US 2025/0360613 A1 · MOTORIZED AMBULATORY ASSIST DEVICE

Abstract

A motorized ambulatory assist device is configured to augment natural walking or running motion by applying torque to an article of footwear at specific points in a gait cycle. The device includes a shin-mounted control pack secured to a lower leg of a wearer, a drive unit rigidly coupled to the control pack, a lower control arm rotatably coupled to both the drive unit and the article of footwear, and a motor assembly that tensions a drive belt extending between the motor and the lower control arm. The device may include a quick disconnect coupling that enables selective attachment and detachment from the footwear, a fluid-filled bladder between the control board assembly and shin guard to dampen reactionary forces, and flexible battery packs integrated with elastic bands that secure the device to the wearer's leg.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An ambulatory assist device comprising:

a shin-mounted control pack configured to be secured to a lower leg of a wearer;
a drive unit rigidly coupled to the shin-mounted control pack via an upper control arm, the drive unit comprising a riser and a motor assembly attached to the riser;
a lower control arm rotatably coupled to the drive unit and configured to be rotatably coupled to an article of footwear;
a drive belt that extends between the motor assembly and the lower control arm, wherein the motor assembly is operatively configured to tension the drive belt;
wherein the motor assembly is configured to apply a force to the lower control arm via the tensioned drive belt to cause the lower control arm to pivot about a rotatable joint.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Motorized ambulatory assist device

Life of this patent

Motorized ambulatory assist device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17