Bi-lateral body weight support system

Abstract

An exercise and therapeutic device having a patient support suspended upon a pneumatic spring. The pneumatic spring is extendable and retractable over an operative extension range during a patient treatment session. The operative extension range includes a low level oscillation range such as occurs when a patient runs on a treadmill and a high level oscillation range such as when a patient performs kneebends, squats, hops and jumps. The pneumatic spring is adapted to impart continuous upward force upon the patient support during a treatment session in a manner so that the upward force has a substantially hyperbolic magnitude across both the low level oscillation range and the high level oscillation range. The pneumatic spring includes a piston reciprocatingly and sealingly engaged within a cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into two variable chambers. An accumulator is in fluid communication with one of the variable volume chambers of the cylinder for increasing the effective air volume of the cylinder within which the piston operates. The accumulator forms an enveloping sleeve about the cylinder. A pressure gauge is placed in fluid communication with the pneumatic spring and is calibrated to display the magnitude of the upward force being applied to the patient support by the pneumatic spring. The cylinder has one or more direct port(s) to the accumulator for facilitating the exchange of air between the cylinder and the accumulator. The direct port has a diameter of at least three-eighths of an inch which serves to minimize damping effects caused by the direct port's narrowed passage between the cylinder and the accumulator.

1 . A body weight support apparatus comprising: 
 a frame having a base adapted to extend under a treadmill, two fixed members and two movable angled members adapted together to extend from the base over the treadmill;    a hoist subsystem attachable to said frame and operable for positioning a subject on the treadmill;    a pneumatic spring support subsystem attachable to said frame and operable for providing resilient support to a subject on said treadmill; and    an angled members orientation control subsystem attachable to said frame and adapted to control the distance between the terminal ends of said movable angled members.    
     
     
         2 . The body weight support apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a voice activated control system configured for controlling the hoist subsystem.  
     
     
         3 . The body weight support apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a voice activated control system configured for controlling the treadmill.  
     
     
         4 . The body weight support apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the moveable angled members are pivotable about the fixed members.  
     
     
         5 . The body weight support apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising an indicator configured for providing the distance between the terminal ends of the movable angled members.  
     
     
         6 . An exercise assembly for use in therapeutic and training sessions, the assembly comprising: 
 an exercise device for providing a form of exercise thereon;    a frame having at least one movable angled member adapted to extend over the exercise device; and    a control assembly for supporting an individual on the exercise device, the control assembly adapted to be coupled to the frame;    wherein the at least one movable angled member is adapted to move over the exercise device by the control assembly.    
     
     
         7 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 6 , the frame further comprising at least one fixed member coupled with the at least one movable angled member.  
     
     
         8 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the frame is adapted to extend under the exercise device.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 8 , the control assembly further comprising a hoist system for placing a patient over the exercise device.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 9 , the control assembly further comprising a spring support subsystem for providing resilient support of a patient during use of the exercise device.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 10 , the spring support system further comprising a pneumatic spring for coupling with the patient during use of the exercise device.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 11 , the spring support system further comprising a measurement device configured to provide a pressure reading of the spring.  
     
     
         13 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 6 , the control assembly further comprising an angled member orientation system for controlling the position of the at least one movable angled member over the exercise device.  
     
     
         14 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 6 , the at least one movable angled member further comprising a pair of movable angled members.  
     
     
         15 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 14 , the control assembly further comprising an angled member orientation system for controlling the position of the pair of movable angled members over the exercise device.  
     
     
         16 . The exercise assembly according to  claim 15 , the angled member orientation system further comprising a screw assembly for positioning the pair of movable angled members.  
     
     
         17 . An exercise assembly for use in therapeutic and training sessions, the assembly comprising: 
 an exercise device for providing a form of exercise thereon;    a frame having at least one movable angled member adapted to extend over the exercise device;    a control assembly for supporting an individual on the exercise device, the control assembly adapted to be coupled to the frame;    wherein the at least one movable angled member is adapted to move over the exercise device by the control assembly;    the exercise assembly further comprising at least one movable angled member further comprising a pair of movable angled members, and    the control assembly further comprising an indicator for indicating the distance between each distal end of the pair of movable angled members.    
     
     
         18 . An exercise assembly for use in therapeutic and training sessions, the assembly comprising: 
 an exercise device for providing a form of exercise thereon;    a frame having at least one movable angled member adapted to extend over the exercise device; and    a control assembly for supporting an individual on the exercise device, the control assembly adapted to be coupled to the frame;    wherein the at least one movable angled member is adapted to move over the exercise device by the control assembly; and    the control assembly further comprising a voice control configured to provided adjustment of the exercise device.    
     
     
         19 . An exercise assembly for use in therapeutic and training sessions, the assembly comprising: 
 an exercise device for providing a form of exercise thereon;    a frame having at least one movable angled member adapted to extend over the exercise device; and    a control assembly for supporting an individual on the exercise device, the control assembly adapted to be coupled to the frame;    wherein the at least one movable angled member is adapted to move over the exercise device by the control assembly;    the control assembly further comprising a hoist system for placing a patient over the exercise device; and    a voice control configured to provided adjustment of the hoist system.