Artificial Muscle Drive Units for Quiet Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motion devices for rehabilitation are complex, loud, bulky, and not portable, making them inadequate for providing mechanical force in a low-profile and quiet manner.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic motion device incorporating an artificial muscle drive unit with actuation arms and artificial muscles that expand to provide force, allowing for adjustable resistance or assistance in joint movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If pneumatic or electric motor actuators are used to facilitate passive motion, then mechanical force can be provided, but the device becomes complicated, bulky, and loud
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional pneumatic or electric motor actuators with an artificial muscle actuator that uses electrostatic forces and fluid pressure to generate mechanical motion. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical linkages, motors, and pneumatic systems, resulting in a simpler overall device architecture while maintaining the ability to provide controlled mechanical force for joint rehabilitation
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial muscle actuator utilizes hydraulic principles by employing a dielectric fluid that responds to electrostatic fields. When voltage is applied to the electrode pair, the dielectric fluid is attracted into the expandable region, creating pressure that drives mechanical motion. This hydraulic approach provides smooth, controlled force generation without the complexity of traditional pneumatic or electric systems
2Force
If pneumatic or electric motor actuators are used to facilitate passive motion, then mechanical force can be provided, but the device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing bulky electric motors and pneumatic cylinders with a compact artificial muscle actuator, the patent achieves significant volume reduction. The artificial muscle consists of minimal components (housing, electrode pair, dielectric fluid, expandable region) that can be integrated into a space-efficient design while delivering the required mechanical force for rehabilitation applications
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial muscle employs flexible thin-film electrodes and a compliant expandable region that can be contained within a compact housing. This flexible membrane approach allows the actuator to achieve the necessary mechanical displacement and force generation in a much smaller volume compared to rigid traditional actuators
3Force
If pneumatic or electric motor actuators are used to facilitate passive motion, then mechanical force can be provided, but the device is not readily portable
Solution Approach 1:
The replacement of heavy motors and complex pneumatic systems with a lightweight artificial muscle actuator directly improves portability. The simplified architecture with fewer moving parts and lower mass makes the rehabilitation device suitable for portable and home-based use, while still providing the necessary mechanical force for effective therapy
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial muscle actuator uses electrical voltage as a control parameter to adjust the level of mechanical force output. By varying the voltage applied to the electrode pair, the system can dynamically control the amount of force generated, enabling adaptation to different rehabilitation needs and user requirements, thereby enhancing versatility
4Force
If pneumatic or electric motor actuators are used to facilitate passive motion, then mechanical force can be provided, but the device becomes loud
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the primary noise sources associated with traditional actuators (motor commutation, pneumatic valves, mechanical friction) by using an artificial muscle actuator. The electrostatic-hydraulic mechanism operates silently, as the dielectric fluid movement in response to electrostatic fields produces no audible noise, creating a quiet rehabilitation environment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device offers a portable, quiet, and efficient means to provide mechanical force, enhancing rehabilitation by allowing for customizable resistance or assistance in joint movement.
Implementation Method 1
The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region
Implementation Method 2
expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying force to the at least one of the actuation arms
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic motion device includes a support structure including a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion rotatably coupled to the second support portion and at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion is movable relative to the other of the first support potion and the second support portion. First and second actuation arms extend from the first and second support portions, respectively. An artificial muscle drive unit couples the first actuation arm to the second actuation arm, the artificial muscle drive unit including one or more artificial muscles expandable in a movement direction to provide a movement force to at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion.