US 2006/0142680 A1Published application

Active assist for the ankle, knee and other human joints

OwnerMichael Iarocciinventor

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Abstract

A human joint assist device that applies a torque at the joint to assist physiological exertion forces, that is the load carrying task of the joint and surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The application of this device reduces the physiological exertion force requirement, and may be adjusted with respect to assist level, to suit the issue associated with joint motion and is useful for joint rehabilitation and sports activities. Among other things, this results in a reduction of physiological exertion force in a fashion that makes it easier to extend the levers (long bones) associated with extension against a given resistance. For example, standing from a squatted position with the assist of this device reduces the stress on physiological members associated with joint articulation.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A device for assisting the human body in pivoting about a pivot axis of the human body, the device comprising:

a) a first rigid support member affixable to a first region of the human body adjacent to the pivot axis of the body;
b) a second rigid support member affixable to a second region of the human body adjacent to the pivot axis of the body;
c) at least one hinge connecting the first rigid support member and the second rigid support member, a pivot axis of the hinge lying substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the body when the first rigid support member is affixed to the first region of the body and the second rigid support member is affixed to the second region of the body;
and
d) an assist member having a first segment coupled to the first rigid support member and a second segment coupled to the second rigid support member,
wherein the assist member stores energy when the first support member is pivoted with respect to the second support member in one direction about the axis of the hinge, and the energy stored in the assist member is releasable to pivot the first rigid support member with respect to the second rigid support member about the axis of the hinge in the opposite direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.