Differential air pressure systems and methods of using and calibrating such systems for mobility impaired users

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using and calibration such systems for individuals with impaired mobility. The differential air pressure systems may comprise an access assist device configured to help a mobility impaired user to stand in a pressure chamber configured to apply a positive pressure on a portion of the user's body in the seals pressure chamber. The system may further comprise load sensors configured to measure the user's weight exerted inside and outside the chamber. The system may be calibrated by determining a relationship between the actual weight of the user and the pressure in the chamber, where the actual weight of the user may be measured by more than one load sensor and at least one load sensor is not in the chamber.

1 . A differential pressure system for improving mobility of a disabled individual, comprising:
 a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user's body and to form a seal between the user's body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user's body while the user's body is sealed in the chamber;   a platform in the pressure chamber, wherein the platform is configured to contact the user's body;   a first load sensor positioned substantially underneath the user's torso and configured to measure the load applied by the user while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal;   a second load sensor coupled to the differential pressure system at a position that is different from the first load sensor, the second load sensor configured to provide an output signal;   a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensors and to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total weight of the user measured by the first and second load sensors at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  the system further comprising an access assist device configured to assist the disabled user's access to the chamber, wherein the second load sensor is in communication with the access assist device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second load sensor is positioned on the access assist device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the access assist device is configured to bear a portion of the user's weight during calibration. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the access assist device is configured to bear substantially all of the user's weight during calibration. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of load sensors substantially underneath the user's torso and a plurality of load sensors coupled to the differential pressure system at one or more locations above the user's lower extremities. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first load sensor is positioned within the pressure chamber and is configured to engage the portion of the user's body in the pressure chamber, and the second load sensor is positioned outside the pressure chamber and is configured to engage the user's body outside the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an exercise device, wherein the exercise device is a treadmill. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein calibrating the system comprises an actual weight of the user provided by the total user weight measured by the plurality of load sensors at a pressure point. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the total weight of the user is determined by summing the load measured by the first and second sensors and subtracting a baseline load measurement from the sum. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising a handrail outside the pressure chamber wherein the handrail is configured to bear a portion of the user's weight and the second load sensor measures the amount of the user's weight supported by the handrail during calibration. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising a seal interface frame supporting the seal interface of the pressure chamber and configured to support at least a portion of the weight of the user, wherein the second load sensor measures the amount of the user's weight supported by the seal interface frame during calibration. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising a frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly bears a portion of the disabled user's weight during calibration and the second load sensor measures the amount of the user's weight supported by the frame assembly during calibration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the access assist device comprises an overhead suspension device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the access assist device is a handrail. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the access assist device is a motorized lift. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the access assist device is a support bar that is removably attachable to a frame on the system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the support bar comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach and detach the bar from the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the support bar outputs a measured load signal to the processor. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the support bar is configured to store user-related data. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , the system further comprising a support bar receiver, wherein the support receiver is configured to measure the weight of the user exerted against the support bar while the support bar is attached to the system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one load sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly with the processor. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one load sensor is configured to communicate with the processor via a wired connection. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one load sensor is positioned on the seal interface of the chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of load sensors coupled to the system above the user's lower extremities are positioned on the system at a distance within the user's arm span. 
     
     
         26 . A differential pressure system for improving mobility of a disabled individual, comprising:
 a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user's body and to form a seal between the user's body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user's body while the user's body is sealed in the chamber;   an exercise device placed in the pressure chamber, wherein the exercise device is configured to contact the user's body while the exercise device is in operation;   at least one load sensor on the exercise device, the load sensor configured to measure the load applied by the user to the exercise device while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal;   at least one load sensor not on the exercise device and positioned on the differential pressure system above the user's lower extremities, the load sensor configured to provide an output signal;   a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensors and to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total user weight measured by the load sensors at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the exercise device is a treadmill comprising a runway belt and the load sensor on the exercise device is under the runway belt. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising an access assist device, wherein the load sensor not on the exercise device is positioned on the access assist device. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the access assist device is an overhead suspension system. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the access assist device is a support bar that is removably attachable to a frame of the system. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the load sensors can communicate wirelessly or through a wired path with the processor. 
     
