Knee-Position Control System for Natural-Gait Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions face challenges in maintaining health and regaining mobility due to limited ability to stand and walk independently, as existing therapy devices often require assistance and are not easily accessible or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A natural-gait therapy device with a knee-position control system, pivotable seat assembly, and transfer mode that allows users to independently transfer, stand, and perform natural-gait motions, utilizing a U-shaped step-over beam and dynamically adjustable components for secure and vertical positioning, along with bio-stimulation for muscle coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing therapy devices are used, then spinal cord injury patients can receive therapy, but they require assistance and are not easily accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The therapy device is designed to be operated independently by the user without requiring external assistance. The device includes self-contained control systems, automated positioning mechanisms, and intuitive interfaces that allow users to initiate and control their own therapy sessions, thereby eliminating the need for assistant operators while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device integrates multiple therapy functions into a single platform, including gait training, sit-to-stand exercises, and various motion patterns. This multi-functionality allows one device to serve multiple therapeutic purposes, reducing the need for multiple separate devices and making the system more accessible while maintaining comprehensive therapy capabilities.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing therapy devices are used, then therapy can be provided, but they are not cost-effective
Solution Approach 1:
The therapy device is divided into modular components that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows for more efficient production, easier quality control, and potential cost reductions through specialized manufacturing of individual modules while maintaining the overall reliability and effectiveness of the complete system.
3Manufacturing precision
If knee positioning is not controlled, then device structure is simpler, but knee positioning is not natural relative to hip and ankle
Solution Approach 1:
The knee-position control system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the upper and lower leg support structures. It includes adjustable knee pads, positioning mechanisms, and control elements that mediate the interaction between leg segments, ensuring natural knee positioning relative to the hip and ankle while maintaining a manageable device structure through standardized components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If seat assembly is fixed, then device structure is simpler, but user cannot transition between sitting and standing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to pivot and adjust between different positions. The pivotable mechanism enables smooth transitions between sitting and standing positions, providing adaptability for various therapy exercises while using mechanical linkages and support structures that maintain reliability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a knee-position control system having a knee engagement pad, a lower-leg control member and an upper-leg control member, the knee engagement pad configured to naturally position a user's knee in response to movement of a foot-rest of a natural-gait therapy system. In an illustrative embodiment, the upper-leg control member may pivot about a point substantially axially coincident with a user's hip. In some embodiments, the upper-leg control member may be pivotally coupled to the lower-leg control member at a pivot point substantially axially coincident with a user's knee. The lower-leg control member may be pivotably coupled to the foot rest at a pivot point substantially axially coincident with a user's ankle. The knee-position control system may advantageously position a user's knee in a natural position relative to both the user's ankle and the user's hip, in response to movement of the user's foot.