Powered Prosthetic Device with Adjustable Power Levels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional prosthetic and orthotic devices are often passive, leading to movement instability, high energy expenditure, and gait deviations in users due to their reliance on user muscle strength, which can be challenging for individuals with limited muscle control or experience.

Innovation Solution

A powered rehabilitation device with an actively actuatable joint and adjustable power levels that can assist or replace muscle function, allowing for gradual adaptation and improved movement support, featuring a control system with multiple power settings and sensitivity levels to accommodate varying user needs and abilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional passive prosthetic devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but user energy expenditure increases and movement stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoiduser energy expenditure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical prosthetic devices with an actively controlled prosthetic system that uses a motorized actuator to generate movement. The control system processes user intent signals (e.g., from EMG sensors or user interface) and translates them into motor commands, substituting the purely mechanical passive system with an active electromechanical system that reduces user energy expenditure while maintaining or improving movement stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If powered prosthetic devices are used, then movement stability improves, but user adaptation difficulty increases due to lack of voluntary muscle control experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement stabilityVSAvoiduser adaptation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adapts its behavior based on user input and system state. It processes signals from multiple sensors (EMG, force sensors, encoders) and adjusts motor output in real-time to provide natural-feeling assistance. The system can operate in different control modes (e.g., impedance control, admittance control) that allow users with varying levels of muscle control to adapt gradually, improving ease of operation while maintaining movement stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The prosthetic device incorporates feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor user intent, limb position, and movement dynamics. This feedback is processed by the control system to adjust motor output in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that feels intuitive to users. The feedback mechanism helps users adapt by providing natural sensory information about their movements, reducing adaptation difficulty while ensuring stable movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If high power levels are used to replace muscle function, then mobility assistance improves, but user muscle engagement decreases reducing rehabilitation effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower levelVSAvoidrehabilitation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system implements partial power replacement where the motorized actuator provides only a portion of the required movement force, deliberately leaving some effort to the user's residual muscles. This partial action approach allows users to receive sufficient assistance for mobility while still engaging their own muscles for rehabilitation. The system can adjust the power level dynamically based on user needs and rehabilitation progress, optimizing both mobility assistance and rehabilitation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes operational parameters including power level, control stiffness, and assistance ratio based on user feedback and rehabilitation stage. This allows the prosthetic to transition from higher power levels for initial mobility to lower power levels as user strength improves, maintaining rehabilitation effectiveness while providing necessary mobility assistance at each stage of recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10290235B2Rehabilitation using a prosthetic device

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 OSSUR HF

AI summary

Disclosed are adjustable powered rehabilitation devices and methods for using the same to rehabilitate and/or train a user. The rehabilitation devices preferably have a plurality of selectable power settings that correspond to one or more rehabilitation-oriented actions or functions of the rehabilitation devices. For example, the power of the rehabilitation device may be selected based on a need, ability, muscle-power and/or physiological characteristics of the user. For instance, a rehabilitation device may be operated at a relatively low power setting to allow a patient to use his or her own muscle power when moving with the rehabilitation device. The rehabilitation device may also include an adjustable sensitivity level that corresponds to a user difficulty in triggering a particular rehabilitation-oriented action. The powered rehabilitation device may also temporarily be used to train a user in interacting with a passive or more conventional prosthetic device.