Artificial muscle joint support

Abstract

To provide a supporter that is easy to wear, can be worn daily, assists torque at a joint, and achieves both stability of the joint and ease of bending and stretching. [Solution] The artificial muscle type joint supporter is made of an elastic material and comprises a main body (16), an artificial muscle (10) having an air chamber (11) inside the main body, a supporter with a storage space for storing the artificial muscle and worn by the wearer so that the artificial muscle stored in the storage space covers the back of the joint and is fixed to the back of the joint, an air supply balloon that communicates with the air chamber inside the artificial muscle via a tube and can be manually operated to pressurize the air chamber by sending pressurized air into the air chamber inside the artificial muscle, an exhaust adjustment valve attached to the tube and capable of discharging air from the air chamber, and an adjustment body that adjusts the pressure in the air chamber by adjusting the amount of air discharged from the exhaust adjustment valve, and which causes the artificial muscle to expand and act on the back of the joint, thereby adjusting the wearer's walking assist force and the extension and flexion angles of the joint.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an artificial muscle-type joint supporter having an artificial muscle, and the artificial muscle. [Background technology]

[0002] For elderly people to live a healthy life, it is important to maintain their walking ability and prevent the decline of physical ability. However, factors that hinder this include a decrease in strength of the knee extensor muscles and a decrease in knee joint function due to aging and disease. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-166636 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Masahiro Fujimoto (Doshisha University Graduate School), et al., "Study on the Standing-up Movement of Elderly People from Chairs (Factors Affecting the Stability of Standing-up Movement)," Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Proceedings of the Welfare Engineering Symposium (2005), pp. 65-68 [Non-patent document 2] Tsuyoshi Hayata (Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare), "The effect of knee brace pressure on athletic performance - Development of sports braces based on scientific evidence" (2013) [Non-patent document 3] Takuma Inai (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), et al., "Knee sleeves improve gait symmetry during fast walking in older adults," Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (17 July 2024) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When considering what means and methods are available to solve the above problems, the following generally come to mind. These include medical procedures such as surgery and drug administration, as well as sports classes that encourage exercise habits and promote health. However, medical procedures such as surgery and drug administration are problematic in that they are expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, there are problems with sports classes, such as the time it takes to establish a system to implement them efficiently and effectively, and there are many cases where people end up relying solely on sports classes.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the object of the present disclosure is to provide a joint supporter that is easy to wear on a daily basis and that assists the torque of the joints when standing up or walking, thereby achieving both joint stability and ease of bending and straightening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An artificial muscle type joint supporter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an artificial muscle made of an elastic material, the artificial muscle having a main body and an air chamber inside the main body; a supporter having a storage space for storing the artificial muscle, the supporter being worn by the wearer so that the artificial muscle stored in the storage space covers the back of the joint and is fixed to the back of the joint; an air supply balloon that communicates with the air chamber inside the artificial muscle via a tube and that is manually operated to pressurize the air chamber by supplying pressurized air into the air chamber inside the artificial muscle; an exhaust adjustment valve provided in the tube and capable of discharging air from the air chamber; An adjusting body that adjusts the pressure in the air chamber by adjusting the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust adjustment valve, and that adjusts the walking assist force of the wearer and the extension angle and flexion angle of the joint by causing the artificial muscle to act on the back of the joint as the artificial muscle expands. It is equipped with: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a joint supporter that is easy to wear on a daily basis and that assists the torque of the joints when standing up or walking, thereby achieving both joint stability and ease of bending and straightening. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the state in which the artificial muscle type joint supporter is attached to the joint of a wearer. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the artificial muscle type joint supporter attached to the wearer's joint. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the state in which the artificial muscle type joint supporter is attached to the joint of a wearer. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an artificial muscle. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram of the long air chamber of an artificial muscle. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5, showing a deformed state. [Figure 9] The deformed state of the artificial muscle is shown. [Figure 10] An experimental example is shown in which an artificial muscle type joint supporter was attached to a knee joint. [Figure 11] An experimental example is shown in which an artificial muscle type joint supporter was attached to a knee joint. [Figure 12] An experimental example is shown in which an artificial muscle type joint supporter was attached to a knee joint. [Figure 13] An experimental example is shown in which an artificial muscle type joint supporter was attached to a knee joint. [Figure 14] An example experiment using a model of a long air chamber for artificial muscle is shown. [Figure 15] An example experiment using a model of a long air chamber for artificial muscle is shown. [Figure 16] An example experiment using a model of a long air chamber for artificial muscle is shown. [Figure 17]An example experiment using a model of a long air chamber for artificial muscle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 1. Artificial muscle joint support

