Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WO 96/13181 PCTlL1S95/13677
HIP INFLATABLE PROTECTION DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hip fractures are a major health and economic
problem for the elderly and our society as a whole.
Treatment .for hip fractures includes surgery and prolonged
periods of bed rest, both of which expose patients to
significant complications such as infection and pneumonia.
Recovery, either complicated or uncomplicated, can result
in significant disturbance in the life of a patient and
his/her family, and substantial medical costs. After hip
fracture, many elderly patients may need to further
restrict their activities, need a "walker," be confined to
a wheelchair and often require full or part-time
assistance. As a significant cause of disability and
death in the elderly, the number and importance of hip
fractures will surely increase as the number and
percentage of the elderly increases.
In 1990 it was estimated that the number of hip
fractures in persons over the age of 50 would increase
from 238,000 to 512,000 per year by 2040 with an increase
in cost from $7.2 billion to $16 billion per year! This
was based on an average cost of $29, 800 per hip in 1984
dollars, assuming no change inthe average cost and a 3~
to 5% increase for inflation. No value can be placed on
the pain and suffering of the ' injured and the burden on
family and friends who care for them.
° According to the "Tufts University Diet & Nutrition
Letter" Vo 1. 12 No . 4 , June 19 9 4 , " . . . As many as 2 0
percent of all people who suffer a hip fracture die within
a year, usually because of complications like pneumonia or
blood clots in the lung that are related to either the
fracture itself, surgery to heal the break, or being
confined to bed. . ."
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There has been little progress in the prevention of
hip fractures despite our growing knowledge about
contributing factors. Diet, calcium supplements and
exercise, which help strengthen elderly bones may be
helpful, but probably will not significantly decrease the
incidence of hip fractures.
The hip joint is a ball and socket (enarthrodial)
joint formed by the cup-shaped cavity in the pelvic bone
(acetabulum) and the ball-shaped head of the upper leg
bone (femur). The lateral hip and particularly the area
of the trochanter, an area of bone which protrudes
outwardly from the femur just below the hip joint, is
particularly vulnerable to injury and fracture. This
vulnerability results from the lateral position and
relatively thin layer of overlying muscle and fat.
The protective device is a marked improvement over
the design and function of prior art for a number of
significant reasons. These reasons and other unique
features of the invention will be fully discussed.
Prior art garments for protecting the hip do not
combine protection, comfort and east of use. Girdle-like
undergarments, whether essentially pads or inflatable
bags, are difficult to put on and take off, and may create
significant other problems for elderly people. Examples
of such devices are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,737,994; 5,297,293,
4,977,623. If such garments are not completely moisture
resistant they will soon become dirty and probably soiled
with urine and feces. The result in unsanitary,
unpleasant, unsightly and uncomfortable for patients and
attendants. Additionally, such garments, which by their
very nature must fit snugly, can compromise blood
circulation and could contribute to the development of
decubitus ulcers, a dangerous problem with significant ,
morbidity and even mortality in elderly, immobile and
bedridden patients.
Other prior art is not designed for use in the
elderly and does not contain important design features
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found in this protective device. Examples of this are
U.S. Patent No. 4,825,469 which in all its embodiments is
designed to protect motorcycle riders, is too large and
wide for use by the elderly, will restrict body movement
and activities of daily living, employs an external source
of compressed gas which is connected to the invention by
a tube and is inflated mechanically by a string when the
rider is thrown from the motorcycle. U.S. Pat. No.
4,059,852 for cyclists and 4,089,065 for mountain/rock
climbing, hand gliding, race car driving, piloting and
white water canoeing are full body devices, manually
inflated and clearly not ~~automatic~~ or intended for use
by the elderly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,821 describes a gas
expansion safety cloth for motorcyclists which is fired by
a pull string and has external gas storage and discharge
device which inflates the cloth when the wearer is thrown
from the cycle. It is clearly not for use in the elderly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,074 is intended for use in automobile
accidents, is too large for use by the elderly, and has
external sensing, firing and compressed gas cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,944 is bulky, not easily put on,
removed or worn, and is inappropriate for use by the
elderly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,065, particularly suitable
for hang-gliding or parachuting, is not intended for the
elderly because it is a full jacket and/or pants garment,
bulky, intended to be worn only during those high risk
activities and is manually activated.
In the development of this protective device it was
most logical to look towards the airbag, also known as the
Safety Air Cushion (SAC). This practical device was
invented and designed to protect drivers and passengers in
automobile accidents. Examples of airbags and airbag
inflation devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,979,
which uses pressurized gas for inflation; 4,178,016 and
4,243,248, which both use pyrotechnic devices for
inflation.
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The present protective device, in contrast to prior
art, does not depend on internal fastening devices which
cannot be visually inspected, can fail to align properly
after deflation (thus compromising function on the next
inflation) and. may wear out at an accelerated rate. An
example of such design is U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,065.
