Patents on the soles of your shoes...: wheelchair

Showing posts with label wheelchair. Show all posts

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Oh, patents! Lifebloom's Oxilio wheelchair-exoskeleton

For stroke victims, and other types of patients with various degrees of impaired mobility due to illness, accidents, or age, Lifebloom’s Oxilio is a combination wheelchair and exoskeleton. A combination wheelchair-exoskeleton that offers increased opportunities to safely stand and walk, with or without a physical therapist present. Indeed, patients using Oxilio are reported to spend six times more time standing and walking, compared to those who train only in therapy sessions at a specialized physical therapy facility. For this purpose, Oxilio has included an onboard app that guides patients through self-training exercises, while their movements are being monitored and recorded with sensors, for therapist review.

The Lifebloom Oxilio combination wheelchair-exoskeleton was researched, designed, and produced at the Institut Pasteur in Lille, France, and tested at the Hôpital Pitié-Salpérière in Paris, France, with the participation of hundreds of wheelchair-bound patients. Thus, Oxilio's design responds to the patients’ greatest concerns for safety and the fear of falling by offering safe verticality and mobility. As a result, patients who might lose their balance just fall back into the Oxilio wheelchair. In turn, the designed safety greatly enhances user confidence and use at home, which greatly increases the positive outcomes for improved verticality, mobility and well-being (McCulloch, 2024).

According to Damien Roche, Lifebloom Founder, CEO and co-inventor, an estimated 132 million people are wheelchair-bound in the world, with deteriorating health, aggravated by their inability to stand and walk, while many still retain some leg function. Oxilio’s mission is to assist screened patients in recovering their verticality, beyond just a few steps.

The award-winning Oxilio invention, is recited in the US utility patent US11471361B2, titled Wheelchair for assisting walking. The patent was granted on October 18, 2022, and awarded to Marc Bardgett and Damien Roche. The patent recites the wheelchair-exoskeleton's mechanical properties. Succinctly, the invention comprises linear actuators, mechanically connected to the wheelchair-exoskeleton chassis, and to a base plate that moves from a low sitting position to a high walking position, using a position-changing device.

The patent Figure 24, included below, depicts an embodiment of the invention in an intermediate position, between the low sitting position, and the high walking position, including a user U performing an upward forward motion to switch to the high walking position. The still pictures, beneath the patent Figure 24, depict a user self-training, practicing sitting and standing without using hands.

The patent Figure 24 further depicts the various parts of the wheelchair-exoskeleton. Specifically, the Figure 24 depicts: the backrest 20, preventing the user U from falling rearward, and one of the retaining members 7D (on the right), preventing the user U from falling forward. The (right) armrest 660, comprising the arm support 662 and cushioned fitting 661. The small central rear wheel 5RC, used to better maneuver the wheelchair-exoskeleton. The right 5FD and left 5FG front wheels, smaller than the conventionally large right 5RD and left 5RG rear wheels, which might be used to steer the wheelchair more swiftly. The right 10D and left 10G footrests, pivotally connected to the chassis 3, raised in the high walking position so as not to impede walking, and lowered in the low sitting position, for the user to rest their feet. The patent Figure 24 also depicts the locking member 200 and locking pin 206, designed to lock the base plate in the low sitting position and to unlock the base plate in the high walking position.

For those skilled in the art, the abstract of the invention, included below, will provide additional mechanical details.

The invention concerns a wheelchair for assisting walking. The wheelchair comprises a chassis, a movable base that can move relative to the chassis between a low seating position and a high walking position, and a device for changing the position of the base. The device for changing the linear actuator is configured to bias the movable base towards the high position by means of the arm. (Abstract US11471361B2)

The reference section includes a YouTube video (in French), with footage showing the Oxilio wheelchair-exoskeleton in use.

