Patent classifications
A61F2005/0155
Orthopedic device
An orthopedic device for the orthotic or prosthetic provision of a patient is provided. The orthopedic device includes a knee joint, which has a proximal upper part and a distal lower part arranged pivotably thereon, an ankle joint, a pivoted foot part which can be fastened distally to the ankle joint, and a shin part arranged between the ankle joint and the knee joint. The upper part of the knee joint or a thigh part fastened thereto that can be attached to the patient's body and is coupled with the foot part by means of a force transfer device, which causes a plantar flexion of the foot part when a knee is flexed.
Assistive flexible suits, flexible suit systems, and methods for making and control thereof to assist human mobility
In at least some aspects, the present concepts include a method for configuring an assistive flexible suit including the acts of outfitting a person with an assistive flexible suit, monitoring an output of at least one sensor of the assistive flexible suit as the person moves in a first controlled movement environment, identifying at least one predefined gait event using the output of the at least one sensor, adjusting an actuation profile of the at least one actuator and continuing to perform the acts of monitoring, identifying and adjusting until an actuation profile of the at least one actuator generates a beneficial moment about the at least one joint to promote an improvement in gait. The at least one controller is then set to implement the actuation profile.
DIFFERENTIAL AND VARIABLE STIFFNESS ORTHOSIS DESIGN WITH ADJUSTMENT METHODS, MONITORING AND INTELLIGENCE
An assistive ankle foot orthosis is described. The AFO has a tubular vertical member arranged laterally to a user's limb. The member carries a rotational bearing and a rotational element such as a pulley. The pulley is connected to a footplate. The footplate provides joint movement assistance or resistance to the user upon rotation of the pulley. The pulley is coupled to one or more springs that provide counter-rotational resistance to pulley movement, thereby storing, and then returning, rotational force during certain foot movements. The spring can include a leaf spring arranged inside the member, the stiffness of which can be manually, automatically or dynamically adjusted by movement of the device.
Patient-Responsive Orthosis
Orthoses, which are recommended for those suffering from spastic cerebral palsy to wear during sleep, may require manual adjustment and can cause discomfort while the wearer is trying to fall asleep. Accordingly, a patient-responsive orthosis is provided that includes a forearm splint, a hand actuator, a motor that extends the hand of the wearer by moving the hand actuator, memory that stores instructions, and a processor that extends the hand of the wearer in response to the instructions by causing the motor to move the hand actuator. The orthosis may include a sleep sensor and may be programmed to extend the hand of the wearer while the wearer is asleep. The patient-responsive orthosis may be programmed (e.g., by a clinician specifying a treatment schedule) using a remote device. The patient-responsive orthosis may also store and output usage data (e.g., for review by a clinician).
WRIST JOINT ACTUATING STRUCTURE OF HAND REHABILITATION DEVICE
A wrist joint actuating structure of a hand rehabilitation device includes a palm orthosis body, a forearm orthosis body and a joint unit. The palm orthosis body includes a plurality of finger support rods and a thumb support rod. The joint unit is a universal joint and is connected between the palm orthosis body and the forearm orthosis body. The palm orthosis body can be turned an angle relative to the forearm orthosis body through actuation of the joint unit according to the bending degree of a user's wrist joint. A tension adjustment unit includes elastic members connected to the finger support rods and the thumb support rod. According to the different stretching tensions required by the fingers or the thumb for rehabilitation, the respective lengths of the other ends of the elastic members to be pressed by a fixing seat are adjustable, so as to adjust different stretching tensions.
System to assist walking
The invention relates to a system to assist walking in spinal cord injured people, who preserve hip flexion capacity, comprising a pair of KAFO-type orthoses with: (a) an angular actuator (5) in each knee; (b) an orientation and acceleration sensor (6) on each leg; (c) a power supply and control system (7) to which all the sensors and actuators are connected; (d) a control algorithm deciding when to flex or extend the knee depending on the walking cycle, using information from the sensors.
Apparatus wearable by a subject for assisting forward reclining movements of the torso
An assistance apparatus wearable by a subject for an assistance in forward reclining movements of the torso includes an upper structure for the engagement of the subject's torso and a lower structure for the engagement of the subject's legs, pivotally connected to each other around an axis, at least one elastic device operatively interposed between the upper structure and the lower structure and at least one electric motor operatively arranged in series with the elastic device, between the upper structure and the lower structure, and actionable for dynamically controlling the extent of deformation of the elastic device.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING WITH MOBILIZING A JOINT
Device (100) for assisting with mobilizing a joint (3) comprising a first and a second guiding element, the first flexible guiding element (102) being positioned on one of the segments (4), having a first pair of cable passages arranged on the side of the rear face (52) and on the side of the front face (54), the second flexible guiding element (104) being positioned on the other of the segments (5), having a first pair of cable passages, arranged on the side of the rear face (52) and on the side of the front face (54), the second guiding element further comprising a pair of anchoring points arranged on the side of the front face (52) and on the side of the rear face (54), a flexible support part on which a pair of actuators (M11, M12) associated with a pair of winders are arranged, to cause the associated winder to turn in the winding direction and the unwinding direction, and a pair of cables (C11, C12) extending from the winders, up to the anchoring points of the second guiding element, passing through the cable passages of the first pair of cable passages of the first and second guiding elements.
Vibratory unloading knee brace for knee osteoarthritis
A knee device and method of stimulating muscles is disclosed. The knee device includes a knee brace with a support frame and vibration components. The vibration components are connected to the support frame by adjustable arms that allow for precise adjustments in the spatial position and orientation of the vibration components. The vibration components can be activated by the ambulation of a user.
Devices for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
The present disclosure describes soft-robotic wearable devices to treat and/or relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, for example during typing assist applications. Soft actuators within the device adjust the angle of the wearer's wrist angle dynamically to achieve a neutral angle, alleviating the pressure on the median nerve and relieving Carpal Tunnel Syndrome strain.