Gait Training Cord System for Hip Flexion Assistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gait training systems require substantial physical effort from therapists, are costly, and reduce rehabilitation efficacy due to the need for manual assistance and restrictive robotic devices that limit patient involvement and movement.
Innovation Solution
A gait training system using a patient interface attached to the thigh with a cord that assists hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion, either manually or through a motor, allowing patients to walk on a treadmill or floor without rigid constraints, reducing therapist burden and encouraging active motor learning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robotic devices are used to assist patient walking, then therapist work is reduced, but the devices are very expensive and out of reach for many rehabilitation facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive robotic devices with inexpensive components: a pulley, cord, and patient interface. These simple mechanical elements cost a fraction of robotic systems while achieving the same therapeutic goal of reducing therapist physical burden during gait training
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential function needed from complex robotic systems - the mechanical assistance for leg movement - and implements it through minimal components. The pulley-cord system provides the necessary assistance without the costly sensors, motors, and control systems of robotic devices
2Ease of operation
If robotic devices are used to assist patient walking, then therapist work is reduced, but the devices often do all the work for the patient and therefore do not encourage the patient's active involvement in motor learning
Solution Approach 1:
The pulley-cord system provides partial assistance rather than complete automation. The patient must still actively engage their muscles to walk, while the cord provides just enough assistance to make the movement feasible. This partial support maintains patient involvement in motor learning while reducing the excessive effort that would otherwise be required
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to patient needs - the assistance level changes naturally as the patient's strength and coordination improve. The cord tension adjusts based on patient effort, providing more support when needed and less as the patient gains ability, thereby maintaining active involvement throughout rehabilitation
3Ease of operation
If robotic devices are used to assist patient walking, then therapist work is reduced, but the devices restrict leg and foot movement to a fixed kinematic pattern that may interfere with the active involvement of the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patient interface uses flexible straps and a soft shell structure that conforms to the patient's leg. This flexible design allows natural leg and foot movement without the rigid constraints of robotic exoskeletons, maintaining movement versatility while providing necessary support
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows variation in movement parameters - the cord length, pulley position, and interface placement can be adjusted to accommodate different patients and rehabilitation stages. This flexibility enables adaptation to various gait patterns and movement requirements without restricting natural kinematics
4Ease of operation
If robotic devices are used to assist patient walking, then therapist work is reduced, but the devices are heavy and act as an additional burden for the patient to overcome in developing their active walking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy robotic components with lightweight alternatives: a simple pulley, thin cord, and minimal patient interface. These components weigh a fraction of robotic devices, eliminating the additional burden that heavy equipment would impose on patients during active walking development
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a gait training system includes a patient interface adapted to attach to a patient's thigh, the patient interface defining a channel, a cord that passes through the channel of the patient interface, and connecting means attached to a first end of the cord for connecting the cord to the patient's forefoot, wherein pulling of the cord pulls the patient interface forward and upward to emulate hip flexion and simultaneously pulls the connecting means upward to emulate ankle dorsiflexion.