System for creating artificial gravity conditions in micro and hypogravity environments

Abstract

A innovative resistance exercise system that helps preserve an astronaut's bone density, checks muscle atrophy and helps retain postural and gait stability during space missions while increasing neuromuscular activation and enhancing sensorimotor integration is presented. This innovative system comprises of a tight suit that covers the upper torso of the astronaut—from the top of the head to a little below the waist with magnets or electromagnets placed towards the lower end of the suit. When worn by astronauts on a magnetic or electromagnetic flooring (such as a treadmill's floorboard), a force of attraction is exerted on the magnetic end of the suit to create a downward pull that would be spread by the suit onto the muscular and skeletal systems of the astronaut right from the top of the head down to their feet (thereby also loading the vertebrae which extends into the neck region), as the astronaut seeks to keep his/her upright position. The suit may be used in combination with an internally ridged sole directed towards the plantar surface of the feet to stimulate the somatosensory receptors in this plantar surface of the feet. Prior methods of using chords to keep the astronaut in place on a treadmill restrict ease of movement, take a lot of time and do not load the head-neck region. The invention preserves the astronauts' good health longer and helps them function safely and efficiently in space or in the hypogravity of the Moon or Mars.

1 . A system that uses a magnetic or electromagnetic field to apply a load on the muscular and skeletal system of the human body, the said system comprising of at least one magnetic or electromagnetic surface on which the human subject may stand on and a suit for the human subject consisting of at least one magnetic substance that would be subjected to the magnetic or electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       2 . A system of  claim 1 , where the magnetic or electromagnetic surface on which the human subject may stand on is the floorboard of a treadmill.  
   
   
       3 . A system of  claim 1 , where the magnetic or electromagnetic surface on which the human subject may stand on is placed below the floorboard of a treadmill.  
   
   
       4 . A system of  claim 1 , where the magnetic or electromagnetic components are placed below a non-magnetic or non-electromagnetic floor on which the human subject may stand on.  
   
   
       5 . A system of  claim 1 , where the suit worn by the human subject consists or one or more magnets or magnetic elements or electromagnetic elements at the lower extremity of the suit.  
   
   
       6 . A system of  claim 1 , where the suit worn by the human subject consists or one or more magnets or magnetic elements or electromagnetic elements at different horizontal planes of the suit.  
   
   
       7 . A system of  claim 1 , where the sole of the footwear worn by the human subject consists of magnetic or electromagnetic components that would be influenced by the said magnetic or electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       8 . A system of  claim 1 , where the sole of the footwear worn by the human subject has an internal ridge-like structure towards the plantar surface of the feet.  
   
   
       9 . A system of  claim 1 , where a sole-insert is placed in the footwear of the human subject, the sole-insert consisting of magnetic or electromagnetic components that would be influenced by the said magnetic or electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       10 . A system of  claim 1 , where a sole-insert is placed in the footwear of the human subject, the sole-insert consisting of a ridge like structure towards the plantar surface of the feet.  
   
   
       11 . A system of  claim 1 , where bands of magnetic or electromagnetic material are worn by the human subject on the calf-ankle region.  
   
   
       12 . A system of  claim 1 , where the socks of the human subject are made of magnetic or electromagnetic material.  
   
   
       13 . A system of  claim 1 , where bands of magnetic or electromagnetic material are worn by the human subject on the wrist region.  
   
   
       14 . A system of  claim 1 , where the gloves of the human subject are made of magnetic or electromagnetic material.  
   
   
       15 . A system of  claim 1 , where the electromagnetic force fields are generated from the floorboard or the region below the surface that the human subject stands on.  
   
   
       16 . A system of  claim 1 , where the strength of the magnetic or electromagnetic fields may be dynamically changed.  
   
   
       17 . A system of  claim 1 , where a magnetic and electromagnetic field exists on the path leading to the actual system.  
   
   
       18 . A system of  claim 17  where the magnetic or electromagnetic field on the pathway increases from the outer extreme to the entry point of the system described in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       19 . A system of  claim 1 , such that the entire system is enclosed in a chamber that may insulate or reduce the magnetic or electromagnetic fields from having an effect outside the chamber.  
   
   
       20 . A system of  claim 1 , where a magnetic or electromagnetic force may also be applied from the ceiling or the region above the head of the human subject.