Knee joint passive load reduction wearable device
By combining a thigh binding device, a soft hydraulic telescopic device, and a foot device, the load on the knee joint is reduced by utilizing the body's weight and knee joint movement. This solves the problems of inconvenience in wearing existing orthotics and load transfer, and provides a lightweight and comfortable knee joint load reduction effect.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YANSHAN UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing knee orthotics, while reducing the load on the knee joint, can easily aggravate damage to the other knee joint, and are inconvenient to wear, making it difficult to effectively reduce the load on the knee joint while ensuring normal walking.
It employs a thigh binding device, a soft hydraulic telescopic device, a four-bar linkage, a calf binding device, and a foot device, all connected via hydraulic lines. By utilizing the body's weight and knee joint movement, it reduces the load on the knee joint.
During walking, the soft hydraulic telescopic device works in conjunction with the foot device to reduce the load on the knee joint and avoid damage to the other knee joint. The device is also lightweight and comfortable, adapts to knee joint movement, and reduces slippage.
Smart Images

Figure CN116439962B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medical rehabilitation technology, and specifically relates to a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint. Background Technology
[0002] Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is generally caused by degenerative changes, trauma, overuse, etc., leading to wear and tear or degeneration of the articular cartilage and inflammation caused by friction between the bones. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, and the knee joint is one of the joints in the human body that bears the most weight. A large load is not conducive to the improvement or delay of the condition. Knee load-bearing devices are mechanical structures worn on the knee joint. During the patient's walking or standing, they reduce or improve the load on the knee joint by applying force to the bones and muscles around the knee joint, thereby reducing the patient's pain and assisting in the treatment with medication.
[0003] Currently, several knee orthoses are available abroad for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, such as the Unloader One, the Generation II valgus orthosis from the United States, and the OAAdjuster knee orthosis from DonJoy. These orthoses generally employ a "three-point mechanics" principle, applying a valgus torque to the knee joint to transfer the pressure on the cartilage of the affected side to the cartilage of the opposite side, thereby reducing the load on the affected knee. However, these orthoses do not reduce the overall load on the knee joint and can worsen meniscus damage and cartilage wear on the other knee. In 2014, Xu Mingfeng et al. from Shanghai Jiao Tong University proposed a passive, integral unloading orthosis that applies an upward force to the thigh to reduce the overall load on the knee joint, but this affects normal walking and requires a high degree of stability in the binding device. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a smaller, more convenient, and conforming knee joint movement passive load-reducing wearable device. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint. By incorporating a thigh binding device, a soft hydraulic telescopic device, a four-bar linkage, a calf binding device, and a foot device, the improved device structure applies force to the bones and muscles around the knee joint to provide support, thereby reducing the load borne by the knee joint.
[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint, which includes a thigh binding device, a soft hydraulic telescopic device, a four-bar linkage, a calf binding device, and a foot device. The thigh binding device is located above the knee joint, and the soft hydraulic telescopic device is located below the thigh binding device. The soft hydraulic telescopic device is symmetrically arranged around the knee joint, and the upper end of the upper cover of the soft hydraulic telescopic device is connected to the thigh binding device through a universal joint coupling. The lower end of the lower cover of the soft hydraulic telescopic device is connected to the upper end of the upper sheet metal of the four-bar linkage through the universal joint coupling. The soft hydraulic telescopic device includes an upper end cap, a spiral sealing ring, a telescopic shaft, a telescopic bushing, a telescopic silicone rubber, and a lower end cap. The telescopic silicone rubber is circumferentially pleated and is formed by multiple foldable pleated sheets connected along the folding and telescopic direction. The upper end cap and lower end cap are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the telescopic silicone rubber, and the lower end cap has a hydraulic interface. The telescopic bushing is located inside the telescopic silicone rubber, and the lower end of the telescopic bushing is threaded to the lower end cap. The upper end of the telescopic shaft is threaded to the upper end cap. The spiral sealing ring is located at the upper end of the telescopic shaft, and the lower end of the telescopic shaft is threaded to the lower end cap. The bushing slides; the four-bar linkage is symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the knee joint and located below the soft hydraulic telescopic device. The calf binding device is located below the knee joint. The lower end of the lower sheet metal of the four-bar linkage is connected to the connecting sheet metal in the calf binding device via a connecting pin. The foot device is located below the calf binding device, and the foot device includes a hollow soft sole, a first interface, and a second interface. The hollow soft sole is a hollow cavity soft structure, and the first interface is located on the inner rear end of the hollow soft sole, and the second interface is located on the outer rear end of the hollow soft sole. The first interface and the second interface are threaded together, and the second interface in the foot device is connected to the hydraulic interface in the soft hydraulic telescopic device through a hydraulic pipeline. When the foot touches the ground, the knee joint bears the load, and the liquid medium in the hollow soft sole cavity is squeezed out under pressure and enters the soft hydraulic telescopic device through the hydraulic pipeline, driving the soft hydraulic telescopic device to unfold vertically, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint. When the foot is lifted, the foot pressure disappears, the soft hydraulic telescopic device retracts vertically, and the liquid medium in the soft hydraulic telescopic device flows back into the hollow soft sole.
