ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A LOWER EXTREMITY OF A USER

Abstract

An orthopedic device for supporting a lower limb and/or a lower back of a user includes at least one upper joint element, at least one lower joint element which can be pivoted relative to the upper joint element, and at least one actuator configured to apply a torque to the upper joint element and/or the lower joint element. Application of a torque pivots the upper joint element and the lower joint element relative to each other. The orthopedic device also includes at least one ground contact element which is connected to the lower joint element such that when the orthopedicdevice is in the mounted state, the torque applied by the at least one passive actuator is transmitted by the ground contact element to a ground on which the user is located.

Claims

1. An orthopedic device for supporting a lower limb and/or a lower back of a user, comprising: - at least one upper joint element, - at least one lower joint element, wherein the at least one upper joint element and the at least one lower joint element are pivotablerelative to each other, - at least one actuator configured to apply a torque to the at least one upper joint element and/or the at least one lower joint element for pivoting the at least one upper joint element and the at least one lower joint element relative to each other, and at least one ground contact element connected to the at least one lower joint element such that when the orthopedic device is in a mounted state, a force is transmitted by the at least one ground contact element to a ground on which the user is located as a result of torque applied by the at least one actuator.

2. The orthopedic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ground contact element is connected to the at least one lower joint element via at least one force transmission element.

3. The orthopedic device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ground contact element is arranged on the at least one force transmission element such that the at least one ground contact element is displaced with the at least one force transmission element.

4. The orthopedic device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one force transmission element is displaceable relative to the at least one ground contact element and wherein a connection that transmits force is established between the at least one force transmission element and the at least one ground contact element by the at least one force transmission element being displaced by the torque applied by the at least one actuator.

5. The orthopedic device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one force transmission element is pivotably arranged on the at least one lower joint element.

6. The orthopedic device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one force transmission element comprises a lower leg shell mountable on a lower leg of the user that is along a longitudinal extension of the at least one force transmission element relative to the at least one force transmission element.

7. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ground contact element is arranged at a distal end of the at least one lower joint element (.

8. The orthopedic device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one ground contact element protrudes frontally over the at least one upper joint element.

9. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one force transmission element or a distal section of the at least one force transmission element is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the at least one force transmission element.

10. The orthopedic device according to claim 9 wherein a 8 lower leg shell is arranged on the distal section of the at least one force transmission element.

11. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one actuator comprises a mechanical energy store.

12. The orthopedic device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one upper joint element is an upper body element and the at least one lower joint element is an upper leg element, and wherein the orthopedic device further comprises a pelvic element, wherein the upper body element comprises a first engagement element and the upper leg element comprises a second engagement element, wherein - the upper leg element is arranged on the pelvic element such that the upper leg element is pivotatableabout a first pivot axis , - the upper body element is movably arranged relative to the pelvic element, - the first engagement element is engageable and/or disengageable from the second engagement element by moving the upper body element relative to the pelvic element, and - the mechanical energy store is chargeable and/or dischargeable by pivoting the upper leg element relative to the upper body element when the first engagement element is engaged with the second engagement element.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] In the following, an embodiment example of the invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of the accompanying figures.

[0058] FIG. 1 depicts a device according to an embodiment example of the present invention in the mounted state.

[0059] FIG. 2 depicts the device of FIG. 1 in a different movement situation than is shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 3 depicts yet another movement situation with the device of FIG. 1.

[0061] FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment example of the present invention and in which the user wearing the orthopedic device is kneeling.

[0062] FIG. 5 corresponds to the device of FIG. 1, and shows an embodiment designed in such a way that it is in contact with the ground as long as the user’s foot is in contact with the ground, regardless of the position of the user.

[0063] FIG. 6 depicts a similar representation of the device shown in FIG. 5 with the same ground contact element, but where the upper leg element is longer.

[0064] FIG. 7 depicts a device similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but depict an embodiment where an active actuator is included.

[0065] FIG. 8 depicts a device similar to that shown in Figure, but depicts an embodiment with a spring as the actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 depicts a device according to an embodiment example of the present invention in the mounted state. A user 2 is wearing the device, which comprises an upper body element 4 arranged on an upper body of the user 2 and an upper leg element 6. The upper leg element 6 is arranged on a pelvic element 10 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 8 and can thus also be pivoted relative to the upper body element 4, which is also movably arranged at the distal end of the pelvic element 10. A force transmission element in the form of a lower leg element 12 is arranged at the distal end of the upper leg element 6, a lower leg shell 14 being arranged on said lower leg element. Th lower leg shell 14 is attached to a lower leg of the user 2.

[0067] The lower leg shell 14 is arranged such that it can be displaced longitudinally relative to the lower leg element 12, as indicated by the double arrow 16. In the embodiment example shown, the lower leg shell 14 features a projection 18 in the form of a peg, which is slidably mounted in an elongated hole 20 arranged for this purpose on the lower leg element. At the distal end of this lower leg element is a ground contact element 22, which is in contact with the ground in the figure depicted in FIG. 1.