In contrast, the present invention, when uninflated,
uses very thin external Velcro type straps to keep the
pleats in place. In other embodiments the invention may
keep the pleats in place with snaps, which will easily
separate on inflation.
The present invention, in contrast to prior art, does
not depend on multiple separate inflatable chambers for
coverage of the body areas to be protected. Such devices
may not fully protect all the areas if one of the
inflatable air chambers fails to inflate and fully expand.
This is becau.~e the inflation and movement of any one air
chamber to cover an area of the body is dependent upon the
full inflation and movement of the adjacent chambers.
This is particularly true for the uppermost and lowermost
body areas protected by the device. U.S. Pat. No.
4,825,469 is pan example of such a device.
In contrast, the present protective device is
comprised of an airbag or airbags with portions folded
into several ;pleats contained within the device, which on
inflation expand out of the protective device to cover the
entire body area to be protected. Inflation and expansion
are not hindered by internal attachments between the
pleats.
The protective device described in this application
fills an important need in preventive medical care for the
elderly. The invention, in this embodiment, for the first
time provide; a simple, comfortable, easily worn self-
contained, automatic device which provides maximum
protection to the hip, pelvis, buttocks and coccyx areas
in falls and does not interfere with activities of daily
living.
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4A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a protective system worn outside
clothing for prevent:ing injuries to the user as a result of
falls, the system comprising: an elongated inflatable airbag
assembly having upper and lower parts folded into pleats and
adapted to cover the hips, pelvis, buttocks, and coccyx areas
of the user's body when in an inflated state; a belt for
supporting said airbag asaembly around the waist of a user,
said belt defining ~~ cavii~y and said airbag assembly being
substantially within said cavity when in an uninflated state;
a sensor for detecting anc3ular movement and a sensor for
detecting acceleration, said sensors producing a signal
indicative of a predetermined combination of acceleration and
angular movement, tree predetermined combination corresponding
to a fall; and a ga:a source adapted to release gas into said
airbag assembly in x-espon:~e to said signal. The belt may be
approximately three inches in height and the airbag assembly
may expand approxim~itely i~hree inches upward and seven inches
downward when gas fz-om thE~ cartridge is released and causes
inflation of the airbag a:~sembly.
This invention also provides a protective system for
preventing injuries to at least one of the hips, pelvis,
buttocks and coccyx of a user, the system comprising: an
elongate inflatable airba<~ assembly; a belt for supporting
said airbag assemble around the waist of a user, said belt
having a cavity associated therewith and said airbag assembly
being housed substantiall~T within said cavity when uninflated;
sensing means for sensing acceleration and angular movement
and for producing a signal indicative of a predetermined
combination of acce7.eration and angular movement, the
predetermined combination corresponding to a fall; and
inflating means for inflaming said airbag assembly to an
expanded configuration in response to said signal.
This invention also provides a protective system for
protecting at least a pori~ion of the human body, comprising: a
belt adapted to be ~~ecured around the waist of a wearer, the
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4B
belt defining a predetermined width measured along the spine
of the user; an inf7_atable airbag associated with the belt and
adapted to be stored in a folded, uninflated state, the airbag
defining a width measured along the spine of the user
substantially equal to the=_ width of the belt when the airbag
is in the folded, uninflated state; sensing means for sensing
acceleration and angular movement and for producing a signal
indicative of a predetermined combination of acceleration and
angular movement, tree predetermined combination corresponding
to a fall; and inflating means, associated with the belt ,for
inflating the airbag to an unfolded, inflated state in
response to said signal, l~he air bag defining a width
substantially greater thal~ the width of the belt when in the
unfolded, inflated ~atate .
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The present invention is directed to a protective
device worn by people, primarily elderly, to prevent hip
fractures and provide protection for the hip pelvis,
5 buttocks and coc:cyx. The protective device is like a belt
or cummerbund and is worn over clothing about the waist
and held in place by either overlapping Velcro type strips
(hook and look type fastening pads or strips) on areas or
by a traditional. fastening such as strap and loop securing
arrangements. The protective device has the following
advantageous features:
a. The ;protective device is a belt-like or
cummerbund-like garment worn comfortably about the waist.
b. The protective device can be easily put on,
adjusted to fit comfortably and removed by a person who is
elderly, infirm or whose fingers, hands and grip have been
weakened by arthritis and/or other neuromuscular
conditions, or by a caregiver with minimal exertion and/or
lifting. The Lnvention does not have multiple straps,
wraps, buttons or zippers. Anyone, either the wearer or
an attendant, who can put a belt around his/her waist
without putting it i~hrough belt loops can easily and
quickly put the invention on or remove it.
c. The protective device is designed so as to be
light and compact. To this end it will be made of the
lightest possible material, examples of which are noted
elsewhere in this document.
d. The invention will be designed to be as thin in
width and short in height as possible in the.uninflated
state worn by the user. This will be accomplished with
the use of fold:> or pleats in the material such that when
it is uninflated the invention is as small as possible.
