Patent ID: 9474673
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A61H,A63B

Claim Text:
1. An ankle support device for use with a patient, the device comprising: a foot support structure; an ankle support structure; a hinge connecting the foot support structure to the ankle support structure; a portable power supply; an embedded controller powered by the portable power supply; an actuator with an output shaft, the actuator controlled by the embedded controller; where the device has a free movement mode and a powered output mode; a first attachment for coupling the actuator to a first portion of the patient and to the ankle support structure; a second attachment for coupling the output shaft to a second portion of the patient and to the foot support structure; wherein the embedded controller contains computer readable instructions for a pre-determined limit of actuator motion and a minimum amount of time between actuator movements whereby the computer readable instructions for the pre-determined limit of actuator motion contain actuator operating instructions for execution of a pre-determined actuator flexion and extension sequence when the minimum amount of time between actuator movements has been exceeded; and wherein the minimum of time between actuator movements is determined by a dynamic algorithm that approximates blood flow in a leg coupled to the ankle support structure by taking into account one of a frequency of ankle movement, an intensity of active ankle movement, and the patient's age and condition.