Pneumatic exomuscle system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827667-B2
Application number	US-201414577524-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A pneumatic exomuscle system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The pneumatic exomuscle system includes a pneumatic module; a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user; and a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic exomuscle system comprising:
a pneumatic module;
a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user with at least one pneumatic actuator comprising a plurality of elongated inflatable chambers stacked lengthwise along a first axis in an array from a top-end to a bottom-end, the length of the plurality of elongated inflatable chambers defining the first axis, the array configured to couple about a limb of a user at the joint of the limb, the limb extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis when the limb is in a straightened configuration;
a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators; and
wherein a pneumatic actuator comprises a reinforcing structure configured to resist a concentrated buckling moment transferred by the pneumatic actuator during movement of the pneumatic actuator.

2. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic actuators are disposed on at least one of a top-suit portion and bottom-suit portion configured to be worn by the user.

3. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 2 , wherein pneumatic actuators are disposed on a top-suit portion such that pneumatic actuators are configured to be disposed over shoulders and anterior and posterior elbow regions when the top-suit portion is worn by the user.

4. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 2 , wherein pneumatic actuators are disposed on a bottom-suit portion such that pneumatic actuators are configured to be disposed over anterior and posterior knee regions when the bottom-suit portion is worn by the user.

5. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inflatable chambers are configured to be simultaneously inflated as a group; and
wherein said at least one pneumatic actuator is configured to curl inward about an internal face of the pneumatic actuator.

6. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 5 , wherein said at least one pneumatic actuator is configured to curl about an axis that is coincident with the axis of rotation of a body joint, when said at least one pneumatic actuator is worn over the body joint.

7. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic actuators comprise a woven fabric.

8. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators to induce body movements in the user.

9. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to sense body movements of the user and control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators to support said body movements of the user.

10. A pneumatic exomuscle system comprising:
a pneumatic module;
a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user with at least one pneumatic actuator comprising a plurality of elongated inflatable chambers stacked lengthwise along a first axis in an array from a top-end to a bottom-end, the length of the plurality of elongated inflatable chambers defining the first axis, the array configured to couple about a limb of a user at the joint of the limb, the limb extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis when the limb is in a straightened configuration;
a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators, and
a plurality of anisotropic support structures configured to extend about the limb of the user and carry a load in a first direction, while providing for torsional movement in at least one second direction when worn by the user.

11. The pneumatic exomuscle system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of anisotropic support structures are operably connected to the pneumatic system via at least one pneumatic line.

12. A pneumatic exomuscle system comprising:
a pneumatic module;
a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user with at least one pneumatic actuator comprising a plurality of elongated inflatable chambers stacked lengthwise along a first axis in an array from a top-end to a bottom-end, the length of the plurality of elongated inflatable chambers defining the first axis, the array configured to couple about a limb of a user at the joint of the limb, the limb extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis when the limb is in a straightened configuration;
a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators,
wherein a pneumatic actuator defines a two or three dimensional shape configured to provide resistance to buckling of the pneumatic actuator during inflation of the pneumatic actuator.

13. A pneumatic actuator comprising:
a plurality of inflatable chambers stacked in an array from a top-end to a bottom end, the chambers defining a first, second and third column, with each column defined by a set of inflatable chambers that are configured to be selectively inflatable as a group, the first, second and third column defining a central column disposed and interleaved between a pair of outer columns, the pneumatic actuator configured to be worn on the shoulder of a user, and
wherein each column is separately selectively inflatable from the other columns.

14. The pneumatic actuator of claim 13 , wherein the pneumatic actuator is disposed on a top-suit portion such that said at least one pneumatic actuator is disposed over the shoulder of a user when the top suit is worn by the user.

15. A pneumatic exomuscle system comprising:
a pneumatic module;
a plurality of pneumatic actuators each operably coupled to the pneumatic module via at least one pneumatic line, a portion of the pneumatic actuators configured to be worn about respective body joints of a user with at least one pneumatic actuator being the pneumatic actuator of claim 13 ; and
a control module operably coupled to the pneumatic module, the control module configured to control the pneumatic module to selectively inflate portions of the pneumatic actuators.

Assignees

• Other Lab Llc

Inventors

• Griffith Saul
• Lynn Pete
• Shea Della
• Albert Kevin
• Swift Tim

Classifications

• F04B53/16 Primary

  Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections · CPC title

• F04B43/0045

  with a number of independent working chambers which are actuated successively by one mechanism · CPC title

• B25J9/0006 Primary

  Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure · CPC title

• A61H1/0281

  Shoulder · CPC title

• A61H1/024

  Knee (A61H1/0255 takes precedence) · CPC title