Pneumatic Weight Support for Walking Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rehabilitation systems for walking are complex, heavy, and costly, and struggle with effectively unburdening patient weight during movements, especially in dynamic actions and when reversing direction, leading to uncomfortable sensations and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a double electric and pneumatic actuation weight supporting device that allows controlled unburdening of the patient's weight, integrated with an exoskeleton for ground walking and air suspension exercises, using a combination of electric motors and pneumatic cylinders to maintain constant force and comfort during movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If weight unburdening systems use springs to compensate vertical motion, then the system structure is simplified, but the force regulation capability is limited and force remains constant during oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces spring-based mechanical systems with a pneumatic cylinder that uses compressed air to provide adjustable force. The pneumatic system allows dynamic regulation of the unburdening force through pressure control, overcoming the limitation of fixed spring force while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of force regulation from mechanical spring constant to pneumatic pressure, enabling continuous adjustment of the unburdening force. This allows the system to adapt to different patient weights and rehabilitation stages, providing versatile force control without complex mechanical structures.
2Force
If balancing masses are used to compensate vertical body motion, then weight unburdening is achieved, but dynamic actions during direction reversal disturb the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic cylinder provides smooth, controlled force without the inertial effects of balancing masses. Compressed air delivers consistent upward force during the entire walking cycle, eliminating the sudden dynamic actions and vibrations that occur when balancing masses reverse direction, thus preventing patient disturbance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical balancing mass system with a pneumatic system that uses gas pressure instead of gravitational force on masses. This substitution eliminates the inherent instability and vibration problems of balancing masses during direction reversal, providing smooth and comfortable weight compensation.
3Measurement precision
If electric systems with force sensors and closed loop control are used, then force measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system is self-regulating through the compressibility of air, which naturally absorbs variations in patient weight and motion. The system automatically adjusts to maintain stable force without requiring external sensors or complex control algorithms, achieving robust performance with minimal instrumentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive force sensors and complex electronic control systems with a simple pneumatic cylinder and pressure regulator. This substitution significantly reduces system cost and complexity while maintaining adequate force control for rehabilitation applications, trading high-precision measurement for practical, cost-effective control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is described, for rehabilitating the walk comprising an active exoskeleton with a supporting structure for right leg and left leg, bearing and moving structures of femur, tibia and foot of the patient, a weight supporting device for patient and active exoskeleton, the weight supporting device ending with a structure connected to means for supporting exoskeleton and patient, handling means connected to the weight supporting device to allow its movement, means for transmitting to the weight supporting device electric and pneumatic supplies and electric signals for managing, controlling, monitoring and diagnosing the system, a managing system comprising a microprocessor for acquiring and processing data, and managing a motion neuro-rehabilitation session; a weight supporting device for a system for rehabilitating the walk is further described.