ACTIVE EXOSKELETAL SPINAL ORTHOSIS AND METHOD OF ORTHOTIC TREATMENT
First Claim
1. An active exoskeletal spinal orthosis, comprising:
- an upper member comprising one or more upper body portions that together can extend circumferentially around a body part of a user;
a lower member comprising one or more lower body portions that together can extend circumferentially around the user at a location below the upper member, wherein the upper and lower members can be attached to the user at two spaced locations that are separated by at least a portion of the user'"'"'s spine;
a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a first end and a second end;
wherein the first end of each actuator is coupled to the lower member and the second end of each actuator is coupled to the upper member such that the actuators extend between the lower member and the upper member;
at least one sensor measuring one or more physical parameters indicative of a bending moment caused by gravity, a bending moment caused by muscle force, or a bending moment caused by gravity and muscle force; and
a controller that receives input from the sensor(s) and activates one or more of the actuators to apply a corrective moment, a distraction force, or both to the user'"'"'s spine that at least partially counteracts the bending moment applied by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An active exoskeletal spinal orthosis that can reduce the spinal compression and muscle effort involved in resisting gravitational bending moments. The spinal orthosis includes upper and lower members that fit around the body in the area of the spine. Actuators extend between the upper and lower members. By applying a corrective moment, a distraction force, or both to a user via the actuators, the spinal orthosis allows for supported multi-planar maneuverability within a set range of motion. A controller activates the actuators based on sensor feedback that is indicative of pressure or some other sensed physical parameter related to the bending moment.
11 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An active exoskeletal spinal orthosis, comprising:
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an upper member comprising one or more upper body portions that together can extend circumferentially around a body part of a user; a lower member comprising one or more lower body portions that together can extend circumferentially around the user at a location below the upper member, wherein the upper and lower members can be attached to the user at two spaced locations that are separated by at least a portion of the user'"'"'s spine; a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of each actuator is coupled to the lower member and the second end of each actuator is coupled to the upper member such that the actuators extend between the lower member and the upper member; at least one sensor measuring one or more physical parameters indicative of a bending moment caused by gravity, a bending moment caused by muscle force, or a bending moment caused by gravity and muscle force; and a controller that receives input from the sensor(s) and activates one or more of the actuators to apply a corrective moment, a distraction force, or both to the user'"'"'s spine that at least partially counteracts the bending moment applied by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of orthotic treatment, comprising the steps of:
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attaching an orthosis to a user at two spaced locations along portions of the user'"'"'s torso; detecting a bending of the spine by the user that applies pressure to at least a part of the orthosis; and applying a corrective moment, a distraction force, or both to the user'"'"'s spine that at least partially counteracts the detected bending of the spine by actuating one or more of a plurality of actuators that extend between an upper member of the orthosis located at a first one of the spaced locations and a lower member of the orthosis located at a second one of the spaced locations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification