Soft exosuit for assistance with human motion

US10843332B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• President and Fellows of Harvard College · US

Inventors

• Conor J. Walsh · Corning, US
• Alan Thomas Asbeck · Cambridge, US
• Ye Ding · Cambridge, US
• Ignacio Galiana Bujanda · Cambridge, US
• Stefano Marco Maria De Rossi · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 24, 2020
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F03G7/005
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A motion control system includes an actuator having an actuation member, the actuation member having a proximal end attached to the actuator on a first side of a joint and a distal end attached to an anchor element attachment point on a second side of the joint. A first sensor is configured to output signals defining a gait cycle and a second sensor is configured to output signals representing a tensile force in the at least one actuation member. A controller receives the output signals from the sensors and actuates the actuator, during a first portion of the gait cycle, to apply a force greater than a predetermined threshold tensile force to the anchor element attachment point via the actuation member to generate a beneficial moment about the joint and to automatically actuate the actuator.