68 results about "Stance phase" patented technology

An exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a person includes an exoskeleton trunk and leg supports adapted to contact the ground. Hip torque generators extend between the exoskeleton trunk and respective leg supports. A load holding mechanism is rotatably coupled to the exoskeleton trunk, preferably via over-shoulder members configured to support a load in front of the person. In use, hip torque generators create torque between the exoskeleton trunk and respective leg supports in the stance phase, wherein at least one torque generator is configured to create a first torque between the exoskeleton trunk and one of the first and second leg supports in the stance phase opposing a second torque generated on the exoskeleton by a weight of the load. Load bearing sensors may be utilized to determine the torque generated by the load and communicate with a controller to control power to the torque generators.

A lower extremity exoskeleton, configurable to be coupled to a person, includes: leg supports configurable to be coupled to the person's lower limbs and designed to rest on the ground during stance phases, with each leg support having a thigh link and a shank link; two knee joints, each configured to allow flexion and extension between respective shank and thigh links; an exoskeleton trunk configurable to be coupled to the person's upper body, rotatably connectable to the thigh links of the leg supports, allowing for the flexion and extension between the leg supports and the exoskeleton trunk; two hip actuators configured to create torques between the exoskeleton trunk and the leg supports; and at least one power unit capable of providing power to the hip actuators. In use, power is supplied to the hip actuators in an amount to reduce the energy consumed by a user during a walking cycle.

A method and system for analyzing gait asymmetry between left and right feet of individuals by measuring and comparing stance phase time and/or stance phase force between left and right feet during gait, and providing real-time sensory feedback if stance phase time/force inequality exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A prosthetic knee provides a single axis of rotation and includes a hydraulic damping cylinder, a microprocessor, and sensors. Based on input from the sensors, the microprocessor selects a flow path within the hydraulic cylinder in order to provide the proper amount of knee resistance to bending for a given situation. The resistance of each flow path within the hydraulic cylinder is manually preset. Changes in gait speed are accommodated by employing a hydraulic damper with intelligently designed position sensitive damping. Moreover, the knee need not be un-weighted to transition from the stance phase to the swing phase of gait. As a result, the knee safely provides a natural, energy efficient gait over a range of terrains and gait speeds and is simpler, less costly, and lighter weight than the prior art.

A above knee prosthesis (P) applied to femoral connection (100) of an amputee that comprises a upper hinge (1) connected to femoral connection of the patient, an articulation axis (2) with the function of reproducing the knee movements, a tibia-calf muscle unit (3) pivotally connected to the femoral•segment and a damper (5) that reproduces some functions of the calf muscle and ensures to the prosthesis to brake and to allow the sequential swing and stance phases typical of the gait. The damper comprises a cylinder (5c) wherein a piston (10) and a stem (9) act connected to each other and adapted to carry out a damping reaction of said damper responsive to the forces loaded on the prosthesis. In particular, a force transducer is provided in the damper arranged, in particular, in the stem with a microprocessor that receives a force signal from the transducer and operates means for adjusting the reaction of the damper responsive to the detected force signal.

The invention discloses a quadruped robot motion planning method oriented to an unknown rough terrain. A quadruped robot uses a crawling gait in a rough terrain. In a single-legged swing phase, a swinging leg swings along a planned foot trajectory and the center of gravity of the robot moves forwards along the planned path by means of the motion of supporting legs. In a four-foot stance phase, the center of gravity of the robot laterally moves while moving forwards along the planned path. The quadruped robot motion planning method achieves robot online trajectory planning based on COG and ZMP dual-stability criteria, takes full account of the possibility of advanced landing and lagged landing of the swinging leg for the unknown terrain, and estimates the parameter of the unknown terrain by the landing planning and the sensing strategy of the swinging leg. Thus, the robot adaptively adapts to the height and the slope of the unknown terrain, and achieves continuous adaptive walking for the unknown rough terrain according to a motion planning result.

The invention provides a polymer electrolyte, its preparation method and a battery comprising the polymer electrolyte. The polymer electrolyte contains a stance phase and an ionic conductive phase adsorbed on the stance phase. The stance phase is an electrostatic spinning fiber film, and the ionic conductive phase includes a polymer able to undergo complexation with lithium ions and a lithium salt. The polymer able to undergo complexation with lithium ions contains an ether oxygen functional group. A bi-continuous phase composite electrolyte film characterized by high mechanical strength, good flexibility, high ionic conductivity, good thermal stability, high interface stability and good electrochemical stability can be obtained, and the preparation process is simple and is low in cost. The prepared material can be widely used in mobile phones, notebook computers and other mobile devices, as well as electric vehicles and other fields, and has strong practical significance to development of the battery industry. The polymer battery involved in the invention is different from liquid or gel state batteries, is free of plasticizer, does not cause leakage and other potential safety hazards, so that it can be used in high temperature environment, and does not have combustion, explosion and other hidden dangers.

A prosthetic knee mechanism that improves stability and flexion of an individual during use. The prosthetic knee mechanism has a braking mechanism to increase stance phase stability in a polycentric knee. The combination of the braking mechanism with a polycentric knee increase stance stability and reduces frictional forces on the prosthetic knee components. The prosthetic knee mechanism uses a cam mechanism to control the flexion and extension of the knee. The cam mechanism also controls the speed at which the foot and shank swing. The prosthetic knee uses a collapsible posterior linkage which allows the knee to go into a small degree of flexion at heel strike while maintaining overall knee stability.

A prosthetic knee joint including stance-phase control means comprising lock or latch for holding the knee in a straight condition, and means determining the status of the latch, said status determining means defining a control axis located so that the lock or latch is activated when a load imposed on the joint passes through a line posterior to said axis, and is de-activated when the load passes through a line anterior to said axis.

A knee-ankle-foot orthosis in accordance with the present invention can smoothly shift from the stance phase to the swing phase thereof. Namely, the knee-ankle-foot orthosis capable of securely locking a patient's knee in a desired angular position thereof with a load of his body weight, and immediately shifting his knee to the unlocked state without requiring any extra motion when the load disappears is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the speed of the rotation of a knee axis gear 23 adapted to transmit the rotation of a knee axis 21 is increased by eight times with a speed increasing gear train 25, and is transmitted to a brake drum 41. A wire 31 wound around the brake drum 41 is connected to first and second levers 27 and 28 as load detecting members. When a foot holding portion 18 contacts the ground and the first lever 27 is stepped down, the wire 31 is pulled downwardly with a load of his body weight, whereby brakes are applied. The brake torque is increased by eight times, and is transmitted to the knee axis 21. Consequently, even with a small force due to the load of his body weight, the knee-ankle-foot orthosis can be securely locked with a braking method to prevent giving way thereof. In addition, since the braking method is used, shifting to the unlocked state can be smoothly achieved.