[0006] Preferably, the soft hydraulic telescopic device includes four sets of soft hydraulic telescopic devices, and each set of soft hydraulic telescopic devices further includes an outer ring hoop and an inner ring hoop. The outer ring surface of the foldable wrinkle sheet on the telescopic silicone is provided with an outer ring hole, and the outer ring hoop is provided in the outer ring hole. The inner ring surface of the foldable wrinkle sheet on the telescopic silicone is provided with an inner ring hole, and the inner ring hoop is provided in the inner ring hole.
[0007] Furthermore, the upper end cover, telescopic shaft, telescopic bushing, telescopic silicone, and lower end cover together constitute a soft cavity. When the foot touches the ground, a liquid medium is input into the soft cavity through the hydraulic interface. The telescopic bushing moves vertically along the telescopic shaft. Under the vertical guidance of the telescopic shaft and the telescopic bushing, the soft hydraulic telescopic device can extend in the vertical direction and generate an upward load-reducing force in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint.
[0008] Preferably, the upper end face of the spiral sealing ring contacts the lower end face of the upper end cover, and the lower end face of the spiral sealing ring abuts against the upper end face of the telescopic bushing.
[0009] Furthermore, the four-bar linkage includes a pin, an upper sheet metal, a first link, a second link, a rotating shaft system, a lower sheet metal, and a connecting pin. The upper sheet metal is connected to the lower end of the universal joint coupling via the pin. The lower right side of the upper sheet metal is connected to the upper end of the first link via the rotating shaft system, and the lower end of the first link is connected to the upper right side of the lower sheet metal via the rotating shaft system. The lower left side of the upper sheet metal is connected to the upper end of the second link via the rotating shaft system, and the lower end of the second link is connected to the upper left side of the lower sheet metal via the rotating shaft system. The upper sheet metal, the first link, the second link, and the lower sheet metal together constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism, and the connecting pin is located at the lower end of the lower sheet metal.
[0010] Furthermore, the rotating shaft system includes a shaft nut, a sleeve, a flange bearing, and a shaft screw. The flange bearing is fixedly disposed in the through holes of the upper sheet metal and the lower sheet metal, and the outer arc surface of the flange bearing is in contact with the inner surface of the upper sheet metal and the lower sheet metal. The shaft screw and the shaft nut fix the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to the sleeve and the inner ring of the flange bearing through the preload of their engagement, so that the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod form a rotating pair connection with the upper sheet metal and the lower sheet metal, respectively.
[0011] Furthermore, the calf binding device includes a first nylon band, a first tightening device, a first silicone collar, a second silicone collar, a second nylon band, a third nylon band, a connecting sheet metal, a first cotton collar, a second cotton collar, and a second tightening device. The first nylon band has a toothed rack on its first end and a connecting plate on its second end. The connecting plate has mounting holes. The second and third nylon bands are inverted T-shapes and are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the first nylon band. The first and second ends of the first nylon band pass through the upper ends of the vertical sections of the second and third nylon bands, respectively, and are tightened by the first tightening device. The two ends of the horizontal nylon straps of the second and third nylon straps are connected by the second tightening device to form a ring structure, which together with the first nylon strap constitutes a double-layer binding structure. The connecting sheet metal is set on the vertical part of the nylon strap outside the second and third nylon straps by sheet metal mounting screws, and the upper end of the connecting sheet metal is symmetrically provided with sheet metal connecting holes, which are connected to the connecting pins in the four-bar linkage. The first silicone collar and the second silicone collar are respectively fitted on the front and rear sides of the first nylon strap, and the first cotton collar and the second cotton collar are symmetrically arranged on the horizontal part of the second and third nylon straps.
