MULTI-FIT ORTHOTIC AND MOBILITY ASSISTANCE APPARATUS

• US 20090204038A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tibion Corporation (AlterG, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Jonathan, Bhugra, Kern
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point

Abstract

A multi-fit orthotic structure including an attachment system for coupling the orthotic structure to a wide variety of subjects without requiring a custom fit. In one embodiment, active mobility assistance is provided via an orthotic system capable of integrating a linear actuator and linkage system to deliver torque to the lower leg of a subject to facilitate flexion and/or extension motion of the subject'"'"'s leg. The orthotic structure is attached to the subject using a textile suspension system which does not require the orthotic structure to interface directly in the knee region or at the lateral areas of the thigh and calf of the subject, thus providing an ideal fit for the widest possible range of subjects with the minimum number of required sizes.

Claims

1. A multi-fit orthotic system using a textile-based suspension, the system comprising:

a plurality of orthotic structures;

an independent suspension textile coupled with each of the plurality of orthotic structures, wherein each independent suspension textile conforms closely to a subject to accommodate a wide range of subjects without a custom fit; and

an independent tensioning system integrated into each independent suspension textile, wherein the orthotic system is configured to attach directly to the subject to provide assistance to the subject including one or more of active mobility assistance, continuous passive motion and robotic therapy.

2. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-fit orthotic system includes at most two points of structural contact of the orthotic structure with the subject to accommodate the wide range of subjects.

3. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 2, wherein the at most two points of structural contact include a structural contact on a proximal thigh of the subject and a structural contact on a distal shin of the subject.

4. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 1, wherein the independent tensioning system includes a cable reel tensioning system.

5. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 4, further comprising pneumatic cells integrated into each suspension textile configured to statically inflate to adjust fit to the subject.

6. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 5, wherein the pneumatic cells are further configured to dynamically inflate and de-inflate by an inflation system to massage the subject'"'"'s leg through orthotic motion to assist in blood circulation.

7. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-fit orthotic structure is attached to the subject without requiring the orthotic structure to interface directly with a knee region of the subject.

8. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-fit orthotic structure is capable of integrating with an actuator and linkage system to deliver torque to the subject'"'"'s lower leg to facilitate flexion and/or extension motion.

9. The multi-fit orthotic system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is center mounted and the orthotic system is adjustable to fit the orthotic system to one or more of the right and left leg of the subject.

10. A multi-fit orthotic apparatus using a textile-based suspension, the apparatus comprising:

a thigh orthotic structure coupled with a thigh suspension textile;

a lower leg orthotic structure coupled with an upper shin suspension textile; and

a lateral support structure coupled with a lower leg suspension textile, the lateral support structure positioned on both lateral sides of a lower leg of a subject, wherein each suspension textile conforms closely to the subject to accommodate a wide range of subjects without a custom fit.

11. The multi-ft orthotic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the orthotic apparatus is configured to couple directly with the subject to provide one or more of exoskeletal support, mobility assistance, continuous passive motion and robotic therapy.

12. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a tibia anterior structure;

a tibia posterior structure coupled with the tibia anterior structure; and

a tibia suspension system coupled with the tibia posterior structure and the lateral support structure to transmit force to the lateral support structure.

13. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of independent tensioning systems including:

an independent proximal thigh textile tensioning system coupled with the thigh suspension textile, the proximal thigh textile tensioning system configured to adjust tension across a thigh of the subject and to distribute force evenly throughout the thigh suspension textile to gain leverage when applying torque to a leg of the subject;

an independent knee-lock textile tensioning system coupled with the upper shin suspension textile, the knee-lock textile tensioning system configured to adjust tension around a knee region of the subject; and

an independent lower shin textile tensioning system coupled with the lower leg suspension textile, the lower shin textile tensioning system configured to adjust tension across the lateral support structure.

14. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 13, wherein the independent knee-lock textile tensioning system is further configured to properly locate the subject'"'"'s knee joint axis in a coaxial configuration with the hinge joints of the orthotic apparatus.

15. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a footpad sensor system including at least one pressure sensor.

16. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 10, further comprising pressure sensors placed in portions of each suspension textile to facilitate determining the level of pressure exerted in and around each of the suspension textiles.

17. The multi-fit orthotic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the multi-fit orthotic structure is attached to the subject without requiring the orthotic structure to interface directly with the knee region of the subject.

18. A method comprising:

attaching a multi-fit orthotic structure to a subject, the multi-fit orthotic structure conforming to a wide range of subjects without requiring a custom fit;

actuating a plurality of independent tensioning systems integrated into the orthotic structure to adjust fit to the subject; and

providing assistance to the subject with the orthotic structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of independent tensioning systems comprises a plurality of independent cable reel tensioning systems, each coupled with a plurality of independent suspension textiles integrated into the orthotic structure.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising actuating the plurality of independent cable reel tensioning systems to adjust fit to the subject.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of independent tensioning systems further comprises pneumatic cells integrated into the plurality of independent suspension textiles of the orthotic structure.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising inflating the pneumatic cells integrated into the suspension textiles of the orthotic structure to further adjust fit to the subject.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein providing assistance to the subject includes on or more of providing active mobility assistance, continuous passive motion, and robotic therapy.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-fit orthotic structure is attached to the subject without requiring the orthotic structure to interface directly with a knee region of the subject.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-fit orthotic structure is attached to the subject without requiring the orthotic structure to interface directly with lateral areas of a thigh and calf of the subject.