JP5156555B2

JP5156555B2 - Knee joint movement assist device

Info

Publication number: JP5156555B2
Application number: JP2008231777A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 玲高橋; 正二郎若林
Original assignee: サンコールエンジニアリング株式会社
Priority date: 2008-09-10
Filing date: 2008-09-10
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-10
Also published as: JP2010063581A

Description

本発明は、変形性膝関節症の患者等における歩行運動、屈伸動作、リハビリテーション等の補助に使用することができる膝関節運動補助装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a knee joint motion assisting device that can be used for assisting gait, bending and stretching, rehabilitation and the like in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

人体の膝関節は大腿骨、脛骨、膝蓋骨からなる骨の部分と、半月板からなる軟骨と、前十字靭帯、後十字靭帯、内側副靭帯、外側副靭帯等の靭帯によって構成される。 The human knee joint is composed of a bone portion including a femur, a tibia, and a patella, a cartilage including a meniscus, and a ligament such as an anterior cruciate ligament, a posterior cruciate ligament, an inner collateral ligament, and an outer collateral ligament.

図１０に示すように、大腿骨１の下部は後方に突出しており、いくつもの大きさの違う円弧を組み合わせたような形状になっている。脛骨２の上面は略平坦でこの上を大腿骨１の下部が滑りながら回転することで膝の屈伸運動が行われる。 As shown in FIG. 10, the lower part of the femur 1 protrudes rearward, and has a shape that combines arcs of different sizes. The upper surface of the tibia 2 is substantially flat, and the knee is bent and extended by rotating while the lower part of the femur 1 slides on the upper surface.

図１１は膝の屈伸運動に伴って大腿骨１の下部の回転中心３が描く軌跡を示す。図１１から明らかなように、膝関節が屈伸すると大腿骨１の下部の回転中心３は、ずれながら螺旋状の軌跡を描く。このように膝関節は単なる回転運動を行うのではなく、すべり転がり運動を行っている。 FIG. 11 shows a trajectory drawn by the rotation center 3 at the lower part of the femur 1 as the knee bends and stretches. As is clear from FIG. 11, when the knee joint is bent and stretched, the rotation center 3 at the lower part of the femur 1 draws a spiral locus while shifting. In this way, the knee joint does not simply rotate, but slides and rolls.

また、図１０は膝関節の角度とすべり量との関係の一例を示す。図１０中、膝関節の屈曲角度Ｕ，Ｖ，Ｗはすべり量ｕ，ｖ，ｗにそれぞれ対応する。膝関節１の屈伸運動の可動域は、膝が伸びた状態のときを０°とすると、０°〜１３０°程度であり、歩行時に使用している可動域は大体０°〜６０°である。この可動域のうち、膝の曲がり始めから１０°〜１５°の間は、略一軸の転がり運動をし、その後徐々にすべり運動へ移行してすべり転がり運動となる。 FIG. 10 shows an example of the relationship between the knee joint angle and the slip amount. In FIG. 10, knee joint flexion angles U, V, and W correspond to slip amounts u, v, and w, respectively. The range of motion of the flexion / extension motion of the knee joint 1 is about 0 ° to 130 °, assuming that the knee is in the extended state, and the range of motion used during walking is about 0 ° to 60 °. . Within this range of motion, between 10 ° and 15 ° from the start of bending of the knee, a substantially uniaxial rolling motion is performed, and thereafter, the sliding motion is gradually shifted to a sliding motion.

従来、このような膝関節のすべり転がり運動を考慮して、人体の上腿部に装着される上腿装着部に対して人体の下腿部に装着される下腿装着部を回転させたときに、下腿装着部の膝関節側端部が前後方向にスライドするようにした膝関節運動補助装置が提案されている（例えば、特許文献１参照。）。この膝関節運動補助装置によれば、人間の膝関節運動への追従性を高めることができ、装具のずれを防止したり、装着違和感等を解決したりすることができる。 Conventionally, taking into account such a sliding motion of the knee joint, when rotating the lower leg attachment part attached to the lower leg part of the human body relative to the upper leg attachment part attached to the upper leg part of the human body There has been proposed a knee joint exercise assisting device in which the knee joint side end of the lower leg mounting portion slides in the front-rear direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this knee joint exercise assisting device, it is possible to improve the ability to follow a human knee joint motion, to prevent the displacement of the brace, and to solve the uncomfortable feeling of wearing.

特開２００７−２７５４８２号公報JP 2007-275482 A

しかしながら、上記従来の膝関節運動補助装置では、モーターの動力をリンク装置によって膝関節に伝えるようになっているので、作動時にリンクが装置本体から食み出たり、人体の一部に接触したりするという問題がある。また、リンクの回動角度によって減速比が変化し、特に膝関節の屈曲角度が大きい場合にトルクが低下しやすくなるという問題がある。 However, in the above conventional knee joint movement assist device, the power of the motor is transmitted to the knee joint by the link device, so the link protrudes from the device main body or contacts a part of the human body during operation. There is a problem of doing. Further, there is a problem that the torque is likely to decrease when the reduction ratio changes depending on the rotation angle of the link, and particularly when the bending angle of the knee joint is large.

そこで、本発明は、膝関節の複雑な動きを忠実に再現することが出来ると同時に、上記問題点を解決することができる膝関節運動補助装置を提供することを目的とする。 Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a knee joint exercise assisting device that can faithfully reproduce complicated movements of the knee joint and can solve the above-mentioned problems.