[0011] Fig. 1 is a front view showing an artificial muscle type joint supporter attached to a wearer's joint. Fig. 2 is a right side view showing an artificial muscle type joint supporter attached to a wearer's joint. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an artificial muscle type joint supporter attached to a wearer's joint.

[0012] The artificial muscle type joint supporter 1 is attached to the joint of the wearer. As a specific example, a case where the artificial muscle type joint supporter 1 is attached to the knee joint of the wearer will be described below.

[0013] The artificial muscle type joint supporter 1 includes an artificial muscle 10, a supporter 2, an air supply sphere 4, an exhaust adjustment valve 5a, and an adjustment body 5b.

[0014] The artificial muscle 10 is stored in a storage space in a supporter 2 that can be worn to cover the knee joint. The artificial muscle 10 has a main body 16 and an air chamber 11 inside the main body 16. The artificial muscle 10 is made of an elastic material, such as a silicone elastomer that has tensile strength and compressive strength. Specifically, the main body 16 is a silicone body that is formed by injecting silicone fluid into a cylindrical mold and then hardening it. The main body 16, which is made of silicone, is suitable for assisting bending and extension movements. A tube 7a made of a plastic material into which compressed air is flowed is connected to the air chamber 11. Alternatively, the artificial muscle 10 may be made of, for example, urethane.

[0015] The supporter 2 has a storage space for storing the artificial muscle 10. The artificial muscle 10 stored in the storage space covers the back of the joint and is worn by the wearer so as to be fixed to the back of the joint. Specifically, the supporter 2 has an outer cloth, an inner cloth that comes into contact with the skin, and a storage space formed by partially fastening the outer cloth and inner cloth together. The main body of the supporter 2 covers and is fixed around the knee joint when worn. Hook-and-loop fastener straps 3a, 3b, and 3c that can be stretched by an external force are provided on the surface of the main body.

[0016] The hook-and-loop straps 3a, 3b, and 3c are equipped with hook-and-loop fasteners that are easy to put on and take off, and can be fastened to the knee with any tightening pressure that matches the circumference of the knee joint. They are an open type that is wrapped around the knee joint from the back side to the front side of the knee, and both ends in the wrapping direction are connected and fixed on the front side.

[0017] The air supply sphere 4 communicates with the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10 via a tube 7a. When the wearer or an assistant manually operates the air supply sphere 4, air is supplied under pressure to the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10, pressurizing the air chamber 11. The wearer or an assistant holds the air supply sphere 4 in one hand, pressurizes it, and repeatedly expands and contracts it to supply air, thereby supplying pressurized air to the air chamber 11. The air supply sphere 4 is made of, for example, rubber.

[0018] Exhaust adjustment valve 5a is attached to tube 7a and is capable of discharging air from air chamber 11. Air is supplied to artificial muscle 10 using air supply ball 4, and the exhaust adjustment valve 5a is adjusted to reduce the pressure in air chamber 11 of artificial muscle 10, thereby adjusting the assist force and the knee extension and flexion angles.

[0019] The adjustment body 5b adjusts the pressure in the air chamber 11 by adjusting the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust adjustment valve 5a, and as the artificial muscle 10 expands, it acts on the back of the joint, making it possible to adjust the walking assist force of the wearer and the extension and flexion angles of the joint. The adjustment body 5b has an adjustment cylinder and a cap. The adjustment cylinder is attached to the side of the tube 7a that connects to the air supply ball 4. The adjustment cylinder is attached to the side of the tube 7a that connects to the air supply ball 4. The cap, for example, is screw-type and is attached to the adjustment cylinder and attached to the upper outer periphery. The amount of air exhausted from the adjustment cylinder can be adjusted by turning the screw-type cap.

[0020] The aneroid pressure gauge 6 can be connected to the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10 via tube 7b. The aneroid pressure gauge 6 is connected so that the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10, the tube 7a, and the inside of the air supply sphere 4 are all at the same pressure. The tubes 7a and 7b are provided independently and are made of a plastic material, allowing them to follow the wearer's movements. The advantages of manual air pressure measurement include making measurements easier and reducing the burden on the person measuring, preventing delays in reading the pressure gauge and misremembering the read pressure, and being convenient to carry, making it a good choice to use the aneroid pressure gauge 6. The air chamber 11 of the artificial muscle 10, the air pressure inside tubes 7a and 7b, and the air supply sphere 4 are all connected so that the internal pressures are all at the same pressure. The tubes 7a and 7b are provided independently and are made of a plastic material, allowing them to follow the wearer's movements.

[0021] The belt 8 is a strip of woven fabric sewn to the outer fabric of the artificial muscle type joint supporter 1, and is used to secure the air supply sphere 4, the exhaust valve, and the pressure gauge.

[0022] Hooks 9a and 9b are provided on the sides of the air supply sphere 4 and the aneroid pressure gauge 6, respectively, and are used to hook them onto the belt 8. The hooks 9a and 9b enable stable fixation even during standing up, walking, and other movements, improving safety when worn.

[0023] The artificial muscle joint supporter 1 does not have a complex mechanism, making it lightweight and unobtrusive when walking. The mass of the artificial muscle joint supporter 1 is 500 grams, and the theoretical bending pressure is 2 MPa (maximum).

[0024] 2. Artificial Muscles

[0025] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an artificial muscle. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a long air chamber of an artificial muscle. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in the schematic diagram of Fig. 5, showing a deformed state. Fig. 9 shows the deformed state of the artificial muscle in the schematic diagram of Fig. 5. Note that in each drawing, the main body 16 may be shown without hatching to make the drawings easier to see.

[0026] The artificial muscle 10 is a McKibben type artificial muscle that can bend arbitrarily in response to the air pressure sent from the air supply sphere 4, and serves as an actuator that assists the torque of the joint.

[0027] The air chamber 11 of the artificial muscle 10 has multiple long air chambers 12 and a communicating air chamber 13. The long air chambers 12 are long in the vertical direction of the joint and the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10, and multiple long air chambers 12 are arranged spaced apart in the width direction. The communicating air chamber 13 communicates with one end of the multiple long air chambers 12, and connects the multiple long air chambers 12 together.

[0028] The long air chamber 12 has a U-shaped cross section (semicircular, semiannular) that can respond to the flexion and extension of the joint. The U-shaped cross section of the long air chamber 12 has an inner arc portion 15 with a convex inner surface and an outer arc portion 14 with a concave inner surface. The main body 16 of the artificial muscle 10 is thick on the inner arc portion 15 side and thin on the outer arc portion 14 side. The artificial muscle 10 is attached so that the inner arc portion 15 (thick side) faces the back of the joint. The surface area of ​​the outer arc portion 14 is larger than that of the inner arc portion 15. Because the cross section of the long air chamber 12 is U-shaped, when the air supply ball 4 is pressed to flow air into the long air chamber 12, the long air chamber 12 curves and expands so that one side, the outer arc portion 14 (thin side), protrudes, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 9.

[0029] As shown in the right diagram of Figure 9, one side of elongated air chamber 12, that is, outer arc portion 14, curves and protrudes during the inflation process. Because the cross section of elongated air chamber 12 is U-shaped, outer arc portion 14 has a larger surface area than an air port that does not have a U-shaped cross section. This larger surface area allows for more air to be taken in from air supply ball 4.

[0030] The cross-sectional shape of the elongated air chamber 12 may have a radius that decreases toward the tip of the elongated air chamber 12 in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] Due to the U-shaped cross-sectional structure of the long air chamber 12 (left diagrams in FIGS. 8 and 9), when air flows in from the air supply ball 4, the air pressure repelled from the inner arc portion 15 (thick side) is transmitted to the outer arc portion 14 (thin side), causing the artificial muscle 10 to bend so that it protrudes toward the outer arc portion 14 side (thin side). Specifically, when air flows into the long air chamber 12 using the adjuster 5b, the air pressure repelled from the inner arc portion 15 (thick side) is transmitted to the outer arc portion 14 side (thin side), as shown in the right diagram in FIG. 8, and the artificial muscle 10 expands so that the expansion of the outer arc portion 14 side is greater than the expansion of the inner arc portion 15, causing the artificial muscle 10 to bend so that it protrudes toward the outer arc portion 14 side (thin side), as shown in the right diagram in FIG. 9. The pressure of the long air chamber 12, which has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, causes the joint to extend (the expansion of the artificial muscle 10 assists in the extension of the joint).

[0032] The artificial muscle 10 is curved so that the outer arc portion 14 side (thinner side) protrudes, and the artificial muscle 10 is fixed to the back of the joint by the supporter 2, so that the surface of the inner arc portion 15 conforms to the back of the joint of the human body and supports the wearer's walking. Specifically, when the artificial muscle 10 expands and curves, the surface of the artificial muscle 10 on the inner arc portion 15 side (the lower surface in the plane of the paper on the right side of Figure 9) conforms to the back of the joint. At this time, because the artificial muscle 10 is fixed to the back of the joint by the supporter 2, the expanding and curving artificial muscle 10 is pressed against the back of the joint, and both longitudinal ends of the expanding and curving artificial muscle 10 press against the top and bottom (thigh and calf) of the back of the joint fixed by the supporter 2, respectively, assisting the extension of the joint (the expansion of the artificial muscle 10 assists joint extension).

[0033] By operating the screw cap on the upper outer periphery attached to the adjustment cylinder of adjustment body 5b provided on the side of air supply sphere 4, it is possible to suppress the flow of air into and out of air chamber 11, thereby suppressing the resistance of artificial muscle 10 and maintaining the bending and extension movements in a neutral state.

[0034] When air is exhausted from the long air chamber 12 using the adjuster 5b and the exhaust adjustment valve 5a, the artificial muscle 10, which has expanded and curved toward the outer arc portion 14 due to the air pressure (right diagrams in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9), contracts, and the artificial muscle 10 returns to its original state (left diagrams in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). At this time, the artificial muscle 10 is pressed against the back of the joint, and the state in which the expanding and curving artificial muscle 10's both ends in the longitudinal direction press against the top and bottom (thighs and calves) of the back of the joint fixed by the supporter 2 is released, thereby assisting the bending of the joint (the contraction of the artificial muscle 10 assists the bending of the joint).

[0035] The artificial muscle joint supporter 1 having the artificial muscle 10 according to this embodiment is expected to have the following effects: It is easy to use and can be worn daily. By assisting the torque of the knee joint when standing up or walking, it is possible to achieve both stability of the knee joint and ease of bending and straightening. By supplementing the force that is insufficient to move with one's own legs rather than assisting the entire torque, it is possible to prevent a decline in remaining physical ability and maintain quality of life. It is low-cost, easy to use, lightweight, and highly versatile, and can be easily used as an everyday tool. Although it is designed with elderly users in mind, it is thought that it could also be used as a medical device for users with some kind of movement disorder in the knee joint.

[0036] The artificial muscle joint supporter 1 of this embodiment is easy to wear on a daily basis, and provides a supporter that achieves both stability and ease of bending and straightening of the knee joint by assisting the torque of the knee joint during standing up and walking.

[0037] The artificial muscle type joint supporter 1 of this embodiment aims to prevent a decline in remaining physical ability and maintain quality of life by supplementing the power that is insufficient to move one's own legs, rather than assisting the entire torque. It is a low-cost, easy-to-use, lightweight product designed for versatility, intended for use as a daily living tool.

[0038] With the artificial muscle joint supporter 1 of this embodiment, when compressed air is sent to the air chamber 11 inside the artificial muscle 10, the U-shaped cross section of the long air chamber 12 causes the artificial muscle 10 to extend or bend. The air pressure can be easily adjusted, which changes the hardness of the artificial muscle 10 and makes it possible to adjust the assist force and the knee extension and flexion angles.

[0039] 3. Experimental Example

[0040] 10 to 13 show experimental examples in which an artificial muscle type joint supporter was attached to a knee joint.

