72 results about "Stance phase" patented technology

The lower extremity exoskeleton comprises two leg supports connectable to person's lower limbs and configured to rest on the ground during their stance phase. Each leg support comprises a thigh link and a shank link; a knee joint configured to allow flexion and extension between the shank link and the thigh link. The lower extremity exoskeleton further comprises an exoskeleton trunk connectable to the person'supper body. The exoskeleton trunk is connectable to the thigh links of the leg supports allowing for the flexion and extension between the leg supports and the exoskeleton trunk. Two torque generators are coupled to each of the knee joints. A power unit, capable of providing power, is coupled to the torque generators. In operation when a leg support is in a stance phase and climbing a slope or stairs, the power unit injects power into the respective torque generator thereby extending the respective knee angle. When a leg support is in stance phase and not climbing a slope or stairs, the power unit does not inject any power to the respective torque generator, but without dissipating any stored power in said power unit, it forces the torque generator to resist flexion of the respective knee joint. When a leg support is in a swing phase, the power unit does not inject any power to the respective torque generator, but without dissipating any stored power in said power unit, it forces the torque generator to minimize its resistance to knee flexion and extension.

Running in a mammal, such as a human, is augmented by adaptively modulating anticipation of maximum leg extension of a mammal when running, and actuating an exoskeletal clutch linked in series to at least one elastic element, wherein the clutch and elastic element form an exoskeleton and are attached in parallel to at least one muscle-tendon unit of a leg of the mammal and span at least one joint of the mammal fitted with the exoskeleton. The exoskeletal clutch is actuated in advance of a predicted maximum extension of the exoskeletal clutch to thereby cause the exoskeletal clutch to lock essentially simultaneously with ground strike by the leg of the mammal. The elastic element is thereby engaged during stance phase of the gait of the mammal while running, and subsequently is disengaged prior to or during the swing phase of the gait of the mammal, thereby augmenting running of the mammal.

A lower extremity exoskeleton includes: at least one power unit; two leg supports designed to rest on the ground; two knee joints configured to allow flexion and extension between respective shank and thigh links of the leg supports; an exoskeleton trunk rotatably connectable to the leg supports; and two hip actuators configured to create torques between the exoskeleton trunk and the leg supports. In use, the hip actuators create a torque to move the leg supports backward relative to the exoskeleton trunk during a stance phase, which pushes the exoskeleton trunk forward. A second torque may be used to move the leg supports forward relative to the exoskeleton trunk into a swing phase. Additionally, a swing torque may be generated during the swing phase to move the leg support forward relative to the exoskeleton trunk. This results in decreased oxygen consumption and heart rate of a user wearing the exoskeleton.

A shoe is provided including a sole, an upper with a transverse aperture, and a cover piece, wherein the cover piece covers the transverse aperture and is affixed to the shoe at medial and lateral ends of the cover piece, and wherein the transverse aperture compresses without compression of the cover piece when the sole bends along a hinged metatarsophalangeal portion when transitioning from a stance phase to a swing phase.

A above knee prosthesis (P) applied to femoral connection (100) of an amputee that comprises a upper hinge (1) connected to femoral connection of the patient, an articulation axis (2) with the function of reproducing the knee movements, a tibia-calf muscle unit (3) pivotally connected to the femoral•segment and a damper (5) that reproduces some functions of the calf muscle and ensures to the prosthesis to brake and to allow the sequential swing and stance phases typical of the gait. The damper comprises a cylinder (5c) wherein a piston (10) and a stem (9) act connected to each other and adapted to carry out a damping reaction of said damper responsive to the forces loaded on the prosthesis. In particular, a force transducer is provided in the damper arranged, in particular, in the stem with a microprocessor that receives a force signal from the transducer and operates means for adjusting the reaction of the damper responsive to the detected force signal.

A gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds which are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is also possible to distinguish the gait pattern on the basis of the stance-phase time of a foot sole, the signal intensity, etc. The gait detection apparatus can accurately estimate the step length on the basis of a detected gait cycle, the height of the pedestrian, and signals detected during walking. On the basis of low-frequency-region sounds picked up by the microphone while the pedestrian is walking, the pedestrian can be identified.