[0012] Preferably, the first and second tightening devices have the same structure, and the first tightening device includes a tightening connecting sheet metal, a pressing sheet metal, a limiting sleeve, a pressing sheet metal rotating shaft, and a torsion spring. The tightening connecting sheet metal is mounted on the connecting plate by tightening screws, and the limiting sleeve is provided on the tightening screws. The pressing sheet metal rotating shaft is located at the rear end of the tightening connecting sheet metal, and the pressing sheet metal is rotatably mounted on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft. The torsion spring is located on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft. Under the action of the torsion spring, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal contacts the rack on the side of the first nylon belt, thereby locking the first tightening device. By pressing the pressing plate on the pressing sheet metal, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal disengages from the rack on the side of the first nylon belt, thereby unlocking the first tightening device.
[0013] Furthermore, the bottom of the hollow soft sole is provided with a protrusion for anti-slip, and the upper end face of the first interface is in contact with the inner side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole, the lower end face of the second interface is in contact with the outer side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole, and the upper end of the second interface is connected to the lower end of the main hydraulic pipe in the hydraulic pipeline.
[0014] Preferably, the hydraulic pipeline includes a main hydraulic pipe, a first hydraulic pipe, and a second hydraulic pipe. The main hydraulic pipe is located at the rear end of the hollow soft sole, and the first hydraulic pipe is symmetrically located on the left and right sides of the first hydraulic pipe. The upper end of the main hydraulic pipe is connected to the lower end of the first hydraulic pipe through a T-joint. The second hydraulic pipe is located on the front and rear sides of the first hydraulic pipe. The upper end of the first hydraulic pipe is connected to the lower end of the second hydraulic pipe through a T-joint, and the upper end of the second hydraulic pipe is connected to the hydraulic interface in the soft hydraulic telescopic device.
[0015] The features and beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0016] 1. This invention provides a passive knee joint load-reducing wearable device, comprising a soft hydraulic telescopic device symmetrically arranged around the knee joint, and a foot device installed on the sole of the foot, with the soft hydraulic telescopic device and the foot device connected by a hydraulic pipeline. When the foot touches the ground, the knee joint bears a large load, and the liquid medium in the cavity of the foot device is squeezed out under pressure and enters the soft hydraulic telescopic device through the hydraulic pipeline. At this time, the soft hydraulic telescopic device extends and deforms, generating an axial thrust in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint.
[0017] 2. The present invention provides a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint, which reduces the extra force exerted by the person while walking by setting up a soft hydraulic telescopic device and a foot device, using the body's own weight.
[0018] 3. The passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint provided by the present invention uses a lot of soft materials in the thigh binding device, soft hydraulic telescopic device and calf binding device, which can reduce the weight of the wearable device.
[0019] 4. The present invention provides a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint. The lower leg binding device utilizes the lower leg structure and uses two sections of nylon straps to bind the lower leg in a double layer. When subjected to downward force, the device as a whole does not shift. At the same time, it is equipped with silicone and cotton contact pads to improve shock absorption. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of wearing the passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the passive load reduction wearable device for the knee joint of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the soft hydraulic telescopic device of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the stretchable silicone of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the four-bar linkage of the present invention;
[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the calf binding device of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the nylon strap structure in the calf binding device of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the first clamping device of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the foot and hydraulic lines of the present invention.
