Apparatus for human arm supporting exoskeleton
First Claim
1. An arm supporting exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person, the arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:
- a shoulder base, configured to be coupled to a trunk of the person and comprising;
a load bearing structure coupled to an arm link mechanism and configured to support reaction forces and reaction torques on the shoulder base; and
a coupling mechanism configured to couple the load bearing structure to the trunk of the person such that the shoulder base moves in unison with the trunk of the person;
the arm link mechanism configured to be coupled to the shoulder base, the arm link mechanism comprising;
a proximal link; and
a distal link configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis;
an arm-coupler attached to the distal link and configured to couple an upper arm of the person to the distal link;
a torque generator coupled to the proximal link and the distal link and configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link; and
a shoulder bracket that allows for removable coupling of the arm link mechanism to the shoulder base.
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Abstract
An arm supporting exoskeleton comprises a shoulder base coupled to an arm link mechanism. The arm link mechanism comprises a proximal link and a distal link configured to rotate relative to each other about a rotating joint; at least one arm-coupler adapted to couple a user'"'"'s arm to the distal link; a tensile force generator coupled to the proximal link and the distal link, and providing a torque to flex the distal link relative to the proximal link; and a protrusion located substantially at the rotating joint. When the distal link extends past a toggle angle, the protrusion constrains the tensile force generator, and the torque provided by the tensile force generator remains substantially small. When the protrusion does not constrain the tensile force generator, the torque tends to flex the distal link relative to the proximal link, thereby reducing human shoulder forces and torques required to raise the arm.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An arm supporting exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person, the arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:
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a shoulder base, configured to be coupled to a trunk of the person and comprising; a load bearing structure coupled to an arm link mechanism and configured to support reaction forces and reaction torques on the shoulder base; and a coupling mechanism configured to couple the load bearing structure to the trunk of the person such that the shoulder base moves in unison with the trunk of the person; the arm link mechanism configured to be coupled to the shoulder base, the arm link mechanism comprising; a proximal link; and a distal link configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis; an arm-coupler attached to the distal link and configured to couple an upper arm of the person to the distal link; a torque generator coupled to the proximal link and the distal link and configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link; and a shoulder bracket that allows for removable coupling of the arm link mechanism to the shoulder base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An arm supporting exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person, the arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:
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a shoulder base configured to be coupled to a trunk of the person; an arm link mechanism, configured to be coupled to an upper arm of a person; and an offset adjustment joint configured to adjust and fix a position of the arm link mechanism relative to the shoulder base, wherein the arm link mechanism comprises; a proximal link; a distal link, configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis; an arm-coupler, attached to the distal link and adapted to couple the upper arm of the person to the distal link; and a torque generator, comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the proximal link, the second end coupled to the distal link, the torque generator configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification