Mobility assist device and method for self-transfer between bed and wheelchair

Abstract

A mobility assist device for paraplegic individuals who are non-weight bearing through their bilateral lower extremities and one or two wrists to move in bed and also to transfer from a bed to a wheelchair or commode, or vise versa. The device has a support plate that is intended for supporting the forearm of a non-weight bearing wrist and for securing the forearm to the support plate. For self-transfer of the individual from a bed to a wheelchair, the individual bridges the space between the bed and the wheelchair located near the bed. By using the muscles of the healthy hand and the muscles of the handicapped hand supported by the device, the individual stepwise moves his body along the sliding board to the wheelchair until he/she find himself/herself on the wheelchair seat. The sliding board is then removed. Transfer from the wheelchair to the bed is carried out in the reverse sequence.

1 . A mobility assist device for use by an individual who has non-weight bearing lower extremities and at least one hand with a non-weight bearing wrist, the mobility assist device comprising:
 a frame formed at least from a pair of rods rigidly interconnected at one end with a cross bar;   a forearm support means for supporting the forearm of the hand of the individual who has a non-weight bearing wrist, the forearm support means being attached to the frame in an intermediate position of the frame and oriented perpendicular to the pair of rods that form the frame; and   a forearm securing means for securing the forearm to the forearm support means in a manner that allows the individual to perceive his/her entire body weight, or a part thereof, by the forearm when the device is used as a support for said individual.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each rod of the frame consists of a tubular rod and a support leg, each tubular rod and the respective support leg being telescopically moveable with respect to one another and having a locking mechanism for locking the support leg with respect to the tubular rod in a selected position. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the forearm support means further comprises a substantially semicircular pad made from a soft material for supporting and embracing said forearm when the forearm is placed onto the semicircular pad and means for securing the forearm to the substantially semicircular pad when the individual uses the device to support at least a part of his/her body weight. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the securing means comprises a buckle attached to one end of the semicircular pad; a belt, one end of which is attached to the side of the semicircular pad opposite to said one side and the other end capable of being guided through the buckle; and a fastening mechanism for securing said other end of the belt when the belt is tightened around said forearm of the individual. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the fastening means comprises a fastener composed of tiny hooks and loops engageable with each other in a securable manner. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the forearm support means further comprises a substantially semicircular pad made from a soft material for supporting and embracing said forearm when the forearm is placed onto the semicircular pad and means for securing the forearm to the substantially semicircular pad when the individual uses the device to support at least a part of his/her body weight. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the securing means comprises a buckle attached to one end of the semicircular pad; a belt, one end of which is attached to the side of the semicircular pad opposite to said one side and the other end capable of being guided through the buckle; and a fastening mechanism for securing said other end of the belt when the belt is tightened around said forearm of the individual. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the fastening means comprises a fastener composed of tiny hooks and loops engageable with each other in a securable manner. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the forearm support means is pivotally attached to the frame in an intermediate position of the frame and is provided with a third rod that is pivotally connected to the forearm support means. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the third rod consists of a third tubular rod and a third support leg, which are telescopically moveable with respect to one another and have a third locking mechanism for locking the third support leg with respect to the third tubular rod in the selected position. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the forearm support means further comprises a substantially semicircular pad made from a soft material for supporting and embracing said forearm when the forearm is placed onto the semicircular pad and means for securing the forearm to the substantially semicircular pad when the individual uses the device to support at least a part of his/her body weight. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the securing means comprises a buckle attached to one end of the semicircular pad; a belt, one end of which is attached to the side of the semicircular pad opposite to said one side and the other end capable of being guided through the buckle; and a fastening mechanism for securing said other end of the belt when the belt is tightened around said forearm of the individual. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the fastening means comprises a fastener composed of tiny hooks and loops engageable with each other in a securable manner. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has a height shorter than the distance from the support surface on which the individual sits and on which the device rests during use to the armpit of the individual in a sitting position. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the device has a height shorter than the distance from the support surface on which the individual sits and on which the device rests during use to the armpit of the individual in a sitting position. 
     
     
         16 . A method of self-transfer of a handicapped individual having non-weight bearing lower extremities and at least one non-weight bearing wrist from one location having a first support surface to another location having a second support surface, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a sliding board and a mobility assist device that has a frame comprising at least a pair of rods rigidly interconnected at one end with a crossbar, a forearm support means for supporting the forearm of the hand of the individual who has the non-weight bearing wrist, the forearm support means being attached to the frame in an intermediate position of the frame and oriented perpendicular to the pair of rods that forms the frame, and forearm securing means for securing the forearm to the forearm support means in a manner that allows the individual to perceive all or a part of his/her body weight by the forearm when the device is used as a support for said individual;   (b) assuming by said individual a sitting position on the first support surface with the elbow of his/her hand having the non-weight bearing wrist resting on the first support surface, the other hand of the individual being located on the side of the second location;   (c) placing one end of the sliding board with said other hand under his/her buttock and the other end of the sliding board onto the second support surface so that the sliding board bridges the span between the first location and a second location;   (d) placing by said individual the device onto the first support surface for using the device as a crutch by placing the transverse crossbar under the individual's armpit of the hand having the non-weight bearing wrist;   (e) securing the forearm in the forearm support means by using the forearm securing means;   (f) lifting the body to alleviate pressure exerted by the weight of the individual's body on the sliding board by using the muscles of said other hand and of the forearm of the hand having the non-weight bearing wrist and shifting himself/herself toward the second location;   (g) repeating step (f) until reaching a position on the second support surface in the second location; and   (h) releasing himself/herself from the sliding board by pulling it out.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first location is a bed and the second location is a wheelchair. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first location is a wheelchair and the second location is a bed.