US 7,544,155 B2 · Gravity balanced orthosis apparatus

Abstract

Passive gravity balancing orthosis apparatus for assisting and training patients suffering from muscle weakness by relieving the patients afflicted member of its weight using a plurality of articulated supporting members. Relief is obtained by identifying and fixing the center of mass of the combined articulated equipment members and supported weight of the patient's member in space using a defined parallelogram mechanism and once so identified making the total potential energy for any configuration of the articulated members of the system constant. At least one zero free length spring is used to connect the center of mass to a support outside the articulated members. Additional springs connect the center of mass to the articulated members.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Apparatus for transferring a weight of an articulated system comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members from a first support to which said pivotally connected members are directly attached to a primary support, the apparatus comprising:

(1) a parallelogram arm structure connecting a scale length on each of said plurality of pivotally connected members to a combined center of mass of said plurality of pivotally connected members;
(2) a first connecting spring connecting said center of mass to said primary support, and
(3) a second connecting spring connecting said center of mass to said plurality of pivotally connected members,
wherein said first and second springs are selected such that the total potential energy of the articulated system is invariant with member configuration.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gravity balanced orthosis apparatus

Life of this patent

Gravity balanced orthosis apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18