JP2004147726A - Knee joint in inferior limb applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knee joint in an inferior limb applicators, which is ideal for the wearing on a paralyzed persons, or the like, and facilitate the shift in the posture from standing to a sitting position. <P>SOLUTION: In the knee joint in the inferior limb applicators, in which a thigh side post successively installed at a thigh support part for supporting the thigh parts is rotatably linked to an inferior thigh side post successively installed at an inferior limb support part for supporting the inferior thigh parts at a knee joint point, the knee joint locks the stretched or bent state of the knees and has a rotation mechanism which enables the bending of the knees from the stretching thereof or the stretching of the knees from the bending thereof by an unlocking operation while locking any state of the bending or stretching thereof automatically. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly relates to a lower limb brace suitable for being worn by a paraplegic, and more particularly to a lower limb brace that allows a wearer to move alone from a standing position to a sitting position or from a sitting position to a standing position. is there.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Paraplegics are severely disabled people who have completely lost their lower body motor function and are also paralyzed with sensory nerves. Must be supported from both sides. However, even if the person is paraplegic, if the lower limb can be supported against gravity by an assisting device or the like, it is possible to walk as well as hold the standing position. An auxiliary device for this purpose is called a lower limb orthosis, which is a walk-in type (PolyMedics) (trade name) provided with a support on the inside of the lower limb, or an ARGO (HughSteiper company) provided with a support on the outside of the lower limb. Product name). Among them, ARGO is the only lower limb orthosis that allows a paraplegic to shift between standing and sitting positions on his own.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The inner leg type lower limb orthosis represented by walkabout is a device in which a thigh supporting portion for supporting the thigh and a lower leg supporting portion for supporting the lower leg are connected by a post along the inside and outside of the leg. After that, the knee joint is fixed and used in the extended state. For this reason, the transition from the standing position to the sitting position or from the sitting position to the standing position relies on a two-handed cane. However, since the knee cannot be bent or extended, an extremely large force is required, which is almost impossible. Further, the ARGO of the outer support type is difficult to be worn by oneself, and is not suitable for a Japanese lifestyle which requires repeated attachment and detachment. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and makes it possible to easily move the posture between a standing position and a sitting position by rotating a support column at a knee portion, and to extend or flex a knee. In this case, the rotation of the column is automatically locked to eliminate the troublesome operation.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the above problems, the present invention is connected to a thigh-side column connected to a thigh support for supporting a thigh and a lower thigh support for supporting a lower thigh as described in claim 1. In a knee joint of a lower limb orthosis that rotatably connects a lower leg support to a knee joint, the knee joint locks the extended or bent state of the knee, and is bent or bent from extended by an unlocking operation. And a knee joint for a lower limb orthosis, characterized in that the knee joint has a rotating mechanism that is automatically locked in any of a bent state and an extended state.
[0005]
The knee joint in the lower limb orthosis according to the present invention locks a state in which the knee is extended (a state in which the knee is extended by 180 °) or bent (a state in which the knee is also bent to 90 °), and the knee is extended by an unlocking operation. Or, it becomes possible to bend and automatically locked when it becomes bent or extended. For this reason, when standing or sitting, it is locked in that state and the posture is stably maintained, and when standing, walking becomes possible.
[0006]
However, when an attempt is made to change the posture, an unlocking operation is required. However, if this operation is performed, bending and extension of the knee are allowed, and the movement of the posture is facilitated. Further, when the transition is completed, the posture is automatically locked, so that a troublesome locking operation or the like becomes unnecessary. In this respect, the lower limb brace is very easy to use for a paraplegic who does not have sufficient muscle strength in the upper limbs and hands. In this case, the thigh-side strut and the crus-side strut both extend along the inside and outside of the leg. As described in claim 2, the knee joint is suitably incorporated between the inner struts. This is because it is easier for one person to attach and detach.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an inner side view of a left leg in an upright position to which an example of a lower limb orthosis according to the present invention is attached, FIG. 2 is an inner side view of a left leg in a sitting position, and FIG. A thigh support 3 extending downward from the thigh support 2 supported by the inseam thigh 1 along the inside and outside of the thigh 1, and a thigh support 5 from which the foot 4 is held. A lower leg support 7 extending upward along the inside and outside of the lower leg 6 is connected to a knee 8 by a knee joint 9.
[0008]
The upper ends of the inner sides of the thigh-side columns 3 are connected by a hip joint 2a. It should be noted that the hip joint 2a may be a WBC5 (Takasaki Limb Co., Ltd. four-link mechanism with the instantaneous rotation center closer to the physiological hip joint position) or the like incorporating a mechanism that can be attached with one touch. The above-mentioned knee joint 9 is incorporated into the inside or outside connecting portion of each of the columns 3, 7, but if it is incorporated into the inside connecting portion, the detaching operation by itself becomes easy. On the other hand, the columns 3 and 7 on the opposite side are connected by pins or the like (not shown).
