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Technology Evolution of Lower Extremity Exoskeleton from the Patent Perspective
Abstract:
Lower extremity exoskeleton is a mechanical device mainly for augmenting the performance of a healthy person or assisting the people with lower limb pathology. In this study technology evolution of lower extremity exoskeletons was analyzed from the patent perspective. Patent citation analysis based on a specific patent issued by USPTO in 2011 was carried out to trace the evolution of technology concepts in the past four decades. The technologies of control system, sensor, actuator and mechanism applied were compared from the viewpoint of hip, knee and ankle movement, and the most or relatively more cited patents were selected as the representatives of technology. Several trends of design concept with respect to the hip, knee and ankle movement were presented in the paper. For example, for the design of subsystem hip joint, the considerations were taken gradually from prevention of subluxation or dislocation of hip joint alone at the early days to reducing metabolic energy associated with walking/running as well as reducing the incidence of falls caused by the insufficient leg thrust recently. For the design of subsystem knee joint, articulated splints with hinge pivot, articulate notch or spring at the beginning were replaced by the piston and cylinder assemblies with adjustable valves to resist the flexion and extension of the joint, and later by the damping member with control unit for detecting the force, knee angle and acceleration.
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Pages:
536-541
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Online since:
August 2014
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