A61H1/02

Method for controlling a grasp assist system

A grasp assist system includes a glove having a glove palm and fingers, with the glove worn on a user's hand. A sensor measures flexion of the glove fingers, and thus a change of position and/or attitude of the fingers is determined. Finger saddles at least partially surround a phalange of a respective one of the user's fingers. The system uses one or more tendon actuators to pull on flexible tendons. Each tendon connects to a respective finger saddle. A controller is in communication with the actuators and sensor(s). The glove may use feedback from optional contact sensors to adjust tension, and may have a built-in restorative force. In executing a control method, the controller selectively applies tension to the tendons in response to finger flexion, via the tendon actuators, at a level sufficient for moving the user's fingers when the user executes a hand maneuver.

LOAD MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, WALKING TRAINING SYSTEM, LOAD MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND PROGRAM
20230000390 · 2023-01-05 · ·

A load measurement device includes an acquisition unit, a load calculation unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires sensor output information of a load distribution sensor that detects a load distribution received from a sole of a subject. The load calculation unit calculates a total load value, based on the sensor output information and geometric information of a load region specified based on the sensor output information, the geometric information including at least a perimeter of the load region in a horizontal direction. The output unit outputs the total load value.

REHABILITATION ASSISTING APPARATUS
20230000710 · 2023-01-05 ·

A rehabilitation assisting apparatus has a main body, a waist assisting unit mounted above the main body, and two leg assisting units separately disposed side by side above the main body. Each of the leg assisting units is pivotally connected with the waist assisting unit. An upper rocking plate of the waist assisting unit can be driven to roll leftward and rightward to rehabilitate or train a waist of a user. A leg lifting bracket of each of the leg assisting unit can be driven to pitch upward and downward to rehabilitate or train a leg of the user.

Ergonomic exoskeleton system for the upper limb

Exoskeleton kinematic chain arranged to pivotally connect a first element to a second element, said first element comprising two pivot points A.sub.1 and B.sub.1 located at a distance A.sub.1B.sub.1, said second element comprising two pivot points A.sub.2 and B.sub.2 located at a distance A.sub.2B.sub.2. The exoskeleton kinematic chain comprises a first external link pivotally connected to the first element at the pivot point A.sub.1 and a first end link pivotally connected to the first external link at a pivot point D.sub.1, said pivot point D.sub.1 being located at a distance A.sub.1D.sub.1 by the pivot point A.sub.1. The exoskeleton kinematic chain comprises then a second external link pivotally connected to the second element at the pivot point A.sub.2, and a second end link pivotally connected to the second external link at a pivot point D.sub.2, said pivot point D.sub.2 being located at a distance A.sub.2D.sub.2 by the pivot point A.sub.2. The exoskeleton kinematic chain also comprises a first intermediate link pivotally connected to the first element at the pivot point B.sub.1 and integrally connected to the second end link at a junction point C.sub.2, a second intermediate link pivotally connected to the second element at the pivot point B.sub.2 and integrally connected to the first end link at a junction point C.sub.1. The first and the second end link are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point M. Defining custom character=custom character=θ, for any value of θ, the projections of the pivot points A.sub.1, B.sub.1, A.sub.2, B.sub.2 in a plane π, lay in a circumference K having center O and radius r=A.sub.1D.sub.1=A.sub.2D.sub.2=D.sub.1B.sub.2=MB.sub.2=D.sub.2B.sub.1=MB.sub.1, in such a way that decreasing the value of θ the first and the second element rotate with respect to each other about an axis z orthogonal to the plane π and passing through the center O in the direction for which the point A.sub.1 is overlapped to the point B.sub.2.

Compliant mechanism for improving axial load sensing in robotic actuators

An embodiment includes an exoskeleton robotic system including: a first linkage; a bearing coupled to the first linkage; a joint including a motor configured to move the first linkage along the bearing; an axial load sensor configured to sense an axial force transmitted to the axial load sensor via the joint, the axial force including one of tension or compression but not torque; a bracket including first and second bracket locations and first and second arms; and a housing that includes at least part of the joint and which couples the bracket to the bearing. The bracket couples to the housing at the first bracket location and couples to the axial load sensor at the second bracket location. The first arm couples the second arm to the first bracket location, and the second arm couples the first arm to the second bracket location.

TRAINING AND REHABILITATION DEVICE
20220409958 · 2022-12-29 ·

A device for training and rehabilitation of a limb is provided. The device provides a board with a plurality of movement tracks to allow for controlled movement of the limb in various directions. Blockers and other controlling structures may be arranged on the device to limit range of motion of the movement of the limb.

Driving module and motion assistance apparatus including the same

A driving module including a driving source configured to generate power, a gear train including a decelerating gear set configured to receive driving power from the driving source and a ring gear attached to one side thereof, and a rotary joint including at least one planetary gear configured to rotate using power received from an output end of the decelerating gear set and to revolve along the ring gear is disclosed.

Orthosis systems and rehabilitation of impaired body parts
11534358 · 2022-12-27 · ·

Rehabilitating an impaired body part of a subject such as a stroke patient includes systems, devices, and methods using an orthosis system configured to attach to the impaired body part and to move or assist in movement of the impaired body part. A control system is configured to operate the orthosis system in a mode in which the orthosis system first allows the subject to move volitionally or attempt to move volitionally the impaired body part in a predefined motion and then operates to move or assist in the predefined motion of the impaired body part. Additional modes of operation include a brain computer interface mode of operation and a mode in which the orthosis system operates in a continuous passive mode of operation comprising a plurality of repetitions of an exercise to move the impaired body part.

DEVICE FOR ASSISTING MOTION OF A JOINT

In some embodiments, a device for assisting motion of a joint may include a first anchor on a first side of the joint, a second anchor on a second side of the joint, a spring operatively coupled to the first anchor and the second anchor, and an actuator operatively coupled to the first anchor and the second anchor. Actuating the actuator may apply a torque about the joint that is resisted by a reaction torque applied to the joint by the spring.

SYSTEM FOR GUIDING MOTIONS OF A TARGET JOINT

Examples of a motion guiding device of a target joint of a target body are disclosed. The device allows three degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion about a remote center of rotation that is approximately aligned to a center of rotation of the target joint. The device comprises a base adjustably connected to the target body and three rotary joints interconnected with a network of linkages. One end of the network of linkages is connected to the base and the opposite end to an effector plate. At least one of the three rotary joints is not aligned with an axes of motion of the target joint and any of these rotary joints may be positioned under angle with respect to the others. Each of the rotary joints provides one DOF of rotary motion about the respective axes and each axis of the three rotary joints intersect at the remote center of rotation. The geometry of the network of linkages is adjustable to adjust a position of the remote center of rotation in three dimensions. The three rotary joints and the network of linkages rotate the effector plate about the remote center of rotation that is approximately align with the center of rotation of the target joint. This system may be connected with one or more parallel branches for additional actuation.