References

Lifebloom (website)
https://www.lifebloom.eu/
French Tech: Lifebloom, une solution pour remarcher. YouTube (video in French)
https://youtu.be/j_BzYjm7dyE
Hôpital Pitié-Salpétriere de Paris (website)

https://pitiesalpetriere.aphp.fr/

Institut Pasteur de Lille (website)

https://pasteur-lille.fr/

McCulloch, B. (Nov. 10, 2024). French hospitals’ revolutionary exoskeleton enables wheelchair-bound patients to walk. Connexion France.
https://www.connexionfrance.com/practical/french-hospitals-revolutionary-exoskeleton-enables

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Oh, patents! OMNI connecting wheelchairs to escooters (2)

The outstanding OMNI invention, winner of the 2023 Presidental Award at the historical Concours Lépine in France, was awarded the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent WO2021094092A1, titled Hitching device designed to be fitted on a scooter. The patent was awarded to the French inventors: Robin Lhommeau, Sulivan Richard & Mathieu Izaute, on May 20, 2021. The OMNI team members delivered on a dream to provide wheelchair users with an affordable and fun experience of true wheelchair mobility, using non-specialized products to dramatically lower costs, and to augment the inclusion of wheelchair users in the abled world.

Below, the patent Figure 1a depicts an unhitched system (0), comprising a manual-drive wheelchair (100) and escooter (200), with the detachable OMNI invention connector (2), installed on the wheelchair, via interface attachments (1a) and (1b), held apart by a crossbar (21); and on the escooter (200), a hitching device (40). The OMNI hitching system (0) is designed to dock the wheelchair (100) on the escooter (200), when the crossbar (21) is hitched to the escooter hitching device (40); and to release the wheelchair (100) from the escooter (200), when the crossbar (21) is unhitched from the escooter hitching device (40). When the wheelchair (100) and escooter (200) are docked, the wheelchair (100) becomes motorized. When the wheelchair (100) undocks from the escooter (200), the wheelchair (100) reverts to manual drive.

The patent Figure 1 further depicts at least a front wheel (204), and at least a rear wheel (201), on each side of the escooter (200) platform (202). The rear wheel (201) comprises an integrated motor, as well as power supply means, driving the escooter (200) movement. The front wheel (204), mounted pivotally on the platform (202), is steerable using the handlebar (203). The rear wheel (201) further comprises a brake, that the user operates.

The wheelchair (100) comprises at least three wheels (101, 102 and 103), mounted to rotate and function as a support structure for the chair seat. The at least two rear wheels (101 and 102) are manual drive, and the front wheels (103) of the wheelchair (100) steer the wheelchair.

The hitching system (0), comprising interface attachments (1a and 1b) respectively attach to two tubular wheelchairs parts (102a and 102b). The detachable OMNI invention connector (2), together with its crossbar (21) are designed to attach and detach from the wheelchair (100), without changing the structure of the wheelchair.

The escooter hitching system (40) is also detachable, mounted on the platform (202) or on a support section of the handlebar (203). The escooter hitching system (40) comprises hooks (42 and 42a) secured to levers (44 and 44a), and an abutment (41), forming a receiving space (43) for the crossbar (21), where it is locked in place until released to undock the wheelchair (100) from the escooter (200).

The YouTube video below shows a small OMNI team-in-action, real-world experiment. The experiment consisted in going to meet a colleague at a café, who finally got everyone to leave OMNI headquarters after offering them a free drink. Each OMNI team member used a different means of transportation, competing to see who would be fastest. The competing modes were the following: 1. Wheelchair hitched to escooter 2. Wheelchair using public transportation bus with universal access for wheelchairs, as a backup, after a failed attempt to get a ride with a suited cab 3. Wheelchair using wheelchair-user-adapted personal car 4. Bike 5. Walking/running using underground public transportation. Watch the video to find out who got to the café first!

References

Concours Lépine

https://www.concours-lepine.com/
OMNI
https://www.omni.community/

Monday, May 1, 2023

Oh, patents! OMNI connecting wheelchairs to escooters (1)

The OMNI system, connecting wheelchairs to escooters for a fun motorized experience, is the brilliant 2023 winner of the Presidential Award, at France’s famous historical innovation contest, the Concours Lépine (since 1901). The OMNI escooter-wheelchair connection device is an easy and affordable way of hitching manual wheelchairs to escooters, making it possible for wheelchair users to zip around motorized, at up to 20 miles per hour, using equipment from the abled world. Wheelchair visionaries are even eagerly anticipating a Zip-escooter rental system, enabling wheelchair users to rent wheelchair-adapted-escooters, and to pay-as-you-go. An inclusive experience, considering that it takes less than five seconds for the OMNI system to bring wheelchairs and escooters together, with the promise of fun, escooter-enabled, mobility.

In the interim, OMNI also created the OMNITrott’ an adapted escooter (with a lower, angled handlebar) for $1000 Euros (approximately $1000 dollars) to connect to any wheelchair, using the original OMNI connection invention, designed to connect a wheelchair to an escooter. A price tag that is still three to four times less than the price of a motorized wheelchair.

In a nutshell, once the OMNI connector is in place, it takes just one effortless pull to dock the wheelchair to an escooter. The escooter-motorized wheelchair then provides unmatched mobility to wheelchair users, who otherwise face insurmountable obstacles. Obstacles such as steps, uneven or cobblestone pavements, slopes, and just 3% of public transportation retrofitted for universal wheelchair access.

The Youtube video below captures Charlotte Alaux, co-founder of the OMNI system, herself a wheelchair user since the age of four, demonstrating the ease with which the OMNI system connects a wheelchair to an escooter. Alaux estimates that approximately 800,000 wheelchair users in France could benefit from the OMNI solution, and a total of 54 million wheelchair users worldwide. The video also shows parallel footage of wheelchair use. Footage with and without the OMNI system, motorizing a wheelchair using an escooter, to highlight the unsuspected difficulties of wheelchair mobility without motorization.

References

Concours Lépine

https://www.concours-lepine.com/
OMNI
https://www.omni.community/

Friday, March 31, 2023

Oh, patents! Orbiter smart cushion

Designed by the same team who built wheelchairs for the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, the Orbiter smart cushion, is intended to increase seating tolerance for wheelchair users, enabling users to live an active seated lifestyle. Using a combination of intelligent real-time pressure and movement sensing, together with responsive and quantifiable inflation/deflation of the air contained in five cushion bladders, the technology redistributes and balances the user’s weight. Zoned distribution and balancing of the users’ weight to eliminate direct pressure on sensitive areas, not only in view of accelerating the healing process of pressure injuries, but to also prevent new injuries from occurring at pressure points. In fact, the smart distribution and redistribution of air contained in the five cushion bladers also functions like a massage, effectively promoting muscle blood flow, while reducing pressure points, and resulting in an overall decrease in fatigue.

Thus, the cushion is not only designed to adapt to any shifts in user movement, for the purpose of supporting the user’s new position with an optimized redistribution of the air contained in the cushion bladders. The cushion also shifts the inflation/deflation of the bladder zones, in the absence of user movement, thus massaging the user’s muscles, promoting blood flow, and effectively preventing any new pressure sores from forming, at load-bearing points.

The Orbiter cushion is also app-controlled. The app enables users both to visualize the pressure map, and to set levels of firmness, according to region. The app might also be used to indicate zones of discomfort, and to alert caregiving personnel. Alternatively, the cushion might be controlled by caregivers. The cushion is also designed to automatically alert caregivers in case the user slips, is unresponsive to using the cushion, or for monitoring performance during off-load exercises. The cushion is also energy-efficient as it turns off automatically when the user is not applying any pressure.

A controller drives the operation of the pneumatic cushion, together with pneumatic solenoid valves and pumps, sheathed with rubber and foam to minimize noise, and vibration. An electric subsystem, coupled to the pressure data, handles errors in inflation/deflation that might occur, and includes an automatic diconnect.

Winner of an Innovation Award at SXSW 2023 in the Patient Safety Technology category, the Orbiter smart cushion, masterminded by the Australian firm Kalogon, is a patented invention. The UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent, WO2023003784A1, titled Individual pressure zone controlled cushion and support, was awarded on January 26th, 2023, to the four inventors: Tim Balz, Aaron Jones, Christian Balcom, and Connor Crenshaw.

Below, an image of the Orbiter cushion, together with the keyed patent Figure 4. The patent Figure 4 depicts a schematic view of the five bladders, forming regions inside the cushion. The hoses used to inflate and deflate the bladder regions with air are also shown. The bladders, together with intelligent distribution and re-distribution of air, function to both massage the user’s musculature, and to redistribute pressure on the user’s load-bearing points.

The video below compares the shifting distribution of the Orbiter cushion pressure map, with the static pressure points map of an air flotation cushion.

Included below, the abstract of the invention.

A cushion promotes healthy blood flow within the body when the patient is sitting/lying down. A pressure controlling support automatically balances user weight, detects application of user weight, or otherwise detects when the user is at-risk for pressure sores. Pressure is dynamically redistributed by inflation/ deflation of individual bladders, rebalancing user support. The cushion prevents the user from applying their weight to impede their blood flow at an at-risk location or from cramping their musculature. The cushion also massages the user's musculature, by moving a pressure difference about selected bladders, promoting blood flow and reducing seating fatigue. The cushion detects changes in pressure at each bladder, to detect/ predict user fidgeting/ movement and adjust pressure in response thereto, to support the user's new position. [Abstract WO2023003784A1]

References

Stephen Hawking
https://www.hawking.org.uk/

Kalogen (website)
https://www.kalogon.com/

SXSW 2023 – Innovation Award winner – Patient Safety Technology.
https://www.sxsw.com/news/2023/2023-sxsw-innovation-awards-winners-announced/

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Oh, patents! Benoît Systèmes Acti'Tab (3)

The most recently patented Benoît Systèmes wheelchair accessory is an add-on tray table, marketed as the Acti'Tab. The Acti'Tab invention is recited in the French patent FR3050638 A1, titled Système a tablette pour fauteuil roulant, et fauteuil roulant equipé d'un tel systeme (Tray table system for wheelchairs, and wheelchair equipped with such a system).

The Benoît Systèmes Acti'Tab tray table resolves prior art issues in wheelchair tray table designs, as it is both height-adjustable and tiltable. The Acti'Tab tray table was designed tiltable to facilitate reading. When it is raised, the Acti'Tab tray table facilitates dining. When it is lowered, it is designed to rest on the user's knees, therefore avoiding cantilevered stress on the hinge, As a result, the Acti'TAb tray table is designed to support far more weight, and the user is thus able to carry heavier objects, using the tray table.

The English version of the tray table patent abstract is included below, together with the patent Figure drawing No. 9, showing a wheelchair equipped with the tray table accessory, in a titled position. The marketed Acti'Tab is shown above, also in a tilted position to facilitate reading.

The invention relates to a tray table system (1) for a wheelchair (F), comprising a tray table (2) and connecting means for connecting the tray table to the wheelchair (F) such that it can move between a use position and a non-use position, which means comprise: an arm (3); first intermediate connecting means (4) for connecting the tray table (2) to the arm (3) such that it can move between the use position and the non-use position; and second intermediate connecting means (5) for connecting the arm (3) to the wheelchair (F) and, when the tray table (2) is in the use position, for allowing the arm (3) to move down under the effect of gravity, over a travel such that the tray table (2) comes to rest on at least one knee of the person seated in the wheelchair (F).

[Abstract FR3050638]

References

Benoît Systèmes
http://www.benoitsystemes.com/
Benoît Systèmes Acti'tab
http://www.benoitsystemes.com/image/fichierUpload/ActitabDocFr%20.pdf
Benoît Systèmes - Power Packs
http://www.benoitsystemes.com/kangouroo2.html

Friday, June 8, 2018

Oh, patents! Benoît Systèmes Kitcool (2)

The Benoît Systèmes Kitcool was designed as a wheelchair accessory for the purposes of providing a stable reclined wheelchair position, conducive to relaxation for the wheelchair-enabled. For this purpose, the Kitcool was also specifically designed with the following specifications:

installation on any wheelchair
swift, user-operated, mounting and unmounting of the accessory (otherwise, no attendant technical skills required)
absolute security of the tilting mechanism
foldable for easy transportation or storage, in compliance with wheelchair manufacturer guidelines
adjustable according to body types and relaxation positions
usable on any type of ground surface
normal and usual wheelchair function when not reclined
easy toggle between reclined and upright positions

The Kitcool invention is recited in a family of patents: FR2739019,

WO/1997/010791, AU7133996A, US6099021A and EP0959860A1, titled (in English) Accessory for supporting a wheelchair in a stable reclined position.

The set of 8 patent figure drawings is included below.

Figures 1 to 6 (left) show the various positions of the wheelchair, from upright to reclining, and back to upright.

Figure 7 (right) shows the adjustable backrest and supporting pole, attached to the wheelchair handles, and to be connected to the inverted stabilizing “T” bar.

Figure 8 (right) shows a detail view of the mounting assembly, designed to attach the Kitcool to the wheelchair handles.