[0041] Figure 10 shows the sitting position, with zero air pressure to the artificial muscle 10. Figure 11 shows the standing-up motion, Figure 12 is a front view (after standing up), and Figure 13 is a right side view (after standing up). When air is sent to the artificial muscle 10, the expansion of the artificial muscle 10 supports the torque of the knee joint (the expansion of the artificial muscle 10 assists in the extension of the joint), making it easier to stand up from a sitting position (Figure 10) (Figure 11. The bent knee joint extends as the artificial muscle 10 expands).

[0042] 14 to 17 show experimental examples of a model of a long air chamber of an artificial muscle.

[0043] As shown in Figure 14, a model of artificial muscle 10 was fabricated that had a long air chamber 12 with a U-shaped cross section. Specifically, a U-shaped shaft was created using a 3D printer, the U-shaped shaft was inserted into a cylindrical mold, silicone fluid was injected into the cylindrical mold, and the silicone fluid was allowed to harden. A silicon-body artificial muscle 10 model was fabricated by removing the U-shaped shaft from the hardened silicon body. As shown in Figure 15, an air supply balloon 4 was connected to one end of the artificial muscle 10 model via a tube 7a, and a pressure gauge 6 was connected via another tube 7a. As shown in Figure 16, the other end of the artificial muscle 10 model was airtightly sealed, and air was forced into the long air chamber 12 from the air supply balloon 4. Then, as shown in Figure 17, the long air chamber 12 did not expand uniformly, but rather curved and expanded so that one side (the outer arc portion 14 side) protruded. The surface of the artificial muscle 10 opposite to the protruding, curved expanding surface (upper side in the plane of FIG. 17) (lower side in FIG. 17) is the inner arc portion 15 side of the surface that comes into contact with the back of the wearer's joint. The surface on the inner arc portion 15 side (lower side in FIG. 17) fits the back of the joint. At this time, because the artificial muscle 10 is fixed to the back of the joint by the supporter 2, the expanding and bending artificial muscle 10 is pressed against the back of the joint, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the expanding and bending artificial muscle 10 press against the top and bottom (thighs and calves) of the back of the joint fixed by the supporter 2, respectively, assisting the extension of the joint (the expansion of the artificial muscle 10 assists in the extension of the joint).

[0044] 4. Notes

[0045] In order for elderly people to continue living healthy lives, it is important to maintain their ability to walk and delay the decline of their physical abilities. Here, there is some interesting data that shows the degree of difficulty elderly people have in carrying out daily activities. According to the Cabinet Office's "Survey on Awareness of the Daily Lives of the Elderly," elderly people have difficulty with "moderate activities such as cleaning and walking," and "bending forward and kneeling," which are actions that involve the knees.

[0046] The direct causes of difficulty in knee-related movements in elderly people include a decrease in the strength of the knee extensor muscles due to aging and disease, and a decrease in knee joint function. The knee joint is a joint in which the femur and tibia are connected and supported by ligaments and muscles. Therefore, it is a structurally unstable joint.

[0047] Patent Document 1 discloses a knee supporter that provides both knee joint stability and ease of bending and straightening during walking. Many elderly people use knee supports because wearing them makes it easier to stand up and is believed to be useful for improving walking function. However, there is said to be a lack of objective verification data demonstrating their effectiveness. Therefore, the inventors have integrated scientific knowledge from various papers and arrived at the present invention, which is composed of technology superior to other prior art.

[0048] Non-Patent Document 1 provides a reference for a quantitative understanding of the effects of wearing conventional knee supports. While there has been insufficient discussion about the mechanism behind the effect of "making it easier to stand up," research by Fujimoto et al. suggests that wearing the support contributes to improving knee stability, and that achieving stable standing makes "standing up feel easier." Furthermore, the usefulness of the support is confirmed, with the following statement: "Even elderly women who have difficulty standing up can increase the muscle strength they can exert (execute) during the movement by wearing a knee support, and as a result, it is thought that they were able to stand up quickly without leaning their trunk forward too deeply." From the "Effect of wearing supporters on knee joint moment and power" shown in Non-Patent Document 1 (Fig. 11 Effect of wearing supporters on joint moment and power at knee), the research results are announced as follows: "The dashed line in the figure represents the maximum force of the knee extensor muscles when wearing a knee support. However, both are the average of the values ​​for the left and right lower limbs. By wearing a knee support, both the knee joint moment and power increase. In particular, the knee joint moment asymptotically approaches the maximum force. Although the maximum muscle strength did not increase, the muscle strength exerted during movement did increase. It is thought that knee supports have the effect of allowing muscle strength to be exerted up to one's own limit." (Original text)

