US4890235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer aided prescription of specialized seats for wheelchairs or other body supports
Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
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Filing: 1988-07-14
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A system for generating a prescription wheelchair or other seating or body support arrangement includes a deformable seat portion. A patient to be fitted with the wheelchair is placed upon the seat deforming a surface thereof. A signal representative of force distribution resultant from the patient along the seat is generated. In accordance with this signal, the seat surface may be selectively varied by a plurality of pneumatic actuators. An updated force distribution signal is generated. In this fashion, a means and method is provided for arriving at preselected force distribution of the patient on the wheelchair seat. This data is made available for transmission to a fabrication unit from which a permanent seat cushion with the desired characteristics may be fabricated.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven I. Reger
- 👤 Donald C. Neth
- 👤 Thomas F. McGovern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1043; A47; A47C; A47C31/00; A47C31/12; A47C31/126; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61G5/1091; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/50; G05B2219/50125; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A selective force distribution system comprising: a surface means adapted for deforming in accordance with an associated object placed in force contact therewith; sensor means for generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution along the surface means; deformation means for selectively varying deformation of the surface means; and the sensor means further including means for generating an updated distribution signal representative of a modified force distribution along the surface means incurred as a result of a varied deformation thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A selective force distribution system comprising: a surface means adapted for deforming in accordance with an associated object placed in force contact therewith; sensor means for generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution along the surface means; deformation means for selectively varying deformation of the surface means; and the sensor means further including means for generating an updated distribution signal representative of a modified force distribution along the surface means incurred as a result of a varied deformation thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for generating a contour signal representative of a contour of the surface means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising means for controlling the deformation means in accordance with a selected deformation signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the sensor means includes an array of force and position sensitive transducers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the deformation means includes a plurality of linearly positionable actuators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising biasing means operatively connected to the surface means for controlling deformation of the surface means in accordance with the associated object placed in force contact therewith, such that deformation is functionally related to a magnitude of the force contact of the associated object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising processor means for generating the contour signal and means for generating a visual representation of one of the force distributions
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 further comprising means for fabricating a manufactured surface in accordance with the contour signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of defining a surface having a contour for placing an associated object in force contact therewith in a selected force distribution in relation to the surface, comprising the steps of: deforming a surface in accordance with an associated object placed in force contact therewith; generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution along the surface means; selectively varying deformation of the surface; and generating an updated distribution signal representative of a modified force distribution along the surface incurred as a result of a varied deformation thereof
Claim 11
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of defining a surface having a contour for placing an associated object in force contact therewith in a selected force distribution in relation to the surface, comprising the steps of: deforming a surface in accordance with an associated object placed in force contact therewith; generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution along the surface means; selectively varying deformation of the surface; and generating an updated distribution signal representative of a modified force distribution along the surface incurred as a result of a varied deformation thereof
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of generating a contour signal representative of a contour of the surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of controlling deformation of the surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of generating a deformation signal for selectively controlling deformation of the surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of generating a visual representation of one of the force distributions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising the step of fabricating a manufactured surface in accordance with the contour signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer aided wheelchair prescription system comprising: a seat portion including an array of pressure sensitive transducers on a surface thereof; deformation means for selectively varying a contour of the surface; and means for generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution of an associated object in force contact with the surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer aided wheelchair prescription system comprising: a seat portion including an array of pressure sensitive transducers on a surface thereof; deformation means for selectively varying a contour of the surface; and means for generating a distribution signal representative of a force distribution of an associated object in force contact with the surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wheelchair prescription system of claim 15 further comprising means for generating a contour signal indicative of the contour of the surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wheelchair prescription system of claim 16 wherein the seat portion further includes a bottom seat portion and a back seat portion, and the surface includes a bottom surface portion associated with the bottom seat portion and a back surface portion associated with the back seat portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The wheelchair prescription system of claim 17 further comprising means for controlling operation of the deformation means in accordance with a deformation signal, and means for generating a deformation signal in accordance with a preselected force distribution of the associated object against the surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wheelchair prescription system of claim 18 further comprising means adapted for transmitting the contour signal to an associated fabrication unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The wheelchair prescription system of claim 18 further comprising means for selectively varying an orientation of the surface means with respect to vertical.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4637789A
Cited
US4828325A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |