Patent Application
20160067123
This invention relates generally to a system for preventing fall-related injuries and more particularly to a system with a multiple use airbag system employed as a safety system to provide protection to body parts against a fall related injuries.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Wheelchair accidents cause injuries with short and long-term consequences (e.g., bed rest, hospitalization, additional disabilities). The medical and recovery expenses of these accidents impose significant economic and social burdens to the patient and the healthcare system (often between $25,000 and $75,000). Over the last 14 years, such accidents registered a compound annual growth rate of 5% where the total number of wheelchair riders has also grown at the same rate. Despite the high accident rate and high cost of incurring these injuries, there are very few technologies to protect the wheelchair riders in case of a fall.
One of these technologies is using anti tippers, which are offered in most power wheelchairs as an “add on” option. Front and rear anti-tippers are attached to increase stability on inclined terrain. But there are no anti tippers to make the chair stable in side falls. Moreover, the main reason for using anti tippers is preventing fall. In case of a fall accident, anti-tippers would not provide any protection to user's critical body parts.
In addition, since 2007, ten million Americans were diagnosed with osteoporosis and 329,000 hip fractures have since been reported. Femoral neck (found in the hip joint) of elderly people can become fragile due to the age. An impact, such as a fall, creates a torque on the femur shaft and femur head that can break the femur neck. One of the highest risks of hip fracture is the post-fracture consequence, such as infections, cardiovascular events, and thromboembolism. These consequences have been linked with a high death rate. Due to an increase in life expectancy, hip fractures are expected to rise from 1.66 million in 1990 to 6.26 million by 2050.
Using traditional airbags on wheelchairs, which are single use airbags, can be expensive and complicated for average wheelchairs/power chairs. Traditional airbags also use chemical reaction which is difficult to control and can be dangerous.
A wearable airbag system disclosed by Fukaya et. al. “Protection against impact with the ground using wearable airbags”, Ind Health, 2008, 46(1), 59-65, relies on a one time use container of compressed gas to inflate the airbag(s). While compressed gas containers, are safer and more cost efficient than traditional airbags, there are problems associated with them as well. They are one-time use which means that once the compressed gas is expelled, the container must be replaced or re-filled with gas prior to the next use. The size and deployment time of airbag is also limited to the size and pressure of the gas container.
Furthermore, wearable airbag system configurations include a body-worn gear, which is detachably fitted to the wheelchair user and to which the air bag is attached, to ensure that the air bag may cover the determined parts of the user. So, in order to protect the rider, he/she needs to wear an extra piece of clothing which is heavy and bulky. The inconvenience causes less compliance among riders and as a result, the chance of protecting during fall decreases.
In one aspect a system for preventing fall-related injuries to a moving object is provided. The system comprises a reusable airbag system to be removably attached to the moving object. The reusable airbag system comprises an airbag cushion configured to inflate and deflate so that upon inflation the airbag cushion protects predetermined parts of the object from fall related injuries. An air movement system is in communication with the airbag cushion to provide air inflow into the airbag cushion to inflate the cushion. The air movement system comprises a motor and an air flowing device. A fall detection unit comprises a plurality of sensors for monitoring movement of the object and a controller for processing signals from the sensors and detecting fall inclination of the object relative to a surface upon which the object is moved. The controller is in communication with the airbag movement system so that it triggers the airbag movement system to deploy the airbag cushion upon fall detection. The reusable airbag system is removably attached to the moving object via a mounting means.
The airbag system comprises at least one valve to control the air flow between the air movement system and the airbag cushion. The at least one valve is an one-way valve to prevent return flow of the air into the air movement system.
In one aspect, the system comprises an enclosure to house at least the airbag cushion and the air movement system. The enclosure further comprises a locking mechanism to keep the enclosure in closed position with the airbag cushion in deflated state secured inside the enclosure.
In another aspect the locking mechanism is an electronic or mechanical lock placed at a door of the enclosure. The locking mechanism has a triggering mechanism in communication with the controller to automatically unlock the locking mechanism.
