Patent · US Expired

Walking assistance device

US7559909B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 2004
Grant dateJul 14, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61H2201/165
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In order to achieve a walking assistance device that can be securely fitted to the user's body while allowing a certain degree of freedom, a walking assistance device is provided comprising a hip joint rotational force generator (hip joint actuator 10) mounted on a side of a hip joint and a knee joint rotational force generator (knee joint actuator 26) mounted on a side of a knee joint to provide an assisting force to a movement of a lower limb, wherein the hip joint rotational force generator is fitted to the body via a first linkage means (link plate 30) having at least two degrees of freedom, and wherein the hip joint rotational force generator and the knee joint rotational force generator are connected to each other via a second linkage means (link bar 25) having an expandable and contractable means. In this way, deformation in lateral and torsional directions of the first linkage means and expansion/contraction of the second linkage means can absorb a deviation in position between the joints of the user's body and the assisting force generators.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.