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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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).

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Robotic rehabilitation devices for walking assistance
• 2.Powered leg braces for individuals with paralysis
• 3.Assistive walking devices for stroke survivors
• 4.Medical exoskeletons for spinal cord injury patients