Spinal Exoskeleton Guide Mechanism for Natural Motion Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletal systems fail to support movements naturally, particularly for the spine, as they often restrict freedom of movement and do not effectively redirect forces to relieve spinal musculature during ergonomically unfavorable activities or for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders.
Innovation Solution
A modular, wearable exoskeletal system comprising joinable exoskeleton elements with a guide that allows for curved trajectories and relative translational and rotational movements, enabling adjustable distance and orientation, and incorporating an actuator unit for controlled displacement, which reduces deviations between human spine and exoskeleton movements, allowing for natural motion support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid or semi-rigid back structures are used to stabilize the spine, then spinal stability is improved, but freedom of movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton elements are designed with dynamic relative movement capability, allowing them to move with respect to each other along a curved trajectory. This dynamic design enables the system to adapt to natural spinal movements while providing support, resolving the contradiction between stability and freedom of movement by making the structure adaptable rather than fixed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameters of the exoskeleton elements during operation. As the elements move relative to each other, the distance and orientation between them change dynamically, allowing the system to maintain optimal support characteristics across different spinal positions and movements
2Stability of the object's composition
If exoskeleton elements are constrained to fixed positions, then structural stability is improved, but natural motion support is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide mechanism enables dynamic positioning of exoskeleton elements along a curved trajectory, allowing the system to maintain structural stability while accommodating natural spinal motions. The elements are not fixed but follow a predetermined path that matches natural movement patterns
3Ease of manufacture
If the distance between exoskeleton elements is fixed, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but motion adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic distance mechanism where the distance between exoskeleton elements changes as they move along the curved trajectory. The guide mechanism ensures that distance changes follow a predetermined pattern, providing manufacturing simplicity through standardized components while achieving motion adaptability through controlled variable positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A system for reducing forces which, in particular, act on a spine of a human, includes a plurality of joinable exoskeleton elements, wherein at least two of the joinable exoskeleton elements are configured to be fastened to the human body during use of the system and wherein a first exoskeleton element of the joinable exoskeleton elements includes a guide which is configured to guide a second exoskeleton element of the joinable exoskeleton elements along a curved trajectory relative to the first exoskeleton element and to enforce a superimposed translational and rotational relative movement between the first exoskeleton element and the second exoskeleton element when guiding the second exoskeleton element along the curved trajectory relative to the first exoskeleton element.