[0029] Key reference numerals:
[0030] Thigh binding device 1; Soft hydraulic telescopic device 2; Upper end cover 21; Spiral sealing ring 22; Telescopic shaft 23; Telescopic bushing 24; Telescopic silicone 25; Outer ring hole 251; Inner ring hole 252; Cover 26; Hydraulic interface 27; Outer ring hoop 28; Inner ring hoop 29; Four-bar linkage 3; Pin 31; Upper sheet metal 32; First connecting rod 33; Second connecting rod 34; Rotating shaft system 35; Shaft nut 351; Sleeve 352; Side bearing 353; Shaft screw 354; Lower sheet metal 36; Connecting pin 37; Lower leg binding device 4; First nylon strap 401; Rack 4011; Mounting hole 4012; Connecting plate 4013; First Device 402; Fastening connecting sheet metal 4021; Pressing sheet metal 4022; Fastening screw 4023; Position sleeve 4024; Pressing sheet metal pivot 4025; Torsion spring 4026; Pressing plate 4027; First silicone collar 403; Second silicone collar 404; Second nylon strap 405; Third nylon strap 406; Connecting sheet metal 407; Sheet metal mounting screw 408; First cotton collar 409; Second cotton collar 410; Second fastening device 411; Foot device 5; Hollow soft sole 51; First interface 52; Second interface 53; T-joint 6; Hydraulic pipeline 7; Main hydraulic pipe 71; First hydraulic pipe 72; Second hydraulic pipe 73; Leg part 8. Detailed Implementation
[0031] To fully describe the technical content, structural features, objectives, and effects of this invention, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0032] This invention provides a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint, used as an assistive device, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, it includes a thigh binding device 1, a soft hydraulic telescopic device 2, a four-bar linkage 3, a calf binding device 4, and a foot device 5.
[0033] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the thigh binding device 1 is located above the knee joint and bound to the thigh to prevent the assistive device from slipping relative to the skin surface when it is used to reduce the load. Below the thigh binding device 1 is a soft hydraulic telescopic device 2, which is symmetrically arranged around the knee joint. The upper end of the upper cover 21 of the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 is connected to the thigh binding device 1 via a universal joint coupling 8. The lower end of the lower cover 26 of the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 is connected to the upper end of the upper sheet metal 32 of the four-bar linkage 3 via a universal joint coupling 8. The soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 includes an upper cover 21, a spiral sealing ring 22, a telescopic shaft 23, a telescopic bushing 24, a telescopic silicone 25, and a lower cover 26. The telescopic silicone 25 is circumferentially pleated and consists of multiple foldable components. The corrugated sheets are connected along the folding and telescopic direction. The upper end cover 21 and the lower end cover 26 are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the telescopic silicone 25. The lower end cover 26 is provided with a hydraulic interface 27. The telescopic bushing 24 is located inside the telescopic silicone 25. The lower end of the telescopic bushing 24 is threadedly connected to the lower end cover 26. The upper end of the telescopic shaft 23 is threadedly connected to the upper end cover 21. The spiral sealing ring 22 is located at the upper end of the telescopic shaft 23. The upper end face of the spiral sealing ring 22 contacts the lower end face of the upper end cover 21, and the lower end face of the spiral sealing ring 22 abuts against the upper end face of the telescopic bushing 24. Together with the upper end cover 21, they restrict the position of the telescopic silicone 25 and prevent internal liquid leakage. The lower end of the telescopic shaft 23 is slidably connected to the telescopic bushing 24, which has a vertical guiding effect on the extension of the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2. The upper end cover 21, telescopic shaft 23, telescopic bushing 24, telescopic silicone 25, and lower end cover 26 together constitute the soft cavity. When the knee joint bears a large load and needs to reduce the load, the foot touches the ground, and high-pressure liquid medium is input into the soft cavity through the hydraulic interface 27. The telescopic bushing 24 moves vertically along the telescopic shaft 23. Under the vertical guidance of the telescopic shaft 23 and the telescopic bushing 24, and under the radial limitation of the outer ring 28 and the inner ring 29, the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 can only extend in the vertical direction and generate a load-reducing force in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint.
[0034] like Figure 4As shown, the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 includes four sets of soft hydraulic telescopic devices 2, and each set of soft hydraulic telescopic devices 2 also includes an outer ring hoop 28 and an inner ring hoop 29. The outer ring surface of the foldable corrugated sheet on the telescopic silicone 25 is provided with an outer ring hole 251, and an outer ring hoop 28 is provided in the outer ring hole 251. The inner ring surface of the foldable corrugated sheet on the telescopic silicone 25 is provided with an inner ring hole 252, and an inner ring hoop 29 is provided in the inner ring hole 252. Multiple outer ring hoops 28 and inner ring hoops 29 are present, all placed in the outer ring hole 251 and inner ring hole 252 of the telescopic silicone 25, to limit the deformation of the soft silicone 25 to the surroundings when it is internally compressed.
[0035] like Figure 5 As shown, the four-bar linkage 3 is symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the knee joint and located below the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2. It can simulate the J-shaped curve when the knee joint moves. With the help of the motion characteristics of the four-bar linkage, it can better fit the actual movement of the knee joint, play the role of connecting the upper and lower parts of the assistive device, and provide a force fulcrum for the load reduction of the knee joint. The four-bar linkage 3 includes a pin 31, an upper sheet metal 32, a first link 33, a second link 34, a rotating shaft system 35, a lower sheet metal 36, and a connecting pin 37. The upper sheet metal 32 is connected to the lower end of the universal joint coupling 8 via the pin 31. The lower right side of the upper sheet metal 32 is connected to the upper end of the first link 33 via the rotating shaft system 35, and the lower end of the first link 33 is connected to the upper right side of the lower sheet metal 36 via the rotating shaft system 35. The lower left side of the upper sheet metal 32 is connected to the upper end of the second link 33 via the rotating shaft system 35, and the lower end of the second link 33 is connected to the upper left side of the lower sheet metal 36 via the rotating shaft system 35. The upper sheet metal 32, the first link 33, the second link 34, and the lower sheet metal 36 together constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism, and the connecting pin 37 is located at the lower end of the lower sheet metal 36.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the rotating shaft system 35 includes a shaft nut 351, a sleeve 352, a flange bearing 353, and a shaft screw 354. The flange bearing 353 is fixedly disposed in the through holes of the upper sheet metal 32 and the lower sheet metal 36, and the outer arc surface of the flange bearing 353 is in contact with the inner surface of the upper sheet metal 32 and the lower sheet metal 36. The shaft screw 354 and the shaft nut 351 fix the first connecting rod 33 and the second connecting rod 34 to the inner ring of the sleeve 352 and the flange bearing 353 through the preload of their engagement, so that the first connecting rod 33 and the second connecting rod 34 form a rotating pair connection with the upper sheet metal 32 and the lower sheet metal 36 respectively.
[0037] like Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the calf binding device 4 is located below the knee joint and bound to the calf, supporting the entire assistive device and maintaining its position when the load-reducing device is not applying load-reducing force. The lower end of the lower sheet metal 36 in the four-bar linkage is connected to the connecting sheet metal 407 in the calf binding device 4 via a connecting pin 37. The calf binding device 4 includes a first nylon strap 401, a first tightening device 402, a first silicone collar 403, a second silicone collar 404, a second nylon strap 405, a third nylon strap 406, a connecting sheet metal 407, a first cotton collar 409, a second cotton collar 410, and a second tightening device 411. The first end of the first nylon strap 401 has a toothed rack 4011 on its side, and the second end of the first nylon strap 401 has a connecting plate 4013. The connecting plate 4013 is equipped with... There is an installation hole 4012. The second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 are inverted T-shaped and are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the first nylon strap 401. The first end and the second end of the first nylon strap 401 pass through the upper end of the vertical part of the second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 respectively, and are tightened by the first tightening device 402 to form a ring structure, so that the first nylon strap 401 can tightly wrap the lower leg. Furthermore, the two ends of the horizontal portions of the second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 are connected by the second tightening device 411 to form a ring structure, allowing the inner sides of the second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 to tightly adhere to the surface of the calf, and together with the first nylon strap 401, they form a double-layer binding structure. The connecting sheet metal 407 is mounted on the vertical portion of the nylon strap outside the second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 by sheet metal mounting screws 408, and the connecting sheet metal 407... The upper end of 7 is symmetrically provided with sheet metal connection holes, and the sheet metal connection holes are connected to the connecting pin 37 in the four-bar linkage 3. The first silicone collar 403 and the second silicone collar 404 are respectively fitted on the front and rear sides of the first nylon strap 401, and directly contact the wearer's calf surface to make wearing more comfortable. The first cotton collar 409 and the second cotton collar 410 are symmetrically provided on the horizontal part of the second nylon strap 405 and the third nylon strap 406 to make wearing more comfortable.
[0038] like Figure 8As shown, the first tightening device 402 and the second tightening device 411 have the same structure. The first tightening device 402 includes a tightening connecting sheet metal 4021, a pressing sheet metal 4022, a limiting sleeve 4024, a pressing sheet metal rotating shaft 4025, and a torsion spring 4026. The tightening connecting sheet metal 4021 is installed on the connecting plate 4013 by a tightening screw 4023, and the tightening screw 4023 is provided with a limiting sleeve 4024, which plays a limiting role when the first nylon tape 401 is inserted into the first tightening device 402. The pressing sheet metal rotating shaft 4025 is located on the tightening connecting sheet metal 4021. At the rear end of 021, the pressing sheet metal 4022 is rotatably mounted on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft 4025, and the torsion spring 4026 is located on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft 4025. Under the action of the torsion spring 4026, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal 4022 contacts the rack 4011 on the side of the first nylon belt 401, thereby locking the first fastening device 402. By pressing the pressing plate 4027 on the pressing sheet metal 4022, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal 4022 disengages from the rack 4011 on the side of the first nylon belt 401, thereby unlocking the first fastening device 402.
[0039] Specifically, when wearing the device or when it is necessary to reduce the circumference of the ring structure formed by the first nylon strap 401, one end of the rack 4011 on the first nylon strap 401 is inserted into the first fastening device 402. Under the combined action of the pressing sheet metal 4022 and the torsion spring 4026, the rack 4011 end of the first nylon strap 401 can continue to retract but cannot be pulled out, thus achieving self-locking. When removing the device or when it is necessary to increase the circumference of the ring structure formed by the first nylon strap 401, it is only necessary to press the pressing end of the pressing sheet metal 4022. The engagement between the pressing sheet metal 4022 and the rack 4011 of the first nylon strap 401 disappears, and the rack 4011 end of the first nylon strap 401 can be pulled out from the first fastening device 402.
[0040] like Figure 9 As shown, a foot device 5 is provided below the calf binding device 4, and the foot device 5 includes a hollow soft sole 51, a first interface 52 and a second interface 53. The hollow soft sole is a hollow cavity soft structure, and the first interface 52 is provided on the inner rear end of the hollow soft sole 51, and the second interface 53 is provided on the outer rear end of the hollow soft sole 51. The first interface 52 and the second interface 53 are threadedly connected, and the second interface 53 in the foot device 5 is connected to the hydraulic interface 27 in the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 through a hydraulic pipeline 7. When the foot lands, the knee joint bears the load, and the liquid medium in the cavity of the hollow soft sole 51 is squeezed out and enters the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 through the hydraulic line 7, which drives the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 to unfold in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint. When the foot is lifted, the pressure on the foot disappears, the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 retracts in the vertical direction, and the liquid medium in the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 flows back into the hollow soft sole 51.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the hollow soft sole 51 is provided with protrusions for anti-slip purposes. During operation, the hollow soft sole 51 is filled with a liquid medium, and the upper end face of the first interface 52 is in contact with the inner side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole 51, the lower end face of the second interface 53 is in contact with the outer side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole 51, and the upper end of the second interface 53 is connected to the lower end of the main hydraulic pipe 71 in the hydraulic pipeline.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulic pipeline 7 includes a main hydraulic pipe 71, a first hydraulic pipe 72, and a second hydraulic pipe 73. The main hydraulic pipe 71 is located at the rear end of the hollow soft sole 51, and the first hydraulic pipe 72 is symmetrically located on the left and right sides of the first hydraulic pipe 72. The upper end of the main hydraulic pipe 71 is connected to the lower end of the first hydraulic pipe 72 through a T-joint 6. The second hydraulic pipe 73 is located on the front and rear sides of the first hydraulic pipe 72. The upper end of the first hydraulic pipe 72 is connected to the lower end of the second hydraulic pipe 73 through a T-joint 6, and the upper end of the second hydraulic pipe 73 is connected to the hydraulic interface 27 in the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2.
[0043] This invention provides a passive load-reducing wearable device for the knee joint, such as... Figures 1-9 As shown, the specific work is as follows:
[0044] When the wearer of the device walks or stands, both feet take turns on the ground, and both legs become the main supporting legs. The load on the knee joint is synchronized with the landing of the foot on that side. When one foot lands, and the knee joint on that side begins to bear the load, the hollow soft sole 51 of the foot device 5 is compressed, and the internal liquid medium is squeezed out and enters the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 through the hydraulic line 7. The soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 will extend and deform, generating a large axial thrust. The upper end of the soft hydraulic telescopic device 2 is connected to the thigh binding device 1 through a universal joint coupling 8. The axial thrust acts on the thigh binding device 1, thereby applying an upward load-reducing force to the thigh, thus reducing the load on the knee joint and achieving the purpose of knee joint decompression.
