Patent ID: 8065105

Claim:
A system for improving locomotion and motor function of a human user, by changing an inclination or height of a stance surface of a device for donning on a leg of the user during walking, the system comprising: (A) a device including: (a) a platform having, on a top side, a receptacle adapted to receive at least a portion of a bottom of a shoe or foot of the user; (b) a securing mechanism, associated with said receptacle, to secure said shoe or foot in said receptacle; and (c) at least two mechanisms, at least partially disposed below, and operatively associated with a bottom side of said platform, each of said at least two mechanisms including: (i) a motor, operatively connected to a power source, and (ii) at least one thrusting element, mechanically associated with, and activated by, said motor, said thrusting element adapted to move, when in thrusting mode, below said platform so as to change the height between at least a portion of said platform and a far end of the thrusting element; (B) a sensor device including at least one sensor adapted to associate with a lower limb of the user for sensing locomotion of the user, and to produce a data signal related to the sensed locomotion of the user, and (C) a microprocessor operatively connected to said at least one sensor and to said motor, said microprocessor adapted to: (i) receive locomotion information based on said data signal; (ii) process said locomotion information to make a determination of a locomotion phase of the user, and (iii) control a timing of said at least one mechanism, based on said determination, so as to effect said changing of said height during a swing phase of the locomotion of the user, and wherein said microprocessor is further adapted to control said at least two mechanisms so as to elicit a spontaneous gait-related response of the user to the stimulus provided by said changing of said height.