     
         32 . A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility comprising:
 supporting at least a portion of the user's weight with an access assist device having an assist device load sensor configured to measure the user's weight supported by the assist device;   positioning the user in a pressure chamber;   sealing the chamber around an area of the user's body; and   calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight measured by the load sensor.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein calibrating further comprises calculating the total user weight by subtracting a baseline load measurement from the total load measured by the sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein calibrating further comprises zeroing the load sensor prior to supporting the user's weight. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising supporting a portion of the user's weight from underneath the user's torso while the user is in the chamber, the chamber having a chamber load sensor to measure the supported user weight and calibrating the system based on the total user weight measured from the load sensors. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the total user weight is calculated by subtracting a baseline load measurement from the total load measured by the sensors. 
     
     
         37 . A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility comprising:
 lifting a user relative to an opening in a pressure chamber with an access assist device;   lowering the user into the opening such that a portion of the user's body is in the pressure chamber;   sealing the chamber around the portion of the patient's body;   outputting a signal from a load sensor in the pressure chamber;   outputting a signal from a load sensor coupled to the access assist device; and   calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight measured by an output from the load sensor in the pressure chamber and an output from the load sensor coupled to the access assist device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the total user weight is calculated by subtracting a baseline load measurement from the total load measured by the load sensors while the user is sealed in the chamber. 
     
     
         39 . A differential pressure system for improving the mobility of a disabled individual comprising:
 a pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a disabled user's body and to form a seal between the user's body and the chamber, the chamber configured to apply pressure to the portion of the user's body while the user's body is sealed in the chamber;   an exercise device placed in the pressure chamber, wherein the exercise device is configured to contact the user's body while the exercise device is in operation;   a load sensor coupled to the exercise device, the load sensor configured to measure the weight applied by the user to the exercise device while the user is in the chamber and to provide an output signal for weight measurements;   a calibration device configured to measure the weight of the user's body exerted outside the pressure chamber, the calibration device providing an output signal for weight measurements; and   a processor configured to receive the output signals from the load sensor and the calibration device to calibrate the system for use by the disabled user by generating a relationship between pressure in the chamber and actual weight of the user while the user is sealed in the chamber, wherein the actual weight of the user is the total user weight measured by the load sensor and the calibration device at pressure points, the processor regulating the pressure of the chamber according to said relationship.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the calibration device is a support bar configured to removably attach to the system outside the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the calibration device comprises a load sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the calibration device supports a portion of the user's weight during calibration. 
     
     
         43 . A differential air pressure system comprising:
 a positive pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a user's body and form a seal between the user's body and the chamber;   a lift access device comprising a hoist device and a load sensor, wherein the load sensor outputs a load measurement when lifting a user;   a load sensor attached a bottom portion of the pressure chamber, wherein the load sensor outputs a load measurement when a user is in the sealed chamber; and   a processor configured to calibrate the system by receiving the load measurements from the load sensors, calculating the total user weight supported by the lift access device and chamber at pressure points, and generating a pressure weight relationship.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising an interlocking mechanism configured to engage with the lift access device, wherein the processor is configured to engage the interlocking mechanism to stop movement of the lift access device. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises at least one interlock checkpoint at which the interlocking mechanism can engage if the chamber is not configured to receive the user. 
     
     
         46 . A method of calibrating a differential pressure system for a disabled user with impaired mobility:
 supporting a portion of the user's weight with a calibration device;   supporting another portion of the user's weight inside a sealed pressure chamber;   sealing the chamber around an area of the user's body; and   calibrating the differential pressure system for the disabled user based on the total user weight supported.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising detecting that the calibration device has been connected to the system. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  46  further comprising detecting that the calibration device has been disengaged from the system. 
     
     
         49 . A method of improving cardiovascular function in a user with compromised lower body function, comprising:
 lifting the user with compromised lower body function;   lowering and sealing the user into a pressure chamber of a differential pressure system;   supporting a portion of the user's body to assist in accommodating the degree of compromised lower body function such that the user is substantially upright;   sealing the pressure chamber;   calibrating the differential pressure system to generate a pressure-weight relationship; and   regulating the pressure in the chamber according to the relationship.   
     
     
         50 . A method of improving a stroke patient's motor skills comprising:
 supporting a portion of the patient's weight with a calibration device;   supporting another portion of the patient's weight inside a sealed pressure chamber;   sealing the chamber around an area of the patient's body;   calibrating the differential pressure system; and   regulating the pressure in the chamber according to the relationship.