is said to exercise the entire body and to stimulate the cardiovascular system. The apparatus is little different from the machine disclosed by Kesler in US Patent no. 4,612,917, and the same remarks apply.

A series of electrically driven foot and arm exercisers marketed by Anelco include a model named "medica thera vital" intended for use by clinics and rehabilitation centers which can be used by a person sitting in a wheelchair. A similar device but intended for leg exercise and for home use is sold by "Tecogics Scientific Limited" Ottawa, Canada.

A mattress faced by a plurality of pneumatic compartments inflated/deflated periodically is known to be in use in old age nursing homes for the prevention of bedsores. The body movements resulting are short and of low frequency, and are not intended to provide exercise to a person lying thereon and in fact the intention is that the patient should be almost unaware of the movements.

Most of the reviewed devices are not readily portable by a person walking or traveling in a wheelchair, and can only be used in locations where line-voltage electric power is available are also mostly not suitable for being easily transported from house to house by a medical assistant or health care person.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to obviate the limitations of prior art passive exercisers and to provide two units which move body limbs by means of inflation/deflation of balloon-like pockets.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment including inflatable/deflatable sections for passive limb exercise.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a passive exercise mattress provided with an upper section composed of a multiplicity of inflatable/deflatable pockets enabling sufficient movement to exercise limbs of a person lying thereon.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing an inflatable- deflatable passive exercise unit comprising a multiplicity of gas-impermeable flexible compartments each being dimensioned and positioned to repeatedly raise and lower a specific part of the body of a person supported thereby, each compartment being connectable to a gas inlet-outlet valve means, said valve means being provided with valve control means and being connectable to a source of compressed gas for cyclically inflating and deflating at least one predetermined compartment.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a passive exercise unit comprising a mattress-like structure comprising a multiplicity of independently inflatable compartments, said source of compressed gas being an air compressor, and said exercise unit providing passive exercise for a patient lying prone thereon.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a passive exercise unit being a garment.

The invention also provides method for passively exercising a prone person, comprising the steps a) providing a unit comprising a multiplicity of individually inflatable/deflatable compartments; b) supporting said unit on a surface; c) inflating at least one compartment to move a limb segment of said person; d) deflating said compartment to allow passive return of said limb segment; and e) repeating steps c) and d) cyclically.

Yet further embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter.

It will be realized that in the device of the present invention many air pockets are provided, and it is possible but not essential that each air pocket has its own control valve. The minimum number of control valves needed corresponds to the number of pockets in use simultaneously. Such

arrangement leads to a simple low-cost device suitable for home use. Flexible tubes extending from these control valves can be connected to the inflatable pockets and disconnected therefrom as required when the number of air pockets exceeds the number of valves provided.

For use in clinics, hospitals and rehabilitation centers each air compartment is permanently connected to its own control valve. Thus the unit is ready for immediate use to meet the needs of the many different needs of patients being treated.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the unit as a mattress for home use according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a compartment having a concave upper surface;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 except that the unit is configured for institutional use;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the unit as an upper garment;

FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the unit as a lower garment;

FIG. 4c is a perspective view of an inflatable sleeve;

FIG. 4d is a perspective view of the same sleeve shown inflated;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the garment being used by a person lying on a floor carpet;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the garment being used by a person sitting on a chair;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the garment providing exercise to a wheelchair user; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the garment providing exercise to a more severely handicapped user of an electric wheelchair.

There is seen in FIG. 1 an inflatable-deflatable passive exercise unit 10.

A multiplicity of gas-impermeable flexible compartments 12 are each dimensioned and positioned to repeatedly raise and lower a specific part of the body, such as the head, an arm or a leg, of a person supported thereby. Each compartment 12 is provided with a tube fitting 14 connectable to a gas inlet-outlet valve 16. Each valve 16 is provided with valve control means, in the present embodiment the valves being manually operated, 3-way, and controlled by push buttons 18. Air exhaust is effected through the same compressed air tubes 20 as is used for inflation, except that the valve 16 directs the returning air to its exhaust port 22. As the exercise unit 10 is suitable for home use, typically control is by the user. If the user is unable to operate the control push buttons 18, control can be in the hands of an attendant.

In the present home-use embodiment only 2 valves 16 are provided, which are connected to the two compartments 12a, 12b presently in use and shown inflated. The remaining compartments 12 are brought into use by transferring the compressed air tubes 20 to the compartments 12 desired for operation.

The exercise unit 10 is connectable to a source of compressed gas. For home use, a large compressed gas cylinder 24 fitted with a pressure-reducer 26 may be more suitable than an air compressor. The gas in the cylinder 24 will usually be air, but any other low-cost readily available inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, and possibly oxygen could be used.

An air compressor can be used in locations where some noise is unobjectionable; for home use the compressor can be small.

In the present embodiment the passive exercise unit 10 comprises the upper layer of a mattress. An optional lower layer 25, which can if desired be attached to the upper layer, provfdes support to the exercise unit. The unit 10, which can be used without a supporting mattress, provides passive exercise for a patient lying

prone thereon when the valves 16 are actuated. The head of the user is intended to rest on compartment 12c.

With regard to the rest of the figures, similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is seen a detail of a passive exercise unit wherein at least one of the compartments 28 is formed having an upper concave face 30 dimensioned to support a body limb such as an arm, a leg or the head resting thereon. The concave surface 30 obviates the need to strap the limb to the compartment. An internal stay 32 retains the concave section under pressure.

FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a passive exercise unit 34 more adapted for the use of hospitals and clinics.

The number, 13, of valves 36 provided corresponds with the number of compartments 38 on the unit. Each valve 36 is permanently attached to an inflatable/deflatable compartment. Valves 36 are arranged to be electrically operated and electronically controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) 39. Thus whatever exercise regime is recommended by a doctor or physiotherapist can be executed precisely and repeatedly as desired. For hospital and clinic use a compressed air supply generated by a central supply compressor is likely to be available from a wall socket 40, so no gas cylinder is required. A pressure reducer 41 is however provided, as line pressure is likely to be higher than the appropriate pressure for compartment inflation.

Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b, there are depicted two passive exercise units, one in the form of a lower garment 42 (trousers, pants) and the other in the form of an upper garment 44 (jacket, shirt).

The compartments 46 of the garments are positioned to engage and lift individual limb segments of the body of a person wearing either or both garments. An inflation-deflation cycle, resulting from operation of the valve 16 seen in FIG. 1 , controlling the selected compartment 46, causes reciprocating movement of at least one limb segment.

For example, consider the upper garment 44 seen in FIG. 4a. Air inflation/deflation valves are connected individually to pockets "A" and "B". The wearer is lying face down, for example on a floor carpet, which contacts the compartments 46 "A" and 46 "B".

When both compartments are inflated, the thorax is raised. On deflation the thorax is lowered. If only "A" or "B" is inflated, the thorax will be twisted.

For arms exercise, inflation/deflation of compartments 46 "E" extending over the elbow area causes oscillation of the forearm relative to the upper arm, without needing to press against an external reaction surface.

With regard to the lower garment 42 seen in FIG. 4b, it is seen that compartments 46 "C" and "D" extend over the knee surface. Inflation/deflation of these compartments causes oscillation of the calf relative to the thigh, also without needing to press against an external reaction surface.

FIGS. 4c and 4d represent a limb sleeve 48 sized for fitting over the elbow or the knee. Inflation of the membrane 50 surrounding the sleeve straightens the sleeve 48 and the arm or leg contained therein. Deflation, as seen in FIG. 4c, allows the limb to be restored to its original bent position.

FIG. 5 shows a passive exercise garment 52, wherein the compartments 54 of the garment are disposed between individual limb segments 56 of the body of a person and a support surface 58, for example a floor carpet 60 or bed (not shown) used by the person. The valves 16 are operated by an attendant.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user 70 wearing an upper 62 and a lower 64 passive exercise garment. The flexible compartments 66 of the garment are disposed between individual limb segments 68 of the body of a user 70 and the upper surfaces 72 of a chair 74 whereon the person is sitting. The valves 76 are supported to allow operation by the user.

Seen in FIG. 7 is mobile passive exercise unit including a two-piece garment 88, 90, suited to manually-propelled wheelchair users who travel or go on outings. The power source for operating the programmable logic controller 92 is an added electric battery 94 carried by the wheelchair 96.

The source of the compressed gas is a small readily-portable cylinder 98 containing a high-pressure compressed gas. A pressure reduction valve 100 is connected between the cylinder 98 and the control valves 102.

In the present embodiment the power source for operating the valves 102 is the source of compressed gas, the valves being pilot operated under the control of small solenoids 104.

Seen in FIG. 8 is a passive exercise garment 106, the inflatable compartments 108 of which rest on the upper wheelchair surfaces, such as the armrests 110, the seat 112 and headrest 114. Extensions of the garment 106, including an inflatable compartment 108 are disposed under the foot soles 116 and are arranged to contact the footrest 118.

The wheelchair 120 is electrically driven, and carries the source of the compressed gas in a portable high-pressure cylinder 122.

A pressure reduction valve 124 is connected to the cylinder 122, and a quick disconnect coupling 86 is connected between the pressure reduction valve 124 and the directly solenoid-activated valves 126, so the wheelchair occupant 128 or an attendant can easily disconnect the compressed air from the valves 126. The valves 126 are small enough to be conveniently retained connected to the garment 106.

The large electric battery 130 which serves for propulsion of the wheelchair 120 is utilized for operating the solenoid valves 126. Valve control is by the PLC 132. Power for the PLC is derived from the battery 130.

A multi-core power cable 134 connects the PLC 132 to the solenoid valves 126. Cable 134 has a quick connect/disconnect multi-pin coupling 136 so that the wheelchair user 138 can be conveniently released from the wheelchair when necessary, the PLC 132 remaining on the wheelchair 120.

The invention also includes a method for passively exercising a prone person, comprising the following steps.

A. Providing a unit, such as a garment or mattress comprising a multiplicity of individually inflatable/deflatable compartments. Suitable units were referred to in the previous description.

B. Supporting said unit on a surface, such as a chair, wheelchair, mattress, bed, or floor.

C. Inflating at least one compartment to raise a limb segment of the person being exercised. Almost any part of the body can be exercised where the inflatable compartments are positioned appropriately.

D. Deflating said compartment to lower the limb segment.

E. Repeating steps c) and d) cyclically. Actuation of the unit can be arranged to be by the user, by an attendant or under automatic pre-programmed control.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.