CONTROLLING POWERED HUMAN AUGMENTATION DEVICES

• US 20140088727A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare LP (Nader Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: iWalk Incorporated (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Han, Zhixiu, Bolger, Adrienne, Herr, Hugh Miller, Girzon, Gary, Casler, Richard J. Jr., McCarthy, Jennifer T., Barnhart, Christopher Eric, Garlow, David Adams
• Granted Patent: US 10,537,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/78 Means for protecting prostheses or for attaching them to the body, e.g. bandages, harnesses, straps, or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6827 Feedback system for providing user sensation, e.g. by force, contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/707 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7645 for measuring torque, e.g. hinge or turning moment, moment of force
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/01 Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0205 not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system

Abstract

In a communication system for controlling a powered human augmentation device, a parameter of the powered device is adjusted within a gait cycle by wirelessly transmitting a control signal thereto, whereby the adjusted parameter falls within a target range corresponding to that parameter. The target range is selected and the device parameters are controlled such that the powered device can normalize or augment human biomechanical function, responsive to a wearer'"'"'s activity, regardless of speed and terrain and, in effect, provides at least a biomimetic response to the wearer of the powered device.

Claims

1. A communication system for interfacing with a powered human augmentation device, the system comprising:

a wireless transmitter for adjusting a parameter of the powered device within a gait cycle by transmitting a control signal thereto, whereby the adjusted parameter falls within a target range corresponding to that parameter, providing at least a biomimetic response to a wearer of the powered device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of net work, toe-off angle, peak power applied by the powered device, and timing of the peak power relative to the gait cycle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the target range corresponding to the parameter is a function of at least one of ambulation speed and ambulation pattern.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the parameter is based at least in part on at least one of ambulation speed and ambulation pattern.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the parameter is based at least in part on at least one of terrain and activity.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the activity is selected from the group consisting of walking on level ground, walking on uneven ground, walking upslope, walking downslope, ascending stairs, and descending stairs.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the parameter is related to at least one of weight of the wearer, early-stance stiffness, power applied by the powered device, timing of application of power, hard-stop sensitivity, and a speed threshold for low-power mode of the powered device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the adjusted parameter comprises a gain in a positive force-feedback, whereby the power applied by the powered device is adjusted.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the adjusted parameter comprises an exponent in a positive force-feedback, whereby the timing of the application of power is adjusted.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving a data signal from the powered device, wherein adjusting the parameter is based at least in part on the received data signal.

11. The system of claim 10, herein the received data signal is related to at least one of rate of plantarflexion, heel rise, ambulation-step length.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted during at least one of a training mode and a use mode,

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is adapted to store the transmitted control signal for subsequent retransmission thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered augmentation device is selected from the group consisting of a prosthetic device and an orthotic device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is adapted to transmit the control signal to a second powered human augmentation device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a transmitter of a mobile device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a tablet PC.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusted parameter comprises a gain in a positive force feedback, whereby an additional parameter of the powered device is adjusted based on the feedback.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter is adjusted manually by an operator.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the parameter is adjusted based on manual verification of the biomimetic response of the powered device.