Patent ID: 7396337
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61H

Abstract:
1. A powered orthotic device for therapeutic training of movement of a body part of a person, the de ice comprising: a brace adapted to be coupled to the body part and having a length such that the brace traverses a joint of the person, said brace including a mechanism for attaching the brace to the body part of the person; a sensor adapted to be coupled to at least one muscle of the person and wherein in response to an attempt by the person to move the body part, said sensor senses an electromyographic signal of muscles associated with motion of the body part about the joint and provides a sensor signal output in response thereto; a processor, coupled to the sensor, that provides an actuator signal based on the sensor signal output; and an actuator coupled to receive the actuator signal from said processor, such actuator having a rotational energy output coupled to the brace at a location proximate to a portion thereof adjacent to the joint; wherein the processor includes program code for implementing a control algorithm that causes the actuator to provide a force to the brace in a first direction having a magnitude which is proportional to a magnitude of the sensor signal and in a second direction a spring return force, such forces causing motion of the body part with respect to the joint, so as to facilitate use of the device in therapeutic movement training.