[0009]
In this case, the thigh support 2 is like a band or a supporter (cuff) wrapped around the inseam thigh 1, and the foot support 5 is like sandals on which the foot 4 is placed and fixed. It is. The foot support 5 and the lower leg support 7 are pivotally connected by a pin 10, and the foot holder 5 can rotate (dorsiflexion) at least upward with respect to the lower leg support 7 and walk. Is easy. The thigh column 3 and the lower leg column 7 are provided with cuffs 11 and 12 to be tied to the thigh 1 and the lower leg 6 in the middle thereof. A cuff 5a for bridging is provided. Further, a knee pad 12a is provided on the upper part of the inner and outer crus-side supports 7 so as to extend forward and to be applied to the knee 8 portion.
[0010]
The present invention relates to the knee joint 9 described above. The knee joint 9 locks a state in which the lower limb 13 (the thigh 1 and the lower thigh 6) is extended or bent at the knee 8 portion. There is a rotating mechanism 14 that can be extended or bent by an unlocking operation and is automatically locked when it is in a bent or extended state. The structure of the rotating mechanism 14 in this case is not limited as long as it has the above-described functions. For example, the following can be considered.
[0011]
First, the rotating mechanism 14 of the present example pivotally connects the thigh column 3 (or another member coupled thereto) and the lower leg column 7 (or another member coupled thereto) with a pin 15 and pivots the two. The columns 3, 7 can be relatively rotated. An engaging member 16 provided on the thigh column 3 and engaging with the lower leg column 7, a first lever 17 for controlling the engagement of the engaging member 16, and a rotation of the first lever 17. And a second lever 18 to be controlled.
[0012]
4 to 7 are plan views of the rotation mechanism 14, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4. Among them, the engaging member 16 is provided on the thigh-side support 3 and the crus-side support is provided. The spring 19 is elastically urged in the direction (downward) by the spring 19 in the direction of 7 and is slidably provided (20 is a guide for guiding this). The outer periphery 21a of the tip of the lower leg side support 7 is formed in a radius with a fixed radius from the pin 15, and the groove 21b into which the engaging member 16 can enter when the knee is extended and enters the outer periphery 21a when the knee is bent. Are formed at intervals of about 90 °.
[0013]
Therefore, when the lower leg support 7 is straight with respect to the thigh support 3 (when the knee is extended), the tip of the engaging member 16 is inserted into the groove 21 b by the action of the spring 19. On the upper surface of the outer periphery 21a of the distal end, a regulating plate 22 having an upwardly inclined surface 22a whose upper end protrudes further toward the engaging member 16 is attached. Further, a roller 24 protrudes from the upper surface on the rear (upper) side of the engaging member 16.
[0014]
The first lever 17 is provided between the roller 24 and the regulating plate 22 of the lower leg support 7 without being interfered with the upper surface of the engaging member 16 and is provided at a position closer to the right. Can be turned up and down around the pin 25 to be used. The upward rotation is performed by connecting a string 26 to the rear of the first lever 17 and pulling the string 26.
[0015]
When the lower leg support 7 is in the straight position described above, the roller 24 (locking member 16) pushes down the first lever 17 by the force of the spring 19, and the first lever 17 rotates downward around the pin 25. are doing. On the right side of the first lever 17 from the pin 25, a small diameter portion 17a formed in a radius of a fixed length from the pin 25, and a large diameter portion formed in a larger radius from the small diameter portion 17a via the normal portion 17b. 17c.
[0016]
The second lever 18 is rotatable left and right about a pin 27 provided above, and has a small projection 18a protruding toward the first lever 17 at a lower end thereof, and a large projection 18b below it. Are formed in an F-shape. The second lever 18 is constantly elastically biased toward the first lever 17 by a spring 28. In addition, a gas spring 29 is stretched between the lower leg support 7 and the upper leg support 3, and the lower leg support 7 is always elastically biased toward the straight position by the gas spring 29.
[0017]
The movement of the rotating mechanism 14 will be described. First, in the upright position, the tip of the engaging member 16 is fitted into the groove 21b of the lower leg support 7, and the lower leg support 7 is It is locked in a straight state with respect to the column 3 (FIG. 4). Next, in order to move to the sitting position, the user pulls the string or the like 26 (the string or the like 26 is always fastened to a position easily accessible to the body so as to facilitate this). 17 is rotated upward. Then, the first lever 17 pushes up the roller 24 of the engaging member 16 against the force of the spring 19, and the tip of the engaging member 16 comes out of the groove 21b to release the lock.
[0018]
At the same time, the large diameter portion 17c of the first lever 17 moves on the small protrusion 18a of the second lever 18, and the normal portion 17b passes through the small protrusion 18a. In this state, the second lever 18 rotates to the left (clockwise), the small projection 18a thereof engages with the normal 17b of the first lever 17, and the first lever 17 rotates downward. (Figure 5). Therefore, even if the force of the string or the like 26 is released, the first lever 17 does not return to its original state, and the unlocked state is maintained.