When inflated the pleats inside the invention expand so
that the device: covers the hips, pelvis, buttocks and
coccyx areas.
e. The protective device will be kept in position
around the waist: by a "one size fits" all strap which is
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an extension of one side of the invention and is placed
across the other end of the invention and adheres to it by
means of a Velcro* type strip on the respective inside of
the strap and outside of the other end of the protective
device. Alternatively, a simple buckle system can be
used. The protective device may be secured around the
waist of the user by either configuration.
f . The protecaive device does not interfere with
the user's activities of daily living, primarily because
of its small size, light weight and position around the
waist. As with a belt or cummerbund, the wearer soon
becomes totally unaware of its presence.
g. The protective device does not become soiled
with feces or urine because it is located above and
sufficiently distant: from the anus and urethra in both
males and females.
h. The :invention will contain an inflatable airbag
assembly, positioned so as to completely surround the
hips, pelvis, buttocks, and coccyx areas when inflated.
The airbag assembly will be inside two layers of strong,
long lasting and abrasive resistant close-weave material
such as the ny:Lon used in the previously mentioned airbag
devices (Neoprene coated woven Nylon). The fabric used
would be made of high strength filaments in a weave
sufficiently tight so as to hold gas pressure sufficiently
high so as not to break upon the increase in pressure
occasioned by the fall of the individual against the
ground or anoi:her hard immobile, incompressible object
with the garmE:nt between the person and the ground or
object. Examples of such suitable material would be the
material currently being used by the manufacturers of
automobile air safety bags, the material used in the
highest quality li:Ee rafts or hot air balloons and
possibly even lZevlar.
i. The :invent.ion will be inflated by a compressed
gas cartridge (or other gas source) fired by a motion
detection triggering device. The device will work as
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follows: when the device senses body movement of a
selected and predetermined acceleration (equal to or
greater than the acceleration which occurs during a fall)
and senses downward angular motion of selected and
predetermined magnitude the device will signal the
triggering mechanism to fire. This will release
compressed gas from the compressed gas cartridge inflating
the invention.
j. The invention will inflate only on changes in
position sufficient in both acceleration, and downward
angular motion so as to indicate a fall and cause the
triggering device to discharge the compressed gas
cartridge, thus releasing gas into the airbag assembly.
This will eliminate the possibility of inappropriate
firing during sitting and standing, sudden turning of the
body, or travel in vehicles or elevators.
k. The motion sensor will contain logic controlled
circuits which will not permit inflation of the airbag
assembly unless signals are received indicating both
sufficient acceleration of the body and sufficient
downward angular motion.
i) The motion sensors may be either types of
mercury switches or accelerometers or a combination of
both. When predetermined rates of acceleration and
downward angular motion are both detected by the sensor,
the triggering mechanism will be activated causing the
compressed gas cartridge to discharge thus inflating the
invention.
ii) The signal from the sensors will drive
piezoelectric crystals and/or cause small lightweight
' long-lasting batteries to activate the triggering device
causing the discharge of the compressed gas cartridge and
the inflation of the invention.
1. The invention, when inflated, expands to cover
only the hip, pelvis, buttocks and coccyx areas. It does
not cover or affect other areas of the body or impact
nearby objects.
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m. The invention maintains its inflation and impact
absorbing quality until the manual relief valve is
manually opened and the gas inside the airbag assembly
escapes.
It should be clearly noted and understood that
although the protective device described in this patent
application is for the protection of the hip, pelvis,
buttocks and co~~cyx areas, to prevent injury and fracture,
this use is illustrative and exemplary only. It is not
intended to be construed as limiting the invention to only
this use or area of the Dody.
BRIEF DEBCRIPTI.ON OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective frontal view of the
uninflated invention worn in position around the waist of
a user.
Fig. 3 is a perspective frontal view of the inflated
invention worn in position around the waist for a user who
has fallen.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the uninflated
device taken a:iong line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 i:a a cross-sectional view of the inflated
device with the pleats expanded by gas pressure.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the pocket containing
the compressed gas cartridge, motion sensing devices,
solenoid valve, battery and manual relief valve for
deflation.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7
of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the present protective device. In this
embodiment the invention is a belt or cummerbund-like
garment 12. The invention is worn about the waist and
kept in plac~a by means of Velcro* type hook and loop
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securing areaaa 14 and 16 on the inside of the right end of
the invention and on the outside of the left end of the
protective sy;stem.
