METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL ORTHOTIC OR PROSTHETIC JOINT

• US 20120221120A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH (Albatros Son Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH (Albatros Son Holding BV)
• Inventors: Seyr, Martin, Plesa, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5033 for adjusting damping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7615 Measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic joint of a lower extremity having a resistance device to which at least one actuator is associated, via which the bending and/or stretching resistance is changed depending on sensor data. During the use of the joint, status information is provided via sensors. During use of the joint, status information is provided via sensors, wherein a cyclic movement different from walking is determined and the resistance is reduced for the duration of the cyclic movement.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic joint of a lower extremity with a resistance device to which at least one actuator is assigned, via which actuator the flexion and/or extension resistance is changed depending on sensor data, with status information being made available via sensors during the use of the joint, characterized in that a cyclic movement, different from walking is determined, and the resistance is reduced for the duration of the cyclic movement.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cyclic movement is determined by an evaluation of kinematic variables.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cyclic movement is determined by an evaluation of the phase shift between a joint angle and a joint-part inertial angle or two joint-part inertial angles or the change of these angles.

4. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cyclic movement is determined on the basis of the time interval between maxima and minima of the joint angle or joint-part inertial angle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, for the maxima and minima, value ranges are established within which the determined values must be situated for a cyclic movement to be determined as given.

6. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a load acting in a lower attachment part is determined, and the resistance is reduced when the load reaches or is below a threshold value.

7. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a minimal joint angle is established that has to be present for the resistance to be reduced.

8. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resistance is increased if the conditions for reducing the resistance are no longer present.

9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexion resistance is increased during the extension movement.

10. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality or control algorithms are present which, on the basis of measured values of different devices for detecting angles and forces, operate in such a way that, if a device for detecting angles and forces fails, the other measured values are used to control the change in the extension and/or flexion resistance.

11. An appliance for carrying out the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, with an adjustable resistance device, which is arranged between two mutually articulated components of an artificial orthotic or prosthetic joint, and with a control device and sensors, which detect status information of the appliance, characterized in that an adjustment device is provided, and in that a resistance change called for by a pattern of movement can be activated and/or deactivated via the adjustment device.