Abstract:
A robot for rehabilitation therapy includes a robot body and a walker. The robot body includes a fixing band for supporting a waist of a patient, pelvic joint shafts rotatably connected to the fixing band, first arms extending downward from the pelvic joint shafts, first connecting joint shafts connected to the first arm, second arms extending downward from the first connecting joint shafts, second connecting joint shafts rotatably connected to the second arms, extension pieces extending downward from the second connecting joint shafts, and footboards rotatably connected to the extension pieces by ankle joint shafts. The walker includes an upper frame, a connection frame, and a wheeled lower frame. The angles of the first arms and the second arms are adjusted according to the length of the lower half of the body of the patient.
Abstract:
A holder may be more easily mounted on a user's body by applying tension to a cable. An inner side surface of the holder with which the user's body comes in contact transmits uniform pressure to the user's body such that the holder may be more comfortable to the user.
Abstract:
A spinal decompression machine includes a portable frame, a user support element, a laterally positioned handle extending from the frame, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the handle. A force bar operatively coupled to the drive mechanism extends longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the frame. A harness is attached to the first force bar. The drive mechanism causes the force bar to move longitudinally upon rotation of the handle. A method of providing traction includes positioning a person in a face up position upon the user support element, attaching a harness to a neck or pelvis of the person, the harness attached to a cervical traction bar or a pelvic traction bar, and moving the cervical fraction bar and pelvic fraction bar simultaneously in a common longitudinal direction by moving a handle.
Abstract:
In a walking assistance device (10) that can transmit the power generated by a power generator (26, 28) to a femoral part of a user, a swing arm (60, 62) is attached to an output member of the power generator at a base end thereof, and is connected to a femoral support plate (68, 70) at a free end thereof via a pivot joint (64). The pivot joint includes a spherical projection (100) provided on the free end of the swing arm and a socket (112) provided on the femoral support plate, the socket defining a spherical recess (110) configured to receive the spherical projection to permit a tilting movement of the femoral support plate at least in two directions with respect to the free end of the swing arm. Thereby, the femoral support plate is enabled to accommodate the build and/or the movement of the femoral part of the user.
Abstract:
A mobility device for people who need assisted mobility comprising side support structures for supporting the weight of an occupant in a semi seated position, a back rest structure, a shin rest structure and an arm rest structure. The mobility device of the present invention provides a rear access which is feasible by moving outwardly and upwardly the side support structures.
Abstract:
A lower extremity orthotic control system determines a movement desired by a user, particularly with a user employing gestures or other signals to convey or express their intent to the system, and automatically regulates the sequential operation of powered lower extremity orthotic components. In a particular application, the orientation of a stance leg is used to determine when the user wants to initiate a step, as well as when the user is in a safe position from which to take a step. The invention has particular applicability for use in enabling a paraplegic user to walk through a controlled operation of a human exoskeleton coupled to the user's lower limbs. A controller receives inputs regarding a motion desired by the user, determines the desired motion and then controls the movement of the user's legs or limbs through actuation of the exoskeleton.
Abstract:
A motorized system for selectively moving a patient to reposition canaliths in the patient's inner ear to treat a balance disorder includes a base member, a patient support and a connecting assembly. The patient support is mounted on the connecting assembly and the connecting assembly is engaged with the base member. In one embodiment, the connecting assembly can include a substantially U-shaped loop member and the patient support is a chair. One motor rotates the patient support (and patient) about a first axis relative to the connecting assembly. Another motor rotates the connecting assembly (and patient support) relative to the base member about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. With this arrangement, the motors move the patient support (and patient) at relatively high angular velocities, from one patient position to the next, in accordance with a predetermined protocol, such as the well-known Epley maneuver.
Abstract:
A system for dynamically adjusting treatment angle under tension to accommodate variations in spinal morphology during spinal decompression therapy is provided. It provides a tensioning device including a patient-positioning means, a tension-producing actuator, a positioning device, a patient interface device, a control system and a display. The control system with feedback on the resultant tension vector applied to patient spine operationally configured to allow for adjustment of either tension producing actuator position, patient position, or both while applying tension to the patient spine during non-therapeutic tension levels. The control system automatically adjusts tension producing actuator work levels such that the resultant tension vector magnitude remains ideally constant during adjustment of resultant tension vector angle, reducing the risk of eliciting paraspinal muscle contraction due to changes in resultant tension vector magnitude.
Abstract:
An exoskeleton bracing system includes: a trunk support for affixing to the trunk of a disabled person and leg braces for connecting to the legs of the person, each leg brace including limb segment braces. Motorized joints are adapted to provide relative angular movement between the limb segment braces of the leg braces and between the leg braces and the trunk support. One or more ground force sensors are designed to sense ground force exerted on each of the leg braces. The system also includes a controller for receiving sensed signals from said one or more ground force sensors, with an algorithm for identifying a stance from the sensed signals and, based on the identified stance, actuating the motorized joints to perform an action relating to a mode of locomotion selected from a set of predefined actions corresponding to the identified stance.
Abstract:
A robot displacement device for use with a robotic frame shaped to approximate and be coupleable to at least a portion of the human body and configured to mimic movement of the human body. The device employs a plurality of force sensors which are attached to the robotic frame which detect a baseline controlling interface force status relationship between the sensors and the extremities of the human operator. Based on the output force signal from the sensors and the force and direction of gravity relative to the robotic frame, the computation system calculates at least a rotational force required to maintain the controlling force status relationship. That system then generates and transmits an actuation signal to a drive system attached to the robotic frame which displaces a portion of the robotic frame in order to maintain the controlling force status relationship.