References

Benoit Systèmes (website)

http://www.benoitsystemes.com/entreprise2.html (English version)

lhttp://www.benoitsystemes.com/index.html

http://www.benoitsystemes.com/minotor.html

Benoît Systèmes - Kitcool

http://www.benoitsystemes.com/kitcool2.html

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Oh, patents! Benoît Systèmes

France's Concours Lépine Police Commissioner Prize was awarded to Ben oît Systè mes for the MOBILITY Kit, a Power Pack that transforms any chair into a motorized indoor wheelchair. Regardless of whether the chair happens to be an antique Louis XVI “bergère” armchair or a modern Eames molded-plastic chair, the chair will fit securely on top of the MOBILITY kit power platform, allowing the user to drive around the house, using a joystick, comfortably seated on his or her favorite chair.

The MOBILITY Kit is the latest Power Pack addition to the Benoît Systèmes product line, where each product is expertly designed to further facilitate the mobility and comfort of adults and children, who are wheelchair-enabled. The Benoit Systèmes line of products includes:

The Light Drive Power Pack

The Light Drive Power Pack, and Mini Light Drive for children, transform any wheelchair into a motorized wheelchair.

The Light Active Power Pack

The Light Active Power Pack is designed as a motorized performance booster for wheelchairs, particularly for users with good upper body strength and capacity, who otherwise struggle to negotiate slopes and hills. The Active Power Pack is a wheelchair add-on that is easily installed and removed.

The Light Assist Power Pack

The Light Assist Power Pack installs in 20 seconds on almost any wheelchair as a pair of long motorized handles at the back of the wheelchair, facilitating the pushing and navigation tasks, performed by those who attend to adults or children, who are wheelchair-enabled.

The Kitcool

The Kitcool is a cushion with an assembly that attaches to the back of any wheelchair with handles. The Kitcool assists with reclining the wheelchair, and is thus ergonomically designed to provide increased comfort to wheelchair-enabled adults.

The functionality and ergonomy of the Benoît Systèmes company products come as no surprise when you find out that the Founder, CEO and CTO of the company, and Inventor of the products, Robert Benoît, is an engineer who became paraplegic at the age of 21, following a car accident.

Benoit Systèmes products are partially subsidized by France’s national Social Security healthcare plans, and grants are widely available to refund the balance not covered by the State healthcare plans.

The Benoit Systèmes products are patented. The following is a list of some of these patents and patent families:

FR3050638 (A1) - 2017-11-03 - Tray table system for a wheelchair, and wheelchair equipped with such a system
WO2017187094 (A1) - 2017-11-02 - Tray table system for a wheelchair, and wheelchair equipped with such a system
FR2739019A1 - 1997-03-23 - Accessoire pour fauteuil roulant destiné à le maintenir en une position stable de relaxation
WO9710791A1 - 1997-03-27 - Accessoire pour fauteuil roulant destiné à le maintenir en une position stable de relaxation
AU7133996A ― 1997-04-09 - Accessory for supporting a wheelchair in a stable reclined position
US6099021A - 2000-08-08 - Accessory for supporting a wheelchair in a stable reclined position
EP0959860A1 - 1999-12-01 - Accessory for supporting a wheelchair in a stable reclined position
FR2670381 (A1) - 1992-06-19 - Groupe propulseur d'assistance à l'avancement d'un fauteuil manuel pour handicapé
WO9210157A1 - 1992-06-25 - Groupe propulseur d'assistance à l'avancement d'un fauteuil manuel pour handicapé
EP0561986A1 - 1993-09-29 - Auxiliary drive unit for a manual wheelchair
AU9144891A - 1992-07-08 - Auxiliary drive unit for a manual wheelchair
DE69104064T2 - 1995-05-11 - Auxiliary drive unit for a manual wheelchair
ES2065164T3 - 1993-03-29 - Grupo propulsor de ayuda al avance de una silla de ruedas manual para minusvalidos
US5244222A - 1993-09-14 - Collapsible wheelchair
EP0561774 - 1993-09-29 - Fauteuil roulant pliable
US3921744 (A) - 1975-11-25 - Wheelchair with detachable drive means

The YouTube video below shows the 20-second installation and removal of a Power Pack kit for the transformation of a manual wheelchair into a motorized wheelchair, and back again to the manual mode.