Exoskeleton Vertebral Segment With Elastic Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exoskeletons lack flexibility and mobility due to their non-articulated back design, restricting the user's ability to bend and move freely, which can lead to reduced mobility and increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Innovation Solution
A back module with a vertebral column segment comprising multiple stacked vertebral elements connected by a flexible elastic element, allowing for movement and restoring force to maintain equilibrium, along with electrical and data transmission cables for actuator and sensor connectivity, enabling vertical load transmission and adaptable morphology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a non-articulated back structure is used, then structural simplicity is improved, but user mobility and freedom of movement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The back structure is divided into multiple articulated segments (vertebral elements) that can move relative to each other, allowing the back to bend and flex while maintaining structural support. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both complexity (multiple moving parts) and mobility (flexibility), eliminating the limitation of non-articulated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The back structure transitions from a static, rigid configuration to a dynamic, articulated system with multiple degrees of freedom. The vertebral elements are connected through joints that enable movement, allowing the structure to adapt to user motion while maintaining load-bearing capacity, thus improving mobility without sacrificing structural integrity.
2Strength
If a rigid back structure is used, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but freedom of movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid back structure is segmented into multiple vertebral elements connected by joints, distributing the load across multiple components while allowing relative movement between segments. This maintains overall load-bearing capacity while enabling flexibility and freedom of movement that a single rigid structure cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the back structure have different properties: the vertebral elements maintain rigidity for load-bearing, while the connections between them provide flexibility for movement. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between strength and mobility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of vertebral elements is increased, then adaptability to user morphology is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The back structure uses a modular segmented design where the number of vertebral elements can be adjusted to match different user morphologies. This segmentation allows customization and adaptation to various body types while keeping each individual component relatively simple, balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.
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
Enhances user mobility by allowing spinal flexibility and load distribution while maintaining structural integrity, reducing musculoskeletal strain and improving ergonomic compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible connection element being elastic so that, during a movement of the user's back, the flexible connection element allows a displacement of the vertebral elements relative to each other, while exerting a restoring force tending to bring the segment of the vertebral column back to the position of stable equilibrium
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a back portion (2) for an exoskeleton structure, comprising a spinal column segment (21) intended to extend along a spinal column of a user, the spinal column segment (21) comprising a plurality of vertebra elements (211), stacked on top of each other, and one flexible connection element (212) linking the vertebra elements (211) together, the spinal column segment (21) having a stable equilibrium position in which the flexible connection element (212) keeps the vertebra elements (211) pressed together, and the flexible connection element (212) being resilient such that, during a movement of the back of the user, the flexible connection element (212) allows the vertebra elements (211) to move relative to each other, while exerting a return force tending to return the spinal column segment (21) to the stable equilibrium position.