FIG. 2 is a perspective frontal view of the
uninflated protective device 12 worn in position around
the waist of 'the user 18. Because it is light, compact,
held in place by Velcro type hook and loop securing areas
like a belt, it can be easily put on, adjusted to fit
comfortably and removed by a person who is elderly,
infirm, or whose fingers, hands and grip have been
weakened by arthritis and/or other neuromuscular
conditions or by a caregiver. This can be accomplished by
the wearer or a caregiver/attendant with minimal exertion,
lifting, or adjustment of multiple straps, wraps, buttons
or zippers. The invention is made of light, strong, long-
lasting, abrascion-resistant close weave material, such as
the Neoprene ~~oated~, woven Nylon used in airbag devices.
Such fabric is. strong enough, when tightly woven, to hold
the increase in gas pressure which occurs when the user 18
falls against the ground or another incompressible object.
FIG. 3 is. a perspective frontal view of the inflated
protective device 12 on a user 18 who has fallen. The
protective device 1:? as shown in Fig. 4 includes an outer
enclosing surface 20 and inner pleats and Velcro* type hook
and loop closures 2~4 and 26 to hold the pleated portions
of the airbag assembly in their compact uninflated
configuration. Referring again to Fig. 3, note that the
pleats 22 have inflated and expanded, pushing open the
Velcro type closure strips 24 and 26. When inflated the
protective device covers the entire hip, pelvis, buttocks
and coccyx areas. As indicated by the transverse lines on
the expanded airbag assembly as shown in Fig. 3, the
airbag assembly includes cross-ties 2~ or other similar
arrangements for preventing undue outward ballooning of
the airbag assembly and to restrain it to the desired
protective configuration as shown in Fig. 3. The
thickness of tlhe airbag assembly in its inflated state is
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such that it does not function as a fulcrum causing body
parts outside t:he area covered by the airbag to strike the
ground or other objects with greater force than they would
Qt:hex~aise.
5 FIG. 4 isc a cross-sectional view of the uninflated
protective device 12. It demonstrates the folds or pleats
22 inside the protective device 12. Upon inflation, the
pleats expand and farce open the thin Velcro*type closure
strips 24 and 26, which in the uninflated state keep the
10 folded pleats 22 inside the outer enclosing surface 20.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
inf lated protective device 12 . This view demonstrates the
separation of the Velcrd'-type closures strips 24 and 26
and the position of the unfolded pleats 22 which have
expanded and cover the hips, pelvis, buttocks and coccyx
of the user (:>ee Fig. 3) .
. ,_
FIG. 6 i:: an enlarged cut away view of the pocket 40
containing the compressed gas cartridge 30, the motion
sensor 32, the solenoid valve 34, the battery 42 and the
manual deflation valve 36. The pocket is opened with a
zipper 38 so as to allow sufficient room for removal,
replacement or repair of any of its components including
the compressE:d gas cartridge 30, the sensor 32, the
solenoid valve 34 or the battery 42.
The steps involved in the inflation of the invention
when the wearer falls are as follows: The sensor 32
detects the downward acceleration and angular motion, and
causes the activation of the solenoid valve 34 to
discharge the: compressed gas cartridge 30, allowing the
compressed gas to escape into the airbag assembly thus
causing inflation and expansion of the pleats 22 to cover
and protect the hip~, pelvis, buttocks and coccyx (See Fig.
3) .
Fig. 7 :Ls a cross sectional view through the pocket
taken along line '1-7 of Fig. 6. The reference numbers
from Fig. E> are carried over to the corresponding
components in Fig. 7 including the battery 42 which powers
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the sensors 32 and the solenoid valve 34. Incidentally
,, the sensors 32 may include acceleration and orientation
sensors of any desired hype including, but not limited to,
aw pendulous mass, a mercury switch and/or an
accelerometer. Foam blocks 44a and 44b may be used to
prevent movement of the battery, sensors, solenoid valve
and gas cylinder.
It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed
description and accompanying drawings relate to a
preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.
However, various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Thus, by way of example but not of limitation,
instead of a solenoid valve, a single action valve or
piercing member may be activated to puncture or cut a hole
in a plastic outlet from the gas cylinder 30.
Additionally, instead of the above-described valve and
cylinder (or cartridge) arrangement, other device may be
used as a gas source. For example, cold gas inflators and
hybrid gas generators, in which small volumes of
compressed gas are combined with a propellant that, when
ignited, expands to the required volume, may be employed.
Instead of the foam blocks shown in Fig. 7, foam or other
cushioned padding may be employed. Regarding the sensor
or sensors 32, any known form of angularly activated
switch and any known type of accelerometer may be
employed. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited to the specific arrangements as shown in the
drawings and described in detail herein above. The
exemplary materials, constructions and illustrations
included in the preferred embodiment and this patent
application should therefore not be construed to limit the
scope of the present invention, which is defined by the
appended claims.
