Controllable Joint Brace

• US 20100125229A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Delaware
• Original Assignee: University of Delaware
• Inventors: Rudolph, Katherine, Sun, Jian-Qiao
• Application Number:
  US12/501,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0158 with locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/024 Knee A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1676 Pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5069 Angle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 : Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 : using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses

Abstract

A controllable brace assembly includes a thigh brace having a thigh gyroscope attached thereto and a shank brace having a shank gyroscope and a shank accelerometer attached thereto. A controllable knee lock couples the thigh brace to the shank brace. The knee lock has an encoder attached thereto. At least one pressure sensor is adapted to be attached to a shoe. A controller is configured to receive signals from the thigh gyroscope, the shank gyroscope, the encoder, the shank accelerometer, and the at least one pressure sensor. The controller transmits a first signal set to engage or disengage the controllable knee lock based on the received signals. A method of controlling the brace is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A controllable brace assembly comprising:

a thigh brace having a thigh gyroscope attached thereto;

a shank brace having a shank gyroscope and a shank accelerometer attached thereto;

a controllable knee lock coupling the thigh brace to the shank brace, the knee lock having an encoder attached thereto;

at least one pressure sensor for attachment to the sole of a user'"'"'s shoe; and

a controller configured to receive signals from the thigh gyroscope, the shank gyroscope, the encoder, the shank accelerometer, and the at least one pressure sensor, and to transmit a first signal set to engage or disengage the controllable knee lock based on the received signals.

2. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controllable knee lock comprises a gear plate and a first locking pawl operatively coupled to the controller to engage or disengage the first locking pawl to or from the gear plate.

3. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 2, wherein the gear plate comprises a first plurality of ratchet teeth aligned to allow the first locking pawl to engage one of the first plurality of ratchet teeth in a first direction and to ride over the first plurality of ratchet teeth in a second direction.

4. The controllable knee brace assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a second locking pawl operatively coupled to the controller to engage or disengage the second locking pawl to or from the gear plate.

5. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 4, wherein the gear plate further comprises a second plurality of ratchet teeth aligned to allow the second locking pawl to engage one of the second plurality of ratchet teeth in the second direction and to ride over the second plurality of ratchet teeth in the first direction.

6. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a second signal set, different from the first signal set, to engage or disengage the controllable knee lock based on the received signals.

7. A method of controlling the operation of the controllable brace assembly of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the controllable brace assembly to a user'"'"'s leg;

(b) allowing the user to take several steps, thereby developing a gait cycle; and

(c) automatically controlling operation of the controllable knee lock based on information transmitted to the controller during step (b).

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(d) allowing the user to change the gait cycle; and

(e) automatically changing operation of the controllable knee lock based on the change in the gait cycle.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein step (c) comprises the step of locking the user'"'"'s knee at a prescribed angle during part of the gait cycle.

10. A controllable brace assembly comprising:

a knee, ankle, foot orthosis comprising a knee lock;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the knee, ankle, foot orthosis;

a first lock configured to releasably lock the knee lock based on data provided by the plurality of sensors.

11. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first lock is configured to release the knee lock based on data provided by the plurality of sensors.

12. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first lock is configured to releasably lock the knee lock in a flexion direction.

13. The controllable brace assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a second lock configured to releasably lock the knee lock in an extension direction based on data provided by the plurality of sensors.

14. A method of controlling the operation of the controllable brace assembly of claim 10 comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the controllable brace assembly to a user'"'"'s leg;

(b) allowing the user to take several steps, thereby developing a gait cycle; and

(c) automatically controlling operation of the controllable knee lock based on information transmitted to the controller during step (b).