Hands-free walking devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12115122-B2
Application number	US-202117508366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2021
Priority date	Oct 22, 2020
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

Hands-free walking devices and methods of constructing the same are described herein. The devices can include a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee and one or more hinges connected to the receiving member. One or more vertical members can be each connected to one of the hinges. A ground-contact member can be connected to the vertical members. The receiving member can transfer at least a portion of the patient's weight through the vertical members to the ground-contact member. The hinges can rotate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates while walking to support a natural gait.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hands-free walking device, comprising:
a receiving member configured to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee;
one or more hinges connected to the receiving member, wherein each hinge is configured to articulate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates;
one or more vertical members, wherein each vertical member is connected to one of the one or more hinges;
a ground-contact member connected to the one or more vertical members and configured to contact the ground, wherein at least a portion of a patient's weight is transferred from the receiving member through the one or more hinges and the one or more vertical members to the ground-contact member in contact with the ground such that:
a patient's foot is oriented and spaced above the ground-contact member during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device; and
the patient's lower leg remains parallel to the one or more vertical members during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;

a saddle connected to the one or more vertical members, the saddle positioned above the ground-contact member and configured to support the patient's foot; and
a resilient member connected to the saddle, wherein the saddle is configured to transfer at least some of the patient's weight through the one or more vertical members and the resilient member to the ground-contact member.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges are configured to maintain an angle between the receiving member and the one or more vertical members within a given range.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the given range is equal to a range of motion of the patient's knee.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges includes at least two hinges and the one or more vertical members includes at least two vertical members where at least one hinge is attached to each of the at least two vertical members.

5. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a bar extending behind the patient's leg and configured to maintain a given distance between each of the at least two vertical members.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a foam insert.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the foam insert comprises multiple foam inserts, each with varying stiffness configured to increase or decrease the amount of the at least some of the patient's weight transferred by the saddle.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a spring.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the spring has a spring constant that is proportional to the at least some of the patient's weight transferred by the saddle.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the patient's weight is determined based on an amount of the patient's weight to be borne by the patient's foot of in accordance with a rehabilitation plan.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more fasteners configured to secure the patient's leg to the hands-free device.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more fasteners are straps or sleeves.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is configurable to increase or decrease the at least some of the patient's weight transferred by the saddle.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more dampers, wherein each damper is connected to the receiving member and one of the one or more vertical members and at least some of the patient's weight is transferred from the receiving member through the one or more dampers.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein each damper includes a first end attached to a first point above the one or more hinges and a second end attached to a second point below the one or more hinges.

16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spring coupled to the saddle and one or more of the vertical members, wherein the at least one spring is replaceable.

17. A method of constructing a hands-free walking device, comprising:
configuring a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above the patient's knee;
connecting one or more hinges to the receiving member, wherein each hinge is configured to articulate about an axis about which a patient's knee also rotates;
connecting one or more vertical members to each of the one or more hinges;
connecting a damper to each vertical member, respectively, and connecting each damper to the receiving member;
connecting a ground-contact member to the vertical members wherein at least some of a patient's weight is transferred from the receiving member through the dampers and the vertical members to the ground-contact member such that:
a patient's foot is oriented and spaced above the ground-contact member during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device; and
the patient's lower leg remains parallel to the one or more vertical members during the patient's use of the hands-free walking device;

determining an amount of weight to be borne by an injured portion of the patient's leg; and
configuring a saddle to support a patient's foot and transfer the amount of weight through at least one resilient member and the vertical members to the ground-contact member, wherein:
the saddle is positioned above the ground-contact member, and
a spring constant of the at least one resilient member is proportional to the amount of weight transferred by the saddle.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising coupling at least one spring to the saddle and one or more of the vertical members, wherein the at least one spring is replaceable.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a helical metal coil and a resilient cord.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein connecting the dampers further comprising:
attaching a first end of a first damper to a first point on the receiving member above a first hinge of the one or more hinges;
attaching a second end of the first damper to a second point on a first vertical member of the one or more vertical members below the first hinge.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein a rehabilitation plan includes one or more stages of recovery, and wherein the amount of weight is determined by a corresponding stage of recovery.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising coupling one or more fasteners to the receiving member and coupling one or more fasteners to the one or more vertical members.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the dampers comprise at least one of a gas shock absorber, a hydraulic shock absorber, a metal spring, and a rubber elastomer.

Assignees

• Greenhalgh Scott
• Univ Utah State

Inventors

• Greenhalgh Scott

Classifications

• A61H2003/007

  secured to the patient, e.g. with belts · CPC title

• A61H2003/0294

  comprising a ball-and-socket joint · CPC title

• A61H2003/0283

  using elastomeric material · CPC title

• A61H2201/1642

  Holding means therefor · CPC title

• A61H2201/1652

  Harness · CPC title