[0019]
In this case, the lower leg support 7 can be rotated backward relative to the thigh support 3 around the pin 15, so that the wearer can bend his knees and sit in a chair or the like. . When the lower leg support 7 rotates backward, the apex of the inclined surface 22a of the regulating plate 22 pushes the large projection 18b of the second lever 18 against the force of the spring 28, and the small projection 18a. And the normal line portion 17b is disengaged (FIG. 6). Then, the first lever 17 is lowered by the force of the spring 19, and the leading end of the locking member 16 comes into sliding contact with the outer periphery 21 a of the leading end of the lower leg support 7.
[0020]
In addition, it is necessary to return to the standing position in the middle of the sitting position (in the case where the user stops sitting and stands up again), in this case, the tip of the locking member 16 is located at the outer periphery of the tip of the crus column 7. If the knee is bent until sliding on 21a, the leg is raised again and the lower leg support 7 is returned to the straight position, and the tip of the locking member 16 is formed in the groove formed in the lower leg support 7 by the force of the spring 19. 21b is automatically fitted and locked in the extended state again.
[0021]
When the sitting position is reached and the buttocks lands on a chair or the like and the thigh 1 (thigh support 3) and the lower thigh 6 (lower support 7) bend 90 °, the locking member 16 is moved by the spring 19 to the lower thigh. The tip automatically fits into the long groove 23 formed on the outer periphery 21a of the tip of the side support 7. At the same time, the roller 24 pushes down the first lever 17 with the force of the spring 19 to return to the initial state (original position). At this time, the lower leg side column 7 is locked in the bent state because the concave wall 23a formed at the end of the long groove 23 is restricted by the tip of the locking member 16 to restrict the rotation of the knee toward the extension side. (Fig. 7).
[0022]
On the other hand, the shift from the sitting position to the standing position can be performed by unlocking the first lever 17 with a cord or the like 26 as described above, and extending the knee to move the lower leg support 7 in the opposite operation to the above operation. It can be straightened to the side column 3 and is automatically locked in that state. At this time, since the lower leg support 7 is urged in the straight direction by the action of the gas spring 29, the force for shifting to the standing position is small. In some cases, it is necessary to return to the sitting position again during the transition from the sitting position to the standing position. In this case, if the knee is bent again, the tip of the locking member 16 becomes The column enters the long groove 23 beyond the concave wall 23a of the column 7 and is automatically locked.
[0023]
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of such an operation. When shifting from the standing position to the sitting position or from the sitting position to the standing position, it is only necessary to perform the unlocking operation of the same operation, and thereafter, to the standing or sitting position. Then, it is automatically locked in that position. Also, when returning to the original posture during the posture change, the posture is automatically locked.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the knee joint of the lower limb orthosis according to the present invention, the state in which the knee is extended or bent is locked, and the knee can be extended or bent by the unlocking operation, and the knee can be bent or extended. When this happens, it is automatically locked. Therefore, when in the standing or sitting position, the posture is locked and the posture is stabilized. Become. Further, when the transition is completed, the posture is automatically locked to that position, so that a troublesome locking operation or the like is not required.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of the present invention in a standing position with a lower limb orthosis mounted.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an example of the present invention in a sitting position with a lower limb orthosis mounted.
FIG. 3 is a front view in a standing position with a lower limb orthosis mounted thereon, showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rotation mechanism showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a rotation mechanism showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rotation mechanism showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a rotating mechanism showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4 showing an example of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the knee joint showing an example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 inseam thigh 2 thigh support 3 thigh support 4 foot 5 foot support 7 crotch support 9 knee joint 13 lower limb 14 rotation mechanism 15 pin 16 engagement member 17 first lever 18 second lever 19 gas spring

Claims (4)

Lower leg orthosis that rotatably connects a thigh support that is connected to the thigh support that supports the thigh and a thigh support that is connected to the lower support that supports the lower thigh at a knee joint. In this knee joint, the knee joint locks the extended or bent state of the knee, and the unlocking operation enables extension from bending to bending or extension from bending, and changes to any state of bending or extension. A knee joint for a lower limb orthosis, characterized in that the knee joint has a rotating mechanism that is automatically locked. 2. The knee joint according to claim 1, wherein the thigh-side strut and the crus-side strut both extend along the inside and outside of the leg, and the knee joint is incorporated between the inner struts. A rotating mechanism pivotally connecting the thigh-side strut and the lower leg-side strut with a pin, and an engaging member attached to the thigh-side strut and engaging with the lower leg-side strut; And a second lever for controlling rotation of the first lever, and the engaging member engages with the lower leg support when the knee is extended and flexed, and locks in that state. When the first lever is pulled up, the engagement member is disengaged to allow rotation of the lower leg support, and the second lever holds the first lever pulled up, and the lower leg support rotates. When the knee is moved to the flexion or extension position by moving, the second lever releases the holding of the first lever in the raised state, while returning the first lever to the original position and the engaging member engages the lower leg support. 3. The knee joint in a lower limb orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the knee joint is locked in that state. The knee joint for a lower limb orthosis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower leg support is elastically biased in a direction in which the knee is extended by a gas spring provided between the lower leg support and the lower leg support.

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