In one aspect, the airbag cushion comprises a plurality of inner sections. The plurality of inner sections are interconnected by air passages so that the air from one inner section can flow to neighboring inner sections. Each of the inner sections comprises a plurality of inner chambers interconnected to each other.
In another aspect the air movement system further comprises a manifold with plurality of ports, each port being connected to one of the plurality of inner sections.
In one aspect the plurality of sensors include at least one sensor for measuring 3D acceleration and at least one sensor for measuring 3D angular velocity.
In another aspect a method for fall detection and automatically triggering an airbag system for preventing fall-related injuries to a subject is provided. The method comprises measuring 3D acceleration and 3D angular velocity of the subject using a plurality of sensors, processing the signals obtained from the plurality of sensors and detecting fall inclination of the subject relative to a surface upon which the subject is moved and triggering an air movement system to automatically deploy an airbag cushion upon fall inclination is detected.
In one aspect the system is used on a wheel chair to protect a rider of the chair in case of a chair fall.
In yet another aspect, the system is used as a hip protector to be mounted over clothes of a wearer.
In addition to the aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and study of the following detailed description.
Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.
a is a perspective view of an example of an airbag enclosure designed for mounting under a wheelchair's arm rest.
b is a top view of an example of an airbag enclosure designed for protecting user's head.
c is a side view of an example of a cylindrical airbag enclosure designed for protecting a head and an upper body of a user.
In one mode of operation, the airbag system of the present invention is a multiple-use airbag system that can be used on wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters or can be wear by a user, e.g. as a hip protector. The airbag can be automatically opened when there is a chance of a fall. An example scenario is illustrated in
Main components and sub-systems of the airbag system 100 are illustrated in the flowchart in
The sensory board of the FDU 30 can include at least one sensor for measuring 3D acceleration and also at least one sensor for measuring 3D angular velocity. These sensors will constantly capture motion data from the chair (or any other moving object to which the system 100 is mounted) and transfer the signals to the controller. The controller will process the data obtained from the sensors to determine whether the power chair is in a fall position or not. If a fall is detected the controller will send a signal to trigger the air movement system 22. In case a lock 26 is used to close the enclosure 20, the FDU 30 will also send a signal to the lock 26 to open/unlock the airbag enclosure 20.
The airbag enclosure 20 can be a hard shell or a hybrid of a hard shell and flexible pouch. The hard shell design can be made of a lightweight and rigid material and can be sized and shaped to enclose the airbag cushion 14 and the air movement system.
The air movement system 22 can comprise a motor 40 such as for example a DC brushless motor which is connected to a power source and which operate an air flowing device 42. The air flowing device 42 can be a propeller fan, an impeller, an air blower, or a compressor. The air movement system 22 can be securely placed within a housing 44 and attached to the airbag cushion 14 via at least one valve/isolator 24. A safety cap 46 can be placed on a top of the air movement system 22 to prevent any interference with the adjacent objects.
The valve 24 can comprise an adapter (not shown) to connect the air flowing device 42 (e.g. the fan 42) to the airbag cushion 14. The valve 24 can be a one-way valve to prevent the air to escape from the airbag cushion 14.
The locking mechanism 26 can be placed in the airbag enclosure 20 for example at an opening door (lid) of the enclosure 20. In one implementation, the locking mechanism 26 can be a passive mechanism like permanent magnets placed on the two side of the opening door of the enclosure 20. Due to attraction between the poles of the magnets the enclosure's door can remain closed when in regular motion. But when airbag cushion is deployed, it will overcome the magnetic force and rip the door open. In another implementation, the lock 26 can be a miniature electric or mechanical lock with locking mechanism that is controlled by the FDU 30. In case of a fall, the controller sends signals (simultaneously) to both the air movement system 22 and the lock 26 so that the enclosure 20 is opened at the same time that the airbag cushion 14 is deployed.
The inflatable airbag 14 can be made of a tear-resistant material such as nylon with poly urethane coating. Other materials can be used as well without departing from the scope of the invention. The airbag cushion 14 contains inner cavity that is sized and shaped so that during inflation it is quickly filled with gas, but during the impact the gas outflow is delayed. In one implementation, the inner cavity of the airbag cushion can be sectioned providing a plurality of inner sections/chambers. For example each of the inner sections can be connected to the neighboring sections with one or more air passages. In one embodiment, each of the inner sections can comprise multiple inner chambers so that the smaller chambers can inflate faster and can provide enough protection to body parts during impact. By sectioning the airbag, smaller areas will be fully inflated faster to quickly provide enough protection for the user. Another reason for sectional airbag design is that it will delay the air outflow when the user falls on top of it. In one implementation, all of the inner sections/chambers can be separated and each of such chambers can inflate separately and independently from each other. For example, each of the inner section can be connected to the air movement system 22 via a separate valve 24. The air movement system 22 can comprise a manifold with a number of ports, each of the ports connected to a separate inner section of the cushion 14. In such embodiment, each of the inner section can be deployed automatically at the same time. In one embodiment, the system can comprise one or more vent-valves to provide slow release of the airbag cushion upon a fall impact.
The motor 40 and the fan 42 of the air movement system 22 can be pre-programed to automatically stop within a pre-determined time sequence from the start. For example, it can be set up to turn off after few (tens) seconds from the time the air starts flowing into the airbag cushion 14. In one implementation, the system 100 can comprise a pressure sensor (not shown) positioned inside the airbag cushion 14 or in communication with the airbag cushion for measuring the pressure within the airbag cushion, so when the pressure reaches a certain, pre-determined threshold, the sensor sends a signal to the FDU 30 to turn the air movement system 22 off.
In the illustrated example shown in
The outer enclosure can come in different shapes, such as rectangular (
The airbag system 100 can be attached to power chair 10 in different places, as shown in
Person skilled in the art would understand that the system of the present invention can be applicable for preventing fall-related injuries in any other mobile applications such as scooters, walkers, and strollers.
In another mode of operation, the system of the present invention can be design as a re-useable hip protector system used to prevent hip fractures by protecting the neck of the femur. For example,
The invention is superior to other designs due to the ability of reusability. The airbag cushion 14 after the falling incident can be deflated, folded back and locked back into the enclosure 20 so that the user can remain protected in case of another incident. The known airbag systems use an air cartridge that could be used all at once if there is no air management system built into that product. In addition, such air cartridges need to be replaced or refilled after each deployment.
a shows how the main components of the system 100 sit on the side of the body. The enclosure 20 contains the non-inflated airbag inside with proper passages to ensure that the airflow to the airbag cushion is not blocked. The locking mechanism 26 keeps the enclosure 20 closed. The FDU 30 containing microcontroller and sensors is placed in the front of the user. The FDU 30 will determine whether the user is falling which will trigger the air movement system to inflate the airbag cushion. This image only shows the system 100 on one side of the human body, but such system will be placed on both sides of the human body to protect both hips.
b shows a front view of the invention mounted on the human body. The FDU 30 will sit securely on a canvas belt 80. The belt can contain a belt fastener that will be able to adjust to fit most sizes.
c shows how the system will be secured on the belt.
The locking mechanism 26 for the unit is placed on the door 90 of enclosure 20. The battery 32 can be placed inside enclosure as well. In another embodiment battery 32 can be placed within the FDU. The FDU can be independent from the enclosure 20 and connected to the belt next to the enclosure 20.
The system of the present invention can be used in similar applications to protect other critical body parts without departing from the scope of the invention.
While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto, since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Thus, for example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations making up the method/process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Elements and components can be configured or arranged differently, combined, and/or eliminated in various embodiments. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Reference throughout this disclosure to “some embodiments,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, step, process, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in some embodiments,” “in an embodiment,” or the like, throughout this disclosure are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment and may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, additions, substitutions, equivalents, rearrangements, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions described herein.
Various aspects and advantages of the embodiments have been described where appropriate. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, it should be recognized that the various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. No single feature or group of features is required for or indispensable to any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
The example calculations, simulations, results, graphs, values, and parameters of the embodiments described herein are intended to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments can be configured and/or operated differently than the illustrative examples described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62047006 | Sep 2014 | US |