[0045] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A passive knee load relief wearable device, characterized by, It includes a thigh binding device, a soft hydraulic telescopic device, a four-bar linkage, a calf binding device, and a foot device. The thigh binding device is located above the knee joint, and the soft hydraulic telescopic device is located below the thigh binding device. The flexible hydraulic telescopic device is symmetrically arranged around the knee joint. The upper end of the upper cover of the flexible hydraulic telescopic device is connected to the thigh binding device through a universal joint coupling. The lower end of the lower cover of the flexible hydraulic telescopic device is connected to the upper end of the upper sheet metal of the four-bar linkage through the universal joint coupling. The flexible hydraulic telescopic device includes an upper cover, a spiral sealing ring, a telescopic shaft, a telescopic bushing, a telescopic silicone, and a lower cover. The telescopic silicone is circumferentially pleated and is composed of multiple foldable pleated sheets connected along the folding and telescopic direction. The upper cover and the lower cover are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the telescopic silicone. The lower cover is provided with a hydraulic interface. The telescopic bushing is located inside the telescopic silicone. The lower end of the telescopic bushing is threaded to the lower cover. The upper end of the telescopic shaft is threaded to the upper cover. The spiral sealing ring is located at the upper end of the telescopic shaft. The lower end of the telescopic shaft is slidably connected to the telescopic bushing. The four-bar linkage is symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the knee joint and located below the soft hydraulic telescopic device. The calf binding device is located below the knee joint. The lower end of the lower sheet metal of the four-bar linkage is connected to the connecting sheet metal in the calf binding device through a connecting pin. The foot device is located below the calf binding device. The foot device includes a hollow soft sole, a first interface, and a second interface. The hollow soft sole is a hollow cavity soft structure. The first interface is located on the inner rear end of the hollow soft sole, and the second interface is located on the outer rear end of the hollow soft sole. The first interface and the second interface are threaded together. The second interface in the foot device is connected to the hydraulic interface in the soft hydraulic telescopic device through a hydraulic pipeline. When the foot lands, the knee joint bears the load, and the liquid medium in the hollow soft sole cavity is squeezed out and enters the soft hydraulic telescopic device through the hydraulic pipeline, causing the soft hydraulic telescopic device to extend vertically, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint. When the foot is lifted, the pressure on the foot disappears, the soft hydraulic telescopic device retracts vertically, and the liquid medium in the soft hydraulic telescopic device flows back into the hollow soft sole.
2. The passive knee load relief wearable device according to claim 1, wherein, The soft hydraulic telescopic device includes four sets of soft hydraulic telescopic devices, and each set of soft hydraulic telescopic devices further includes an outer ring hoop and an inner ring hoop. The outer ring surface of the foldable wrinkle sheet on the telescopic silicone is provided with an outer ring hole, and the outer ring hoop is provided in the outer ring hole. The inner ring surface of the foldable wrinkle sheet on the telescopic silicone is provided with an inner ring hole, and the inner ring hoop is provided in the inner ring hole.
3. The passive knee load relief wearable device according to claim 2, wherein, The upper end cover, telescopic shaft, telescopic bushing, telescopic silicone, and lower end cover together constitute a soft cavity. When the foot touches the ground, a liquid medium is input into the soft cavity through the hydraulic interface. The telescopic bushing moves vertically along the telescopic shaft. Under the vertical guidance of the telescopic shaft and the telescopic bushing, the soft hydraulic telescopic device can extend in the vertical direction and generate an upward load-reducing force in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the load on the knee joint.
4. The passive knee load relief wearable device according to claim 2, wherein, The upper end face of the spiral sealing ring is in contact with the lower end face of the upper end cover, and the lower end face of the spiral sealing ring abuts against the upper end face of the telescopic bushing.
5. The passive knee load relief wearable device of claim 1, wherein, The four-bar linkage includes a pin, an upper sheet metal, a first link, a second link, a rotating shaft system, a lower sheet metal, and a connecting pin. The upper sheet metal is connected to the lower end of the universal joint coupling via the pin. The lower right side of the upper sheet metal is connected to the upper end of the first link via the rotating shaft system, and the lower end of the first link is connected to the upper right side of the lower sheet metal via the rotating shaft system. The lower left side of the upper sheet metal is connected to the upper end of the second link via the rotating shaft system, and the lower end of the second link is connected to the upper left side of the lower sheet metal via the rotating shaft system. The upper sheet metal, the first link, the second link, and the lower sheet metal together constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism, and the connecting pin is located at the lower end of the lower sheet metal.
