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Postural stability platform

Postural stability platform description/claims

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/670,084, filed on Apr. 11, 2005, and entitled BALANCE AND VESTIBULAR DISORDER DIAGNOSIS AND REHABILITATION, which is incorporated herein by reference. The present application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/719,523, filed on Sep. 22, 2005, and entitled BALANCE AND VESTIBULAR DISORDER DIAGNOSIS AND REHABILITATION, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

The present application is related to postural stability. More particularly, the present application is related to platforms for assessing and/or rehabilitating postural stability.

For various reasons, subjects may have the need to assess and/or rehabilitate their balance. For example, professional athletes may wish to improve their balance in order to improve their performance in their chosen sport. As another example, subjects suffering from medical conditions such as vestibular, orthopedic, neuromuscular, or neurological disorders may improve their medical condition through balance assessment and rehabilitation.

Attempts have been made to manufacture postural stability platforms. However, these platforms may have drawbacks. For example, these platforms include a plate upon which the subject stands. This plate is suspended by an air bladder that is inflated and deflated by an air compressor. Among other problems that may arise, the air bladder and the air compressor are subject to malfunctions or failure. Furthermore, the support provided by the air bladder may be less than ideal.

Embodiments of the present invention address these issues and others by providing stability platforms that utilize one or more movement resistant elements such as hydraulic cylinders and/or springs to provide stability to the plate upon which the subject stands. Furthermore, in certain embodiments the degree of resistance to movement offered by the movement resistant elements is controllable, such as by a control knob that controls a position of a valve or other restrictive element that alters the resistance to movement.

One embodiment is a postural stability platform that includes a base and a plurality of movement resistant elements fixed to the base. The postural stability platform further includes a rigid plate coupled to the movement resistant elements and pivotally coupled to the base such that the movement resistant elements resist movement of the plate relative to the base.

Another embodiment is a stability platform that includes a base and at least one movement resistant element fixed to the base, the at least one movement resistant element containing a flowing substance. The postural stability platform further includes a rigid plate coupled to the at least one movement resistant element and movably coupled to the base such that the movement resistant elements resist movement of the plate relative to the base. The postural stability platform also includes a valve having adjustable positions and being in fluid communication with the at least one movement resistant element such that the position of the valve controls the degree of resistance created by the at least one movement resistant element.

Another embodiment is a postural stability platform that includes a base and a rigid plate pivotally coupled to the base. The postural stability platform further includes at least one movement resistant element fixed to the base, the at least one movement resistant element having a shaft that is pivotally coupled to the rigid plate such that the movement resistant element resists movement of the plate relative to the base.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of a stability platform.

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a stability platform.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a center hub of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded view of a base of one embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a cylinder head of the one embodiment.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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