PROLONGED SITTING OR BED REST LEADS TO DEPENDENT EDEMA AND VENOUS STASIS, OFTEN PROGRESSING TO DEBILITATING ILLNESS.

PROLONGED SITTING OR BED REST LEADS TO DEPENDENT EDEMA AND VENOUS STASIS, OFTEN PROGRESSING TO DEBILITATING ILLNESS. DISCOMFORT AND PATHOLOGY ARE PREVENTED BY REGULAR PERIODIC ANKLE FLEXING. A NEW INVENTION ACCOMPLISHES THIS PURPOSE COMFORTABLY, CONVENIENTLY, AND ECONOMICALLY. IT ENSURES COMPLIANCE THROUGH A PEDAL MECHANISM WHOSE APPROPRIATE MOTION ELICITS AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL REPRESENTING ADEQUATE FLEXING MOTION (STROKE) AND AN ELECTRONIC MODULE COUNTING UP THESE STROKES AND DEDUCTING STROKES AT A PRESET RATE. THESE PROCESSES ARE COMBINED WITH AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL WARNING THE USER WHEN A PRESCRIBED AN ADJUSTABLE PROTOTYPE INCLUDING A COMPUTER IS COLLECTING DESIGN PARAMETERS ON HUMAN SUBJECTS. THE PHASE I PROJECT WILL BE FOR ENGINEERING A MINIATURE ELECTRONIC MODULE WITH FIXED PARAMETERS AND PEDAL MODULES FOR 4 DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS: BED-FAST PATIENTS; WHEELCHAIR PEDALS REPLACEMENT; SITTING AT DESK OR TV; PLANE OR CAR TRAVEL. AN AUTOMATIC ANGLE-ADJUSTING FOOTREST IS FORMED BY THE SPECIAL PEDAL MECHANISM, FURTHER ENCOURAGING USE. EFFECTIVE DESIGN IN PHASE I WILL ENSURE ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION AND THEREBY WIDESPREAD USE TO PREVENT AN ILLNESS AFFECTING 25% OF THE POPULATION. IT WILL OFFER THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH CARE WITH COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, AND ECONOMY.