Patent Document ID: 9775763
Application ID: 13719336
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. An exoskeleton system, comprising: a sensor; a controller; a muscle actuation interface; and a mechanical actuator; wherein: said sensor is operable to detect, from a spinal column or a region proximate a joint of a person, a neuronal action potential produced by said person to elicit a first muscle response from at least one muscle in a body region of said person, and to transmit a data signal representative of said neuronal action potential to said controller, the data signal comprising response information indicative of a degree to which said at least one muscle responds to said neuronal action potential; said controller is operable to receive said data signal, to compare said response information to a threshold value, and to determine whether to transmit at least one of a muscle actuation signal to said muscle actuation interface and a mechanical actuation signal to said mechanical actuator based at least in part on the comparison of said response information to said threshold value; said controller is configured to only transmit said muscle actuation signal to said muscle actuation interface when said response information is less than said threshold value by more than a first predetermined amount; when said response information is less than said threshold value by more than a second predetermined amount, said controller is configured to transmit only said mechanical actuation signal to said mechanical actuator or to transmit said mechanical actuation signal to said mechanical actuator and said muscle actuation signal to said muscle actuation interface, said second predetermined amount being greater than said first predetermined amount; said muscle actuation interface is operable to electrically stimulate said at least one muscle with said muscle actuation signal, said muscle actuation signal configured to elicit a second muscular response of said body region that is proportional to said first muscular response; and said mechanical actuator is coupled to at least one frame member, and is operable in response to said mechanical actuation signal to emulate at least a portion of said first muscle response with said at least one frame member.