High torque active mechanism for orthotic and/or prosthetic devices
First Claim
1. An orthotic device for a supporting a limb of a user, said orthotic device comprising:
- a proximal orthotic portion to be mounted to the proximal limb segment of the user;
a distal orthotic portion to be mounted to the distal limb segment of the user;
an orthotic joint portion interposed between said proximal and distal orthotic portions to be mounted to the joint of the user'"'"'s limb for supporting the user'"'"'s joint during flexion and extension thereof;
a primary brake in operational communication with said orthotic joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements; and
an additional frictional brake in operational communication with said primary brake and with said orthotic joint portion,wherein during flexion said primary brake causes said additional frictional brake to generate an additional frictional braking force on said joint portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high torque active mechanism for an orthotic and/or prosthetic joint using a primary brake which can be provide by magnetorheological (MR) rotational damper incorporating and an additional friction brake mechanism driven by the braking force generated by the MR damper. This combination of MR damper and friction brake mechanism allows an increase in torque density while keeping the same level of motion control offered by the MR damper alone. The increased torque density achieved by this high torque active mechanism allows to minimize the size of the actuating system, i.e. its diameter and/or breath, while maximizing its braking torque capability. In this regard, the friction brake mechanism is advantageously positioned around the MR damper, such that the dimension of the package is minimized.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An orthotic device for a supporting a limb of a user, said orthotic device comprising:
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a proximal orthotic portion to be mounted to the proximal limb segment of the user; a distal orthotic portion to be mounted to the distal limb segment of the user; an orthotic joint portion interposed between said proximal and distal orthotic portions to be mounted to the joint of the user'"'"'s limb for supporting the user'"'"'s joint during flexion and extension thereof; a primary brake in operational communication with said orthotic joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements; and an additional frictional brake in operational communication with said primary brake and with said orthotic joint portion, wherein during flexion said primary brake causes said additional frictional brake to generate an additional frictional braking force on said joint portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An orthotic/prosthetic device comprising:
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at least one device portion; a joint portion for providing for said at least one device portion to pivot between flexion and extension movements relative to another adjacent device portion or an adjacent limb segment of the user; a primary brake in operational communication with said joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements; and an additional frictional brake in operational communication with said primary brake and with said joint portion, wherein during flexion said primary brake causes said additional frictional brake to generate an additional frictional braking force on said joint portion.
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Specification