Wearable devices for protecting against musculoskeletal injuries and enhancing performance

US12226336B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• President and Fellows of Harvard College · US

Inventors

• Ignacio Galiana Bujanda · Cambridge, US
• Conor J. Walsh · Corning, US
• Michael T. Rouleau · Cambridge, US
• Jinwon Chung · Cambridge, US
• Tim Moser · Cambridge, US
• Ye Ding · Cambridge, US
• Danielle L. Nathanson · Cambridge, US
• Nicolas Menard · Concarneau, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 2019
• Grant date: Feb 18, 2025
• Expiry date: Feb 24, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2005/0167
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Wearable devices protect against musculoskeletal injuries and enhance performance. Systems and methods provide wearable devices to assist with human motion during physical activities, such as performing movements (e.g., lifting) and holding static poses (e.g., crouching, or holding a tool while working overhead). Materials, constructions, and system architectures allow the wearable devices to be worn over, under, or integrated into clothing for extended periods of time to improve performance or reduce risk of injury. Sensors may be included in the wearable devices to detect various activities, motions, and postures of the wearer, and various active and semi-active controls approaches may leverage sensor information to provide tailored assistance to individual users. Various controls optimization techniques ensure the wearable devices operate at peak efficiency.