Assistive flexible suits, flexible suit systems, and methods for making and control thereof to assist human mobility

Abstract

In at least some aspects, the present concepts include a method for configuring an assistive flexible suit including the acts of outfitting a person with an assistive flexible suit, monitoring an output of at least one sensor of the assistive flexible suit as the person moves in a first controlled movement environment, identifying at least one predefined gait event using the output of the at least one sensor, adjusting an actuation profile of the at least one actuator and continuing to perform the acts of monitoring, identifying and adjusting until an actuation profile of the at least one actuator generates a beneficial moment about the at least one joint to promote an improvement in gait. The at least one controller is then set to implement the actuation profile.

Description

[0001] Cross-references and priority claims to related applications [0002] This application claims US Provisional Patent No. 61 / 913,863, entitled "Soft, Wearable Assistive flexible suits, Assistive Devices and Related Systems," filed December 9, 2013 Application; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 928,281, entitled "Soft, Wearable Assistive flexiblesuits, Assistive Devices and Related Systems," filed January 16, 2014; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 048076, entitled "Assistive flexiblesuit For Assisting People With Limited Mobility," filed September 9, 2014; filed September 19, 2014 U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 052562 entitled "Assistive flexible suit for Gait Assistance and Control Thereof"; filed on February 5, 2014 and entitled "For US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 936162 for Multi-robot Cyberphysical System for Assisting Walking in Developmentally-Delayed Toddlers (Multi-robot Cyberphysical System for Assisting Walking in Developme...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

These systems are often not able to meet the needs of patients with only mild to moderate walking limitations (such as patients in the late stage of stroke recovery, etc.)

As such, existing approaches are not suitable for the large and rapidly growing population of patients with partial mobility because they do not provide sufficient benefit for unassisted walking

In addition, the long time to put on and take off these systems, the high weight, and the limited battery life and range (e.g., a dead battery could leave the patient stranded unable to transport the heavy device) present challenges for patients using these systems outside of the clinical setting. Significant practical challenges or obstacles

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