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Apparatus for human arm supporting exoskeleton

  • US 9,889,554 B2
  • Filed: 05/18/2016
  • Issued: 02/13/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An arm supporting exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person, the arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:

  • a shoulder base configured to be coupled to a trunk of the person; and

    an arm link mechanism configured to be coupled to said shoulder base, the arm link mechanism comprising;

    a proximal link; and

    a distal link configured to rotate relative to the proximal link about a rotating joint and along a first rotational axis;

    at least one arm-coupler attached to the distal link and adapted to couple an upper arm of the person to said distal link;

    a tensile force generator coupled to said proximal link at a first end of the tensile force generator and coupled to said distal link at a second end of the tensile force generator,wherein the tensile force generator is configured to provide a torque to flex said distal link relative to said proximal link; and

    a protrusion located substantially at said rotating joint, wherein;

    when said distal link extends past a toggle angle, said protrusion constrains said tensile force generator, and the torque provided by said tensile force generator remains at or below a torque of a second torque mode; and

    when said protrusion does not constrain said tensile force generator, said torque generated by the tensile force generator between said proximal link and said distal link is at or above a torque of a first torque mode and flexes said distal link relative to said proximal link, thereby reducing human shoulder forces and torques required to raise said upper arm of the person.

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