[0049] Furthermore, according to Non-Patent Document 2, it was recognized that it is useful when wearing a knee joint brace to "apply pressure to the thigh when the knee joint is flexed" and "reduce the wearing pressure during normal use (extension)."

[0050] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 3 has demonstrated that knee supports are effective in correcting irregular gait. This reduces the risk of falling while walking, suggesting that they may be useful in preventing falls, which is one of the main reasons why elderly people require care.

[0051] How the issue was discovered One of the inventors' grandmother suffered from osteoarthritis of the knee, and in order to solve the problem of staying indoors for fear of injuring her knees when going out, they researched treatment methods and rehabilitation equipment, and learned that using knee braces could reduce pain and support walking, which sparked their interest in knee braces.While researching existing products and prior art, they came across a hint about tensile and compressive pressures that they had learned about in a structural mechanics class.

[0052] ·Point of focus The knee support was designed with a focus on reducing knee pain, supporting standing and walking, and being easy to use even for the elderly. To simplify and reduce the weight of the actuator, we focused on artificial muscles.

[0053] -Initiatives taken to consider solutions to the issues One of the inventors is a member of the track and field club and sometimes uses a supporter to support athletic function. If the supporter is worn too tightly for a long period of time, it can impair blood flow and cause poor circulation. Therefore, the tightening pressure needs to be adjusted frequently. The inventors actually wore the artificial muscle type knee joint supporter developed in this invention and improved the feel of use by changing various conditions, ultimately completing a product that they were satisfied with.

[0054] -Relationship between the focus issue and social and everyday issues In order for elderly people to continue living a healthy life, it is important to maintain their walking ability and delay the decline of their physical abilities. As we enter an aging society, the number of elderly people complaining of knee pain is increasing year by year. There is also data that shows that one in two people over the age of 50 suffers from osteoarthritis, a knee disease. Extending healthy life expectancy is considered an urgent issue.

[0055] The Basic Act on Measures for an Aging Society proclaims that its basic principles are "opportunities to participate in employment and other diverse social activities throughout one's life" and "a prosperous society in which people can live healthy and fulfilling lives throughout one's life." In order to achieve these lofty principles, it is important for inventors and other industrial high school students to actively get involved in social issues. There are various possible approaches, but it is believed that focusing on new and unprecedented manufacturing will be an opportunity to lead to solving the problems around us.

[0056] -Ingenuity for commercialization The device was designed to be used as a daily tool, and is low-cost, easy to use, lightweight, and versatile. To achieve these goals, the inventors repeatedly created prototypes using knowledge learned in class, 3D-CAD, and 3D printers. They also analyzed various prior research and technologies. Based on objective data, they prototyped, tested, and completed the product. To further improve the product, they listened to the opinions of many people and continued to innovate, which is believed to result in a product that will be recognized by society. If this invention becomes widespread, it is expected to be easy to use at low cost, without the risk to the body compared to medical procedures such as surgery or the administration of drugs.

[0057] Advantages over prior art The structure is extremely simple compared to other prior art. The present invention has been realized by providing a device that is easy to wear on a daily basis and that assists the torque of the knee joint during standing and walking, thereby achieving both stability and ease of bending and straightening of the knee joint. Another feature is that, rather than assisting the entire torque, it supplements the force that is insufficient to move the leg by itself, thereby preventing a decline in remaining physical ability and maintaining quality of life. The advantages of the device compared to prior art are that it is low-cost, easy to use, lightweight, highly versatile, and can be easily utilized as a daily living tool.

