Weight Acceptance Control Orthosis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016175134-A1
Application number	US-201514976687-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In certain aspects, the present invention is a purely mechanical stance control orthosis, or stated differently, a weight acceptance control orthosis, as it stabilizes the impaired knee joint during the first 40% of the gait cycles termed as the weight acceptance phase. The device employs a tri-stable fixture to lock/unlock a friction-based latch to provide two levels of stiffness. The device is locked during the weight acceptance phase to stabilize the impaired knee joint for an orthotic application or avoid collapse for a prosthetic application, and is unlocked during the rest to allow free rotation. The device includes an engagement fixture, a locking mechanism, a chassis, and a frame. The engagement fixture controls the locking mechanism to lock and unlock movement in the chassis and frame in response to a wearer's weight load and is capable of locking at any angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A friction-based impedance module, comprising:
an engagement fixture, a locking mechanism, a chassis and a lower frame; wherein the chassis is connected to the lower frame by a pivoting joint; wherein the module is configured to lock the pivoting joint responsive to an increased torque load, and wherein the module is configured to subsequently unlock responsive to a decreased torque load.

2 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is at least partially housed within the engagement fixture.

3 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger, a friction trail and a friction lever with a trail slot.

4 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 3 , wherein the friction trail passes through the trail slot of the friction lever.

5 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 4 , wherein the alignment of the trail slot with respect to the friction trail is controlled by the engagement fixture.

6 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 5 , wherein the trail slot contacts the friction trail to lock the pivoting joint.

7 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 6 , wherein the friction trail has a protrusion or void at an angle that prompts the engagement fixture into an engaged configuration.

8 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 7 , wherein the friction lever is released from the engaged configuration by a magnet, a spring, a solenoid, gravity, a motor, or movement of a user's limb.

9 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for delaying the unlocking of the friction-based impedance module in response to a decreased torque load.

10 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a ratchet and pawl mechanism, a roller clutch mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, and a wrap spring clutch mechanism.

11 . A hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis (HKAFO), hip-knee-orthosis (HKO), knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO), ankle foot orthosis (AFO), hip orthosis (HO), shoulder orthosis (SO), elbow orthosis (EO), wrist orthosis (WO), or knee orthosis (KO) comprising the friction-based impedance module of claim 1 .

12 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a safety lock, configuration lock, dials, adjustment knobs, range of motion limits, dampers, and lubricating system.

13 . The friction-based impedance module of claim 8 , wherein the spring is replaced by a rubber band or other elastic material.

14 . A serpentine spring device, comprising a plate having at least one S-shaped region.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the device is composed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: carbon fiber, a metal, and a composite material.

16 . The device of claim 14 , further comprising at least one additional stacked plate to modulate the flexibility of the device.

17 . An orthotic device, comprising:
an impedance module including a chassis, a lower frame and a walking member; wherein the chassis is coupled to the lower frame by a pivoting joint; and wherein the walking member is coupled to the lower frame by a serpentine spring.

18 . The orthotic device of claim 17 , wherein the serpentine spring comprises at least one of a carbon fiber, metal, or composite material.

19 . The orthotic device of claim 17 , wherein the impedance module further comprises an engagement fixture and a locking mechanism, such that the module is configured to lock the pivoting joint responsive to an increased torque load, and wherein the module is configured to subsequently unlock responsive to a decreased torque load.

20 . The orthotic device of claim 19 , wherein the locking mechanism is at least partially housed within the engagement fixture.

21 . The orthotic device of claim 19 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plunger, a friction trail and a friction lever with a trail slot.

22 . The orthotic device of claim 21 , wherein the friction trail passes through the trail slot of the friction lever.

23 . The orthotic device of claim 22 , wherein the alignment of the trail slot with respect to the friction trail is controlled by the engagement fixture.

24 . The orthotic device of claim 23 , wherein the trail slot contacts the friction trail to lock the pivoting joint.

25 . The orthotic device of claim 24 , wherein the friction lever is released by a magnet, a spring, a solenoid, gravity, a motor, or movement of a user's limbs.

26 . The orthotic device of claim 17 , wherein the locking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a ratchet and pawl mechanism, a roller clutch mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, and a wrap spring clutch mechanism.

Assignees

• Univ Yale

Inventors

• Ghahfarokhi Kamran Shamaei
• Dollar Aaron Michael

Classifications

• A61F2005/0146

  combining rotational and sliding movements, e.g. simulating movements of a natural joint · CPC title

• A61F2005/0137

  with two parallel pivots · CPC title

• A61F5/0127

  for the feet (A61F5/0111 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F5/0102 Primary

  specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations · CPC title

• A61F2005/0188

  having pressure sensors · CPC title