6. The passive knee load relief wearable device according to claim 5, wherein, The rotating shaft system includes a shaft nut, a sleeve, a flange bearing, and a shaft screw. The flange bearing is fixedly installed in the through holes of the upper and lower sheet metal, and the outer arc surface of the flange bearing is in contact with the inner surface of the upper and lower sheet metal. The shaft screw and shaft nut fix the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to the sleeve and the inner ring of the flange bearing through the preload of their screwing, so that the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are respectively connected to the upper and lower sheet metal as rotating pairs.
7. The passive knee load relief wearable device of claim 1, wherein, The calf binding device includes a first nylon band, a first tightening device, a first silicone collar, a second silicone collar, a second nylon band, a third nylon band, a connecting sheet metal, a first cotton collar, a second cotton collar, and a second tightening device. The first nylon band has a toothed rack on its first end and a connecting plate on its second end. The connecting plate has mounting holes. The second and third nylon bands are in an inverted T-shape and are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the first nylon band. The first and second ends of the first nylon band pass through the upper ends of the vertical sections of the second and third nylon bands, respectively, and are tightened by the first tightening device. The two ends of the horizontal nylon straps of the second and third nylon straps are connected by the second tightening device to form a ring structure, which together with the first nylon strap constitutes a double-layer binding structure. The connecting sheet metal is mounted on the vertical nylon straps on the outside of the second and third nylon straps by sheet metal mounting screws. The upper end of the connecting sheet metal is symmetrically provided with sheet metal connecting holes, which are connected to the connecting pins in the four-bar linkage. The first silicone collar and the second silicone collar are respectively fitted on the front and rear sides of the first nylon strap, and the first cotton collar and the second cotton collar are symmetrically arranged on the horizontal nylon straps of the second and third nylon straps.
8. The passive knee load relief wearable device of claim 7, wherein, The first and second tightening devices have the same structure. The first tightening device includes a tightening connecting sheet metal, a pressing sheet metal, a limiting sleeve, a pressing sheet metal rotating shaft, and a torsion spring. The tightening connecting sheet metal is mounted on the connecting plate by tightening screws, and the limiting sleeve is provided on the tightening screws. The pressing sheet metal rotating shaft is located at the rear end of the tightening connecting sheet metal. The pressing sheet metal is rotatably mounted on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft, and the torsion spring is located on the pressing sheet metal rotating shaft. Under the action of the torsion spring, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal contacts the rack on the side of the first nylon belt, thereby locking the first tightening device. By pressing the pressing plate on the pressing sheet metal, the locking tongue on the pressing sheet metal disengages from the rack on the side of the first nylon belt, thereby unlocking the first tightening device.
9. The passive knee load relief wearable device of claim 1, wherein, The bottom of the hollow soft sole is provided with a protrusion for anti-slip, and the upper end face of the first interface is in contact with the inner side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole, the lower end face of the second interface is in contact with the outer side of the rear end of the hollow soft sole, and the upper end of the second interface is connected to the lower end of the main hydraulic pipe in the hydraulic pipeline.
10. The passive knee load relief wearable device of claim 1, wherein, The hydraulic pipeline comprises a main hydraulic pipe, a first hydraulic pipe and a second hydraulic pipe, the main hydraulic pipe is arranged at the rear end of the hollow soft shoe sole, the first hydraulic pipe is symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the first hydraulic pipe, the upper end of the main hydraulic pipe is connected with the lower end of the first hydraulic pipe through a three-way joint, the second hydraulic pipe is arranged on the front and rear sides of the first hydraulic pipe, the upper end of the first hydraulic pipe is connected with the lower end of the second hydraulic pipe through a three-way joint, and the upper end of the second hydraulic pipe is connected with the hydraulic interface in the soft hydraulic telescopic device.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Foot brake device capable of preventing accidental touch starting
CN112428968A
Knee joint exoskeleton power assisting device with load-free function and power assisting method thereof
CN115648178A