Intelligent orthosis

An orthosis for biomechanical evaluation and functional compensation of ambulatory disorders, comprising:

• an orthotic frame having a proximal frame, a distal frame, a foot support, a knee joint coupling a distal end of said proximal frame to a proximal end of said distal frame, and an ankle joint coupling a distal end of said distal frame to said foot support;
• a knee actuator disposed on said orthotic frame, said actuator having at least a stance state wherein the knee actuator supports said knee joint in an extended position and a swing state wherein the knee actuator allows said knee joint to swing freely, said first and second states being selectable according to an electronic control signal;
• at least one kinematic sensor disposed on said orthotic frame and adapted to generate at least one data signal according to at least one kinematic aspect of said orthotic frame;
• and
• a control element electrically connected to said at least one kinematic sensor and configured to generate said electronic control signal according the data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said control program includes a first set of computer instructions to cause said microprocessor to read said data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said control element comprises a microprocessor, a memory in communication with the microprocessor, and computer code defining a control program stored in said memory for execution by said microprocessor;
• wherein said at least one kinematic sensor comprises a knee angle or angular velocity sensor, and said first set of computer instructions comprises instructions to cause said microprocessor to read a knee angle or angular velocity from said knee angle or angular velocity sensor.

An orthosis for biomechanical evaluation and functional compensation of ambulatory disorders, comprising:

• an orthotic frame having a proximal frame, a distal frame, a foot support, a knee joint coupling a distal end of said proximal frame to a proximal end of said distal frame, and an ankle joint coupling a distal end of said distal frame to said foot support;
• a knee actuator disposed on said orthotic frame, said actuator having at least a stance state wherein the knee actuator supports said knee joint in an extended position and a swing state wherein the knee actuator allows said knee joint to swing freely, said first and second states being selectable according to an electronic control signal;
• at least one kinematic sensor disposed on said orthotic frame and adapted to generate at least one data signal according to at least one kinematic aspect of said orthotic frame;
• and
• a control element electrically connected to said at least one kinematic sensor and configured to generate said electronic control signal according the data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said control element comprises a microprocessor, a memory in communication with the microprocessor, and computer code defining a control program stored in said memory for execution by said microprocessor;
• wherein said control program includes a first set of computer instructions to cause said microprocessor to read said data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said at least one kinematic sensor comprises an ankle angle or angular velocity sensor, and said first set of computer instructions comprises instructions to cause said microprocessor to read an ankle angle or angular velocity from said ankle angle or angular velocity sensor.

An orthosis for biomechanical evaluation and functional compensation of ambulatory disorders, comprising:

• an orthotic frame having a proximal frame, a distal frame, a foot support, a knee joint coupling a distal end of said proximal frame to a proximal end of said distal frame, and an ankle joint coupling a distal end of said distal frame to said foot support;
• a knee actuator disposed on said orthotic frame, said actuator having at least a stance state wherein the knee actuator supports said knee joint in an extended position and a swing state wherein the knee actuator allows said knee joint to swing freely, said first and second states being selectable according to an electronic control signal;
• at least one kinematic sensor disposed on said orthotic frame and adapted to generate at least one data signal according to at least one kinematic aspect of said orthotic frame;
• and
• a control element electrically connected to said at least one kinematic sensor and configured to generate said electronic control signal according the data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said control element comprises a microprocessor, a memory in communication with the microprocessor, and computer code defining a control program stored in said memory for execution by said microprocessor;
• wherein said control program includes a first set of computer instructions to cause said microprocessor to read said data signal of said at least one kinematic sensor;
• wherein said at least one kinematic sensor comprises at lest one foot contact sensor, and said first set of computer instructions comprises instructions to cause said microprocessor to read foot contact information from foot the contact sensor.