A method of operating an information processing apparatus may include collecting gait information of a walking assistance apparatus; determining a gait feature of a user of the walking assistance apparatus based on the collected gait information; and controlling the walking assistance apparatus by determining a gait group of the user based on the determined gait feature.

Exoskeleton technology is described herein. Such technology includes but is not limited to exoskeletons, exoskeleton controllers, methods for controlling an exoskeleton, and combinations thereof. The exoskeleton technology may facilitate, enhance, and/or supplant the natural mobility of a user via a combination of sensor elements, processing/control elements, and actuating elements. User movement may be elicited by electrical stimulation of the user's muscles, actuation of one or more mechanical components, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the exoskeleton technology may adjust in response to measured inputs, such as motions or electrical signals produced by a user. In this way, the exoskeleton technology may interpret known inputs and learn new inputs, which may lead to a more seamless user experience.

A walking assistance apparatus includes stimulus applying means for applying a stimulus to a leg part on which a walking assistance apparatus is mounted and state detection means for detecting a supporting leg condition and a lifted leg condition of the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted. The stimulus applying means applies a first stimulus to the leg part when the state detection means has detected that the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted is in the lifted leg condition, and the stimulus applying means does not apply a stimulus to the leg part or applies a second stimulus that is weaker than the first stimulus when the state detection means has detected that the leg part on which the walking assistance apparatus is mounted is in the supporting leg condition.

A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a person's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the person substantially close to the person's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the person bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the person's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the person's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.

This invention is an apparatus and an associated method with which a person may self-apply concurrent spinal traction and lateral spinal flexure. The apparatus comprises a mobile carriage with ankle grips, long handles and flexible links to a floor pad that is held in place by the weight of the user's upper torso. The user applies arm pressure to the handles so as to urge the carriage and the user's ankles away from the user's torso. This force on the user's ankles applies a stretching force (traction) to the user's lower spine. Alternating a slightly greater force on the handles causes the carriage, constrained by links to the floor pad, to swing to and fro in a lateral arc. The concurrent application of user-induced traction and lateral spinal flexure is but one advantage of the apparatus and is a novel combination in the field of exercise and therapeutic devices.

A leg stretching apparatus, which may comprise a harness operable with at least a portion of a user's leg. The leg stretching apparatus may further comprise a flexible section operable to couple with the harness. Additionally, the leg stretching apparatus may comprise a joint operable to couple to a structure fixed in at least on direction. The structure may provide an anchor sufficient to support a load in the at least one direction.

A knee range of motion device utilizing tangential joint translation and distraction is disclosed. The device includes a carriage connected to a base, the carriage having a base attachment section; a thigh support section pivotally attached to the base attachment section; and a lower leg support section pivotally connected to the thigh support section. The device further including a carriage support extending between the thigh support section and the base, the carriage support pivotally connected to the thigh support section and adapted to slide in slots on the base; a first actuator connected to the lower leg support section to extend and retract the lower leg support section, thereby causing a foot support connected to the lower leg section to move; and a second actuator connected to the lower leg support section to raise and lower a calf support, causing an anterior and posterior tibial translation.

An apparatus and method for recognizing a gait motion by detecting a landing point in time of a foot of a user based on sensed acceleration information, inferring a gait motion based on right and left hip joint angle information of the user sensed at the detected landing point in time of the foot of the user, and detecting a landing leg between both legs of the user based on the inferred gait motion may be provided.

A movement assistance device includes: a back plate that is fitted onto the back of a wearer; a back frame that has an elongated shape and is supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back plate so as to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the back plate; a side frame that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back frame and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the back frame and extends from the back frame toward the vicinity of the side waist of the wearer; a thigh holding portion that is fitted onto the anterior thigh of the wearer; and a drive portion that is connected to each of the side frame and the thigh holding portion and generates force that increases the angle between the side frame and the thigh holding portion.

A medical treatment device and method provide relief from symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and/or vascular dysfunction. The device provides pressure along an inner surface of a human limb of a user, so that at least a portion of the pressure is derived from the weight of the user seated atop the device, and includes a frame for providing support of the device on a floor and one or more curved extensions extending above a center of the frame and downward toward the floor and configured to contact the inner surface of the limb of the user so that weight of the limb supplies at least some of the pressure. The treatment method includes seating a patient atop the device and maintaining the pressure for a treatment interval to provide relief from the symptoms of the peripheral neuropathy and/or vascular dysfunction.