[0068] The device also comprises an actuator 24 which, in the embodiment example shown is a passive actuator, is arranged between the upper leg element 6 and a force application lever 26 of the upper body element 4. In the situation shown in FIG. 1, the user 2 has leaned forward to lift an object 28. Their upper body with the upper body element 4 located thereon has been pivoted relative to the upper leg element 6. The actuator 24, which may be a spring element such as an expander, was tensioned in the process and now exerts a force that pulls the upper leg element 6 in the direction of the arrow 30. As a result, a torque is applied to the upper leg element 6 about the pivot axis 8 in the anti-clockwise direction.

[0069] The upper leg element 6 initially follows this torque and is pivoted about the pivot axis 8 in the specified direction. In the process, the force transmission element in the form of the lower leg element 12 located at the distal end of the upper leg element 6 is also moved and, in FIG. 1, displaced downwards until the situation shown in FIG. 1 is achieved and the ground contact element 22 touches the ground. The lower leg element 12 is pivoted relative to the lower leg shell 14. As soon as the ground contact element 22 touches the ground, a further movement of the lower leg element 12 in this direction is no longer possible and the ground acts as a counter-bearing for the force applied by the actuator 24, said force now supporting the user 2 when straightening up.

[0070] In the embodiment example shown, the lower leg element 12 has a proximal section 32 and a distal section 34, which can be twisted relative to each other along the double arrow 36.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 in another movement situation of the user 2. In the situation depicted, the upper leg element 6 is not pivoted relative to the upper body element, so that the actuator 24 was not tensioned and therefore no force was exerted. The ground contact element 22 therefore does not protrude beyond the sole of the foot of the user 2 and therefore does not represent a restriction of movement. It is clear that the projection 18 is positioned in the elongated hole 20 in a significantly distally displaced manner compared to the situation in FIG. 1. This means that the lower leg element 12 is displaced further proximally, i.e. towards the knee, relative to the lower leg shell 14 compared to the situation in FIG. 1.

[0072] FIG. 3 depicts another situation. The user 2 is leaning their upper body forward with extended legs. The upper body element 4 features a first engagement element, not depicted, and the upper leg element 6 has a second engagement element, also not depicted. In the situation shown in FIG. 3, these elements are not engaged with one another, so that the actuator 24 does not exert a force, even though the upper body element 4 is pivoted relative to the upper leg element 6.

[0073] FIG. 4 depicts a kneeling user 2 wearing an orthopedic device according to a further embodiment example of the present invention. It comprises the upper body element 4 and the upper leg element 6, between which the actuator 24 is arranged. When the user 2 is in this position, the ground contact element 22 at the distal end of the lower leg element 12 is not arranged in a way that allows it to be brought into contact with the ground by the torque applied by the actuator 24. The device has another ground contact element 38 for this case. It is preferably arranged at a distal end of the upper leg element 6, which acts as a force transmission element. As a result of the torque applied by the actuator 24, the upper leg element 6 is pivoted about the pivot axis 8 in the clockwise direction until the ground contact element 38 comes into contact with the ground. The ground then acts as a counter-bearing for the force applied by the actuator 24.

[0074] FIG. 5 largely corresponds to the representation in FIG. 1, the ground contact element 22 in FIG. 5 being designed in such a way that it is in contact with the ground as long as the user’s foot is in contact with the ground, regardless of the position of the user 2. A displacement device, as it is shown in FIG. 1 and which enables the displacement along the double arrow 16 in FIG. 1, is not necessary in the embodiment in FIG. 5. The upper leg element 6, which forms the lower joint element, is articulated with the lower leg element 12, which forms the force transmission element. The actuator 24 exerts a torque in that a tensile force is applied away from the pivot axis 8, i.e. eccentrically in relation to this axis, by the actuator 24.

[0075] FIG. 6 depicts the representation from FIG. 5 with the same ground contact element 22. It is different to FIG. 5 in that the upper leg element 6, i.e. the lower joint element, is longer. There is no connection of the upper leg element 6 or the lower leg element 12 to the wearer’s leg. This results in freedom of movement along the arrows 30. The joints, which connect the pelvic element 10 to the upper leg element 6, the lower leg element 12 and the ground contact element 22, only enable a movement in one plane and breaking out of this plane is not possible.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows the representation from FIG. 1 with the difference that instead of the exemplary passive actuator shown in FIG. 1, an active actuator 40 is present. This is designed as a motor and is set up to apply the necessary torque to move the upper leg element 6 relative to the pelvic element 10 and/or to the upper body element 4. The active actuator 40 is preferably an electric motor. This has the advantage of being able to be designed to be quiet and small. As an energy source, the device according to FIG. 7 has an energy storage unit that is not shown, which is, for example, a rechargeable battery and in which electrical energy can be stored.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment which has a passive actuator 24 in the form of a spring. This engages the force application lever 26 and thus exerts the force and, from this, the necessary torque. A force application point 42, at which the passive actuator 24 engages the force application lever 26, is formed to be displaceable along the force application lever 26. To displace the force application point 42, an electric motor 44 is actuated. However, the passive actuator 24 itself is not connected to its own drive or to any power source other than the user 2.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference list: 2 user 4 upper body element 6 upper leg element 8 pivot axis 10 pelvic element 12 lower leg element 14 lower leg shell 16 double arrow 18 projection 20 elongated hole 22 ground contact element 24 passive actuator 26 force application lever 28 object 30 arrow 32 proximal section 34 distal section 36 double arrow 38 ground contact element