Customizable Robotic Leg Braces and Modular Exoskeletons
This patent describes a lightweight, customizable robotic leg brace system, or exoskeleton, that helps people with leg weakness walk by using special joint motors and braces molded to their body.
Original patent title: “Customizable orthotic/prosthetic braces and lightweight modular exoskeleton”
This patent describes a lightweight, customizable robotic leg brace system, or exoskeleton, that helps people with leg weakness walk by using special joint motors and braces molded to their body. Granted to University of Houston System in 2022 with 20 claims and 8 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a lower limb exoskeleton designed to assist individuals with motor impairment. It includes a power control unit and multiple modular joint actuators, each containing an electric motor, an input arm, and an output arm, which provide rotary motion (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). These actuators connect hip, thigh, shank, and foot assemblies, acting as active joints for the hips, knees, and ankles (Claim 1). A key feature is the design of the hip, thigh, and shank braces: they are "open form braces that only cover a posterior portion of a user's limb" and are "personalized to the user's limb geometry" (Claim 1). Each brace has a rigid frame embedded between inner and outer layers, making it strong but not heavy (AbstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →, Claim 1). The braces also include embedded pressure sensors and attachments for the joint actuators (Claim 1). For example, a child with weakened leg muscles could wear this system, and the motors would help them bend and straighten their legs, while the custom-fit, lightweight braces provide support.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Exoskeletons where the limb braces cover the entire circumference of the user's limb, as these braces are specifically "open form" and "only cover a posterior portion" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Braces that are not specifically "personalized to the user's limb geometry" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Exoskeletons where the joint actuators are not designed to be modular (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Braces that lack the embedded structural frame between inner and outer layers, or are not rigid and unmalleable (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Exoskeletons that do not include at least one pressure sensor embedded within the braces (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever aspect lies in creating strong, rigid, yet lightweight and customizable braces by embedding a structural frame between easily moldable inner and outer layers. This design, combined with modular joint actuators, allows for a personalized and efficient exoskeleton system that can bear significant load without excessive weight.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Robotic rehabilitation devices for walking assistance
Powered leg braces for individuals with paralysis
Assistive walking devices for stroke survivors
Medical exoskeletons for spinal cord injury patients
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology aims to improve mobility for individuals, including children, who experience lower limb motor impairment. By focusing on lightweight, rigid, and customizable components, the patent addresses common challenges with traditional exoskeletons, such as discomfort and bulkiness. The modular design allows the system to be precisely tailored to a patient's specific needs, potentially making these assistive devices more practical for daily use and improving quality of life.
Filed
June 14, 2017
Granted
August 16, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The University of Houston System is the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → of this patent, indicating ongoing research and development in this field. Companies like Ekso Bionics, ReWalk Robotics, and Cyberdyne are active in developing and commercializing exoskeletons for medical rehabilitation and personal assistance. These companies continually seek to improve the comfort, customizability, and functionality of their devices to expand their market reach.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the evolution of assistive technology by promoting more personalized and comfortable solutions for lower limb motor impairment. The emphasis on lightweight, rigid, and customizable components could lead to wider adoption of exoskeletons beyond clinical settings, making them more practical for daily use. This innovation helps drive the market towards more user-friendly and effective personal mobility devices, potentially expanding the user base for powered orthotics and prosthetics.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a lower limb exoskeleton designed to assist individuals with motor impairment. It includes a power control unit and multiple modular joint actuators, each containing an electric motor, an input arm, and an output arm, which provide rotary motion (Claim 1). These actuators connect hip, thigh, shank, and foot assemblies, acting as active joints for the hips, knees, and ankles (Claim 1). A key feature is the design of the hip, thigh, and shank braces: they are "open form braces that only cover a posterior portion of a user's limb" and are "personalized to the user's limb geometry" (Claim 1). Each brace has a rigid frame embedded between inner and outer layers, making it strong but not heavy (Abstract, Claim 1). The braces also include embedded pressure sensors and attachments for the joint actuators (Claim 1). For example, a child with weakened leg muscles could wear this system, and the motors would help them bend and straighten their legs, while the custom-fit, lightweight braces provide support.
The clever bit
The clever aspect lies in creating strong, rigid, yet lightweight and customizable braces by embedding a structural frame between easily moldable inner and outer layers. This design, combined with modular joint actuators, allows for a personalized and efficient exoskeleton system that can bear significant load without excessive weight.
What it does not cover
- Exoskeletons where the limb braces cover the entire circumference of the user's limb, as these braces are specifically "open form" and "only cover a posterior portion" (Claim 1).
- Braces that are not specifically "personalized to the user's limb geometry" (Claim 1).
- Exoskeletons where the joint actuators are not designed to be modular (Claim 1).
- Braces that lack the embedded structural frame between inner and outer layers, or are not rigid and unmalleable (Claim 1).
- Exoskeletons that do not include at least one pressure sensor embedded within the braces (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
19/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$172K – $549K
Midpoint $343K · 10.7 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
20 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Gorges, J. J., Kilicarslan, A., & Contreras-Vidal, J. L. (2022). Customizable Robotic Leg Braces and Modular Exoskeletons (U.S. Patent No. 11,413,210). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11413210/customizable-orthoticprosthetic-braces-and-lightweight-modular-exoskeleton
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Customizable Robotic Leg Braces and Modular Exoskeletons cover?
This patent describes a lightweight, customizable robotic leg brace system, or exoskeleton, that helps people with leg weakness walk by using special joint motors and braces molded to their body.
Who owns patent US 11413210?
University of Houston System owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 14, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11413210 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology aims to improve mobility for individuals, including children, who experience lower limb motor impairment. By focusing on lightweight, rigid, and customizable components, the patent addresses common challenges with traditional exoskeletons, such as discomfort and bulkiness. The modular design allows the system to be precisely tailored to a patient's specific needs, potentially making these assistive devices more practical for daily use and improving quality of life.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Exoskeletons where the limb braces cover the entire circumference of the user's limb, as these braces are specifically "open form" and "only cover a posterior portion" (Claim 1).
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