Artificial limb for host assistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10596012-B2
Application number	US-201715796175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2017
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a device for providing mobility assistance to a user. In one embodiment, a mobility system includes a support component including at least a waist device that is configured to secure the mobility system to the user at a waist area of the user. The mobility system includes a limb attached to the support component and extendable from the support component to a floor when the user is in a standing position. The limb is configured to support the user by providing a rigid structure between the floor and the user. The limb is configured to assist the user in transitioning from a seated position to the standing position by applying a substantially upward force to the user through the support component when transitioning to the standing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobility system for improving mobility of a user, comprising:
a support component including at least a waist device that is configured to secure the mobility system to the user at a waist area of the user; and
a single limb attached to the support component and extendable from the support component to a floor when the user is in a standing position, wherein the single limb is configured to support the user by providing a rigid structure between the floor and the user and in isolation without additional support structures,
wherein the single limb is configured to assist the user in transitioning from a seated position to the standing position by applying a substantially upward force to the user through the support component when transitioning to the standing position,
wherein the support component is configured to attach the single limb midway on a back of the user aligned with a spine of the user, and
wherein the single limb is configured to be wholly aligned with the spine of the user.

2. The mobility system of claim 1 , wherein the support component is configured to attach the single limb to the user without attachment to a leg of the user,
wherein the limb is formed from tail members arranged in a series,
wherein a first one of the tail members is connected with the support component and subsequent ones of the tail members extending away from the support component form a body of the single limb,
wherein the tail members are connected together through integrated joints that are configured to provide for the tail members to articulate relative to an adjacent one of the tail members with at least one degree of freedom while securing adjacent ones of the tail members together, and
wherein the tail members articulate about a perpendicular axis in a rotational movement.

3. The mobility system of claim 2 , wherein the integrated joints include hydraulic members that are selectively controlled to articulate individual ones of the tail members and move the single limb, and wherein each of the tail members is substantially similar in shape, wherein the integrated joints include a joint material that cushions interfaces between the tail members, and wherein each of the tail members include a hollow cavity within a respective central region.

4. The mobility system of claim 1 , wherein the limb further includes:
a base joint that is connected with the support component and that is configured to pivot through at least one degree of freedom in order to move the single limb toward and away from the user,
a base member connected with a pivoting point of the base joint, wherein the base member is a rigid structure extending from the base joint,
a mid-joint that is connected with a distal end of the base member away from the pivoting point of the base joint, wherein the mid-joint is configured to pivot through at least one degree of freedom that includes a same plane of movement as the base joint,
a lower member that is a rigid structure connected with the mid-joint and extending from the mid-joint such that the lower member pivots about the mid-joint.

5. The mobility system of claim 4 , wherein the base joint and the mid-joint include mechanical ratcheting devices that facilitate extension of the single limb while preventing backlash once motion to the standing position has begun.

6. The mobility system of claim 4 , wherein the base joint and the mid-joint include tensioning structures that absorb energy during flexion and release the energy during extension to facilitate upward movement of the user and ratcheting of the mid-joint and the base joint into an extended position that correlates with the standing position of the user, and
wherein the tensioning structures include springs that are configured to resist flexion and provide support to the user when transitioning from the standing position to the seated position.

7. The mobility system of claim 4 , a foot member connected to a distal end of the lower member that is away from the mid-joint, wherein the foot member contacts the floor and provides an upward force through the single limb.

8. The mobility system of claim 1 , wherein the single limb is constructed substantially from at least one of: a metal alloy, or a composite material.

9. The mobility system of claim 1 , wherein the single limb is configured to fold into a stowed position on the back of the user.

10. The mobility system of claim 1 , wherein the support component further includes a chest device that is configured to attach the system to the user at a chest area of the user, wherein the chest device is connected with the waist device through a spine support that extends between the chest device and the waist device and is substantially rigid, and
wherein the waist device includes (i) a belt that is configured to extend around a waist of the user to attach the system to the user and (ii) a seat member that is configured to extend at least partially between legs of the user to provide support to the user through a dispersed area of the seat.

11. The mobility system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more electronic sensors
one or more processors; and
a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
a monitoring module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
collect environmental sensor data about surroundings of the user and movement sensor data about a present position and trajectory of the user,
analyze the environmental sensor data and the movement sensor data to determine whether an assistance event for actively assisting the user is imminent.

12. The mobility system of claim 11 ,
a reaction module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
identify an assistance movement for the single limb associated with the assistance event, and
control the single limb to maneuver according to the assistance movement to assist the user and improve mobility of the user.

13. A mobility system for improving mobility of a user, comprising:
a support component including at least a waist device that is configured to secure the mobility system to the user at a waist area of the user; and
a limb attached to the support component and extendable from the support component to a floor when the user is in a standing position, wherein the limb is configured to support the user by providing a rigid structure between the floor and the user,
wherein the limb is configured to assist the user in transitioning from a seated position to the standing position by applying a substantially upward force to the user through the support component when transitioning to the standing position, and
wherein a foot member connected to a distal end of the limb includes a non-slip surface at an interface with the floor, and wherein the foot member includes a claw mechanism that controllably opens and closes to grasp items.

14. A prosthetic device for improving mobility of a user, comprising:
a support component including at least a waist device that is configured to secure the prosthetic device to the user at a waist area of the user; and
a single limb attached to the support component and including:
a base joint that is connected with the support component and that is configured to pivot through at least one degree of freedom in order to move the single limb toward and away from the user,
a base member connected with a pivoting point of the base joint, wherein the base member is a rigid structure extending from the base joint,
a mid-joint that is connec

Assignees

• Toyota Res Inst Inc

Inventors

• Hummelshøj Jens Strabo

Classifications

• A61F2002/704

  computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control · CPC title

• A61F2002/7862

  Harnesses or straps · CPC title

• A61H3/008

  using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses · CPC title

• A61H2003/002

  with attached or incorporated article carrying means · CPC title

• A61F2/60

  Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof · CPC title