Patent classifications
A61H2003/007
WALKING TRAINING SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND CONTROL PROGRAM
The walking training device includes: a robot leg attached to one leg of a trainee; a treadmill; a load distribution sensor that detects a distribution of a load received from a sole of the trainee; and a walking state distinguishing unit that determines whether the one leg is in a swinging leg state; a control unit that performs a predetermined bending-extending control for the swinging leg state of the one leg by the robot leg when the one leg is in the swinging leg state; a measuring unit that measures a clearance between the one leg in the swinging leg state and the treadmill. The control unit changes control content of the predetermined bending-extending control so that the one leg does not contact the belt of the treadmill during extending control of the one leg, when the clearance is less than a specified value.
Proportional joint-moment control for powered exoskeletons and prostheses
Lower-limb exoskeletons used to improve free-living mobility for individuals with neuromuscular impairment must be controlled to prescribe assistance that adapts to the diverse locomotor conditions encountered during daily life, including walking at different speeds and across varied terrain. This system employs an ankle exoskeleton control strategy that instantly and appropriately adjusts assistance to the changing biomechanical demand during variable walking. Specifically, this system utilizes a proportional joint-moment control strategy that prescribes assistance as a function of the instantaneous estimate of the ankle joint moment.
Shoe extension for patient gait modification
A shoe extension for gait modification includes a vamp section, a base section, an attachment strap, and a restraining mechanism. The vamp section is connected to a top surface of the base section forming a receiving slot. A toe box of a shoe worn on a healthy limb is slidably positioned into the receiving slot such that the base section is positioned along an outsole of the shoe. The attachment strap is utilized to establish a connection with the shoe. By increasing an overall length of the footwear worn on the healthy limb, a speed of motion of the healthy limb may be reduced in order to increase weight bearing on the unhealthy limb. The restraining mechanism, which is preferably integrated into a bottom surface of the base section, may also be used to reduce the speed of motion of the healthy limb.
Assisted standing and walking device with lateral gait control
An assisted standing and walking device for a user with at least one side paralysis or weakness is provided with provisions for assisted transitioning of the user from a seated position to a standing position prior to walking in the assisted standing and walking device with user friendly attachment and release with controlled limitation of lateral gait movement that occurs in lateral walking gait motion.
TWO STAGE ACTUATOR FOR POWERED MOBILITITY ASSISTANCE DEVICES WITH ELECTRICAL ISOLATION
An enhanced actuator assembly, such as for use in driving a joint member of a wearable robotic device, is characterized by electrical isolation of the motor from the transmission system output. An actuator assembly includes a motor and a transmission system that provides a speed reduction of a motor speed to an output speed. The transmission system includes a non-conductive material layer that electrically isolates the motor from an output of the transmission system. The transmission system may be a two-stage transmission system. A first stage of speed reduction of the transmission system may include a first rotating member, such as a first helical gear, attached to the output shaft of the motor that transmits power to a second rotating member, such as a second helical gear. The second rotating member has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first rotating member to form the first stage of speed reduction, and the non-conductive material layer is part of the second rotating member.
Assist device
An assist device includes a body mounting fixture, an actuator, an operation state detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to control drive of the actuator. The controller is configured to acquire an estimated posture of the wearer, which is estimated based on operation detection information detected by the operation state detector, when the actuator generates the assist torque. The controller is configured to determine whether or not the estimated posture is an unreasonable posture in which an excessive force is applied to a lower back portion.
WEARABLE DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR
A wearable device, includes a motor, a motor driver circuit, a memory, a sensor, and a processor. The memory is configured to store resistance force generation setting information indicating a difference between a reference angle and each joint angle and a corresponding relationship between respective duty ratios. The processor is configured to obtain, using the sensor, a joint angle of a user and calculate a difference between the reference angle and the obtained joint angle. The processor is configured to obtain a duty ratio corresponding to the calculated difference according to the resistance force generation setting information. The processor is further configured to provide a control signal having the obtained duty ratio to the motor driver circuit to perform control such that a control state of the motor driver circuit is switched between a first control state and a second control state.
SUPPORTER HAVING BISTABLE SPRING, AND EXERCISE ASSISTANCE APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME
A supporter for a wearable exercise apparatus may include a main body; a pair of main frames connected to the main body; a pair of straps connected to the pair of main frames, respectively; and a bistable spring which is provided inside each of the pair of the straps and maintained in one of two stable states by a restoring force. The two stable states include a first stable state in which the bistable spring has a shape extending straight along the longitudinal direction and a second stable state in which the bistable spring has a shape that is bent once. The shape of the strap may be determined according to the shape of the bistable spring.
PASSIVE EXOSKELETON BASED ON ENERGY FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOT-ANKLE COMPLEX
A passive exoskeleton based on energy flow characteristics of a foot-ankle complex includes a first passive exoskeleton. The first passive exoskeleton includes an energy distribution mechanism, a strike-recipient mechanism and a wearing fixing assembly. The energy distribution mechanism is connected to the strike-recipient mechanism, and the energy distribution mechanism is also connected to the wearing fixing assembly. The energy distribution mechanism includes a ratchet wheel shaft, a left torsional spring, a right torsional spring and a middle guide wheel respectively sleeved on the ratchet wheel shaft. The middle guide wheel is connected to the wearing fixing assembly through an ankle joint power-assisted cord. The ratchet wheel shaft is connected to the strike-recipient mechanism, the strike-recipient mechanism drives the ratchet wheel shaft to rotate, and the ratchet wheel shaft drives the left torsional spring, the right torsional spring and the middle guide wheel to rotate.
Bodyweight unloading locomotive device
A bodyweight unloading locomotive device includes a frame configured to support locomotive movement, and an unloading assembly carried by the frame. The unloading assembly includes a spring having a fixed end coupled to the frame and an opposed free end, a cam assembly mounted to the frame for rotational movement, a first tether extending from the free end of the spring to the cam assembly, and a second tether extending from the cam assembly to a load. The unloading assembly exerts an unloading force on the load with respect to the frame.