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US 2021/0259903 A1Published application
Robotic Ankle System For Gait Disorder Patients
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsMarcus Schaller, Wenlong Zhang, Seyed Mostafa Rezayat Sorkhabadi, Zhi Qiao
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Abstract
A robotic ankle system provides an assistive force for the heel-up portion of a user gait. Energy is stored in a spring responsive to a heel-on portion of the gait, and then released as the heel-up portion begins. In this manner, the gait of a user is assisted. The systems and methods are of particular use for those affected by stroke or in connection with rehabilitation activities.
Claims12
A robotic ankle system, comprising:
- a frame for receiving a shoe of a user;
- a constant force spring to store energy arising from a step of the user;
- a locking mechanism to hold the constant force spring in a stored energy position;
- a solenoid to disengage the locking mechanism;
- and
- a battery coupled to the solenoid.
3 more elements
A method of assisting the gait of a human, the method comprising:
- coupling, to a shoe of a user, a robotic ankle system;
- storing, in the robotic ankle system and responsive to a downward force arising by a first step of the user, energy in a constant force spring;
- detecting, by the robotic ankle system, a beginning of a heel-off event in the gait of the user;
- and
- releasing, by the robotic ankle system and responsive to the detecting, energy from the constant force spring to provide an assistive force to the user.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.