[0058] This embodiment contributes to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Goal 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." The joint supporter according to this embodiment won the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Award in the 2024 Patent Contest. (https: / / www.inpit.go.jp / patecon / r06pc_results.html) [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Artificial muscle joint support 10 Artificial Muscle 11 Air chamber 12 Long Air Chamber 13. Connecting air chamber 14 Outer arc 15 Inner arc 16 Main Unit 2 Supporters 3a Hook and Loop Strap 4 Air Balloons 5a Exhaust adjustment valve 5b Adjustment body 7a tube 7b tube 8. Belt 9a Hook

Claims

1. an artificial muscle made of an elastic material, the artificial muscle having a main body and an air chamber inside the main body; a supporter that has a storage space for storing the artificial muscle, and is worn by a wearer so that the artificial muscle stored in the storage space covers the back of the joint and is fixed to the back of the joint; an air supply ball that communicates with the air chamber inside the artificial muscle via a tube and that is manually operated to supply pressurized air into the air chamber inside the artificial muscle, thereby pressurizing the air chamber; an exhaust adjustment valve provided in the tube and capable of discharging air from the air chamber; an adjusting body that adjusts the pressure in the air chamber by adjusting the amount of air exhausted from the exhaust adjustment valve, and that adjusts the walking assist force of the wearer and the extension angle and flexion angle of the joint by causing the artificial muscle to act on the back of the joint as the artificial muscle expands; Equipped with The air chamber is a plurality of elongated air chambers that are elongated in the vertical direction of the joint and spaced apart in the width direction; a communicating air chamber communicating with one end of the plurality of elongated air chambers and communicating the plurality of elongated air chambers; and The cross-sectional shape of the elongated air chamber is U-shaped so that it can respond to flexion and extension of the joint. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

2. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The air supply sphere is held in one hand, pressed, and repeatedly expanded and contracted to supply air, thereby supplying pressurized air into the air chamber. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

3. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The adjusting body is an adjustment cylinder provided on a tube connected to the air supply sphere; A screw cap attached to the adjustment cylinder; and By turning the screw cap, the amount of air discharged from the adjusting cylinder can be adjusted. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

4. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The artificial muscle is made of a silicone elastomer that has both tensile and compressive strength. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

5. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The cross-sectional shape of the long air chamber has a radius that becomes smaller toward the tip in the longitudinal direction of the long air chamber, and the joint is extended by the pressure of the long air chamber having a U-shaped cross-sectional shape. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

6. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, An aneroid pressure gauge can be connected to the air chamber inside the artificial muscle. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

7. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The tube is provided independently, is made of a flexible material, and is capable of following the movement of the wearer. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

8. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The body is a silicone body that is formed by injecting silicone fluid into a cylindrical mold and hardening it. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

9. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, The tube, which is made of a plastic material and into which compressed air flows, communicates with the air communication chamber. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

10. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 1, the elongated air chamber has an outer arc portion and an inner arc portion that form the U-shaped cross section; The artificial muscle is attached so that the inner arc portion faces the back of the joint, The surface area of ​​the outer arc portion is larger than the surface area of ​​the inner arc portion, When air flows into the elongated air chamber, the artificial muscle curves so as to protrude toward the outer arc portion, When the artificial muscle expands and curves, the surface of the artificial muscle on the inner arc side fits the back of the joint, and because the artificial muscle is fixed to the back of the joint by the supporter, the expanding and curving artificial muscle is pressed against the back of the joint, and the expanding and curving artificial muscle presses against the top and bottom of the back of the joint fixed by the supporter, thereby assisting the extension movement of the joint. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

11. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 10, When the adjuster is used to exhaust air from the long air chamber, the artificial muscle, which has expanded and curved toward the outer arc portion due to air pressure, contracts, When the artificial muscle returns to its original state, the artificial muscle is pressed against the back of the joint, and the expanding and bending artificial muscle is released from the state of pressing the upper and lower parts of the back of the joint fixed by the supporter, thereby assisting the bending motion of the joint. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

12. The artificial muscle type joint supporter according to claim 10, The main body of the artificial muscle has a thick wall on the inner arc portion side and a thin wall on the outer arc portion side, When air flows into the long air chamber, the air pressure repelled from the inner arc portion is transmitted to the outer arc portion, and the artificial muscle expands so that the expansion of the outer arc portion is greater than the expansion of the inner arc portion, causing the artificial muscle to curve and protrude toward the outer arc portion. Artificial muscle type joint supporter.

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