{
  "patent_number": "US 10814473",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Exoskeleton Shoulder Joint That Adapts to Your Arm's Movement",
  "original_title": "Mechanism for alleviating the effects of joint misalignment between users and wearable robots",
  "summary": "This patent describes a shoulder exoskeleton that uses a special slip mechanism to prevent the robot's joints from getting out of sync with a user's natural arm movements, making it more comfortable and effective.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent details an exoskeleton system designed for a user's shoulder and arm. It combines a 'spherical parallel manipulator' with a 'passive slip mechanism' (Claim 1). The spherical parallel manipulator uses multiple linear actuators that work together to move the arm, with each actuator's motion depending on the others. The clever part is the slip mechanism, which connects to the user's arm and has a 'passive cuff joint' (Claim 1). This cuff joint allows for both rotational and translational movement, meaning it can slide and twist slightly. For example, if a user's shoulder joint shifts slightly during movement, the internal cuff can translate within an external cuff (Claim 7), preventing the rigid exoskeleton from fighting against the user's natural motion and causing discomfort or mechanical interference.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover exoskeletons that lack a spherical parallel manipulator with interdependent linear actuators.",
    "Does not cover exoskeletons where the arm connection mechanism lacks both rotational and translational degrees-of-freedom.",
    "Does not cover systems where the slip mechanism is actively controlled rather than passive.",
    "Does not cover exoskeletons for other body parts, such as legs or hands, unless they also incorporate a shoulder-like spherical parallel manipulator and slip mechanism.",
    "Does not cover a rigid connection between the exoskeleton and the user's arm that does not allow for relative movement."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-07-26",
  "granted": "2020-10-27",
  "expires": "2037-07-26",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix campus",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/arizona-state-university-downtown-phoenix-campus",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Hyunglae Lee",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/hyunglae-lee"
    },
    {
      "name": "Justin Hunt",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/justin-hunt"
    },
    {
      "name": "Panagiotis Artemiadis",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/panagiotis-artemiadis"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "robotics",
    "medical_devices",
    "mechanical",
    "rehabilitation",
    "assistive_technology"
  ],
  "abstract": "Implementations described and claimed herein involve a shoulder exoskeleton having a spherical parallel manipulator with a plurality of parallel linear actuators connected to a base coupled to a user's arm. A passive slip mechanism is operatively coupled to the spherical parallel manipulator as well as being coupled to the user's arm. The slip mechanism increases system mobility and prevents joint misalignment caused by the translational motion of the user's glenohumeral joint from introducing mechanical interference.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10814473/mechanism-for-alleviating-the-effects-of-joint-misalignment-between-users-and-we",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10814473/mechanism-for-alleviating-the-effects-of-joint-misalignment-between-users-and-we/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10814473",
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}