上記課題を解決するため、本発明は次のような構成を採用する。 In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

なお、理解を容易にするため図面の参照番号を括弧付きで付するが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではない。 For ease of understanding, reference numerals in the drawings are attached with parentheses, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

すなわち、請求項１に係る発明は、上腿部（４）に装着される上腿装着部（５）と、下腿部（６）に装着される下腿装着部（７）と、上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の膝関節側端部間を回転可能に連結する連結部（８）と、この連結部（８）を中心にして上記上腿装着部（５）と下腿装着部（７）とを相対的に回転運動させながら上記膝関節側端部間を前後方向に相対的にスライド運動させる駆動部とを備えた膝関節運動補助装置において、上記駆動部が、周縁カム（２２）と、この周縁カム（２２）を挟むように配置されるカムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）とを有し、この周縁カム（２２）とカムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）とが上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の一方と他方に夫々取り付けられ、上記周縁カム（２２）の周縁には、上記駆動歯車（２５）が係合する歯列（２２ａ）と、上記カムフォロア（２４）が接する平滑縁（２２ｂ）とが形成され、上記駆動歯車（２５）の回転により上記周縁カム（２２）が上記駆動歯車（２５）と上記カムフォロア（２４）との間で回転すると上記回転運動及びスライド運動が生じるようにした膝関節運動補助装置を採用する。 That is, the invention according to claim 1 includes an upper leg attachment part (5) attached to the upper leg part (4), a lower leg attachment part (7) attached to the lower leg part (6), and the upper leg part. A connecting part (8) for rotatably connecting the knee joint side ends of the attaching part (5) and the lower leg attaching part (7), and the upper leg attaching part (5) with the connecting part (8) as a center. And a knee joint motion assisting device that includes a drive unit that relatively slides back and forth between the knee joint side end parts while relatively rotating the lower leg mounting part (7) and the knee joint movement part (7). The peripheral cam (22), and the cam follower (24) and the drive gear (25) arranged so as to sandwich the peripheral cam (22). The peripheral cam (22), the cam follower (24) and the drive gear (25) are attached to one and the other of the upper thigh mounting part (5) and the lower thigh mounting part (7), respectively. On the periphery of the peripheral cam (22), a tooth row (22a) with which the drive gear (25) is engaged and a smooth edge (22b) with which the cam follower (24) is in contact are formed. A knee joint motion assisting device is employed in which the rotational motion and sliding motion occur when the peripheral cam (22) rotates between the drive gear (25) and the cam follower (24) by the rotation of (25). .

請求項２に記載されるように、請求項１に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記カムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）が上記上腿装着部（５）に取り付けられ、上記周縁カム（２２）が上記下腿装着部（７）に取り付けられたものとすることができる。 As described in claim 2, in the knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1, the cam follower (24) and the drive gear (25) are attached to the upper thigh mounting portion (5), and the peripheral cam (22) may be attached to the crus mounting portion (7).

請求項３に記載されるように、請求項１又は請求項２に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記連結部（８）が、枢軸（２０）と、この枢軸（２０）が挿入される長孔（２１）とを有し、この枢軸（２０）と長孔（２１）とが上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の一方と他方に夫々設けられたものとすることができる。 As described in claim 3, in the knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, the connecting portion (8) is inserted into the pivot (20) and the pivot (20) is inserted. It has a long hole (21), and the pivot (20) and the long hole (21) are provided on one and the other of the upper thigh mounting part (5) and the lower thigh mounting part (7), respectively. be able to.

請求項４に記載されるように、請求項１又は請求項２に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記周縁カム（２２）の歯列（２２ａ）と平滑縁（２２ｂ）との境界に、上記駆動歯車（２５）とカムフォロア（２４）が夫々当たることによって、上腿部（４）と下腿部（６）の直立状態又は屈曲状態を保持せしめるストッパ（３３）が設けられたものとすることができる。 As described in claim 4, in the knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, at the boundary between the tooth row (22a) and the smooth edge (22b) of the peripheral cam (22), It is assumed that a stopper (33) for holding the upright or bent state of the upper leg (4) and lower leg (6) is provided by the contact between the drive gear (25) and the cam follower (24). be able to.

請求項５に記載されるように、請求項１に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、モーター（２９）が上記上腿装着部（５）に取り付けられ、このモーター（２９）から上記駆動歯車（２５）への動力伝達系が、平歯車及びすぐばかさ歯車（３０，３１）の一方又は双方からなる歯車列によって構成されたものとすることができる。 As described in claim 5, in the knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1, a motor (29) is attached to the upper thigh mounting portion (5), and the drive gear ( The power transmission system to 25) may be constituted by a gear train including one or both of a spur gear and a straight bevel gear (30, 31).

本発明によれば、上腿部（４）に装着される上腿装着部（５）と、下腿部（６）に装着される下腿装着部（７）と、上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の膝関節側端部間を回転可能に連結する連結部（８）と、この連結部（８）を中心にして上記上腿装着部（５）と下腿装着部（７）とを相対的に回転運動させながら上記膝関節側端部間を前後方向に相対的にスライド運動させる駆動部とを備えた膝関節運動補助装置において、上記駆動部が、周縁カム（２２）と、この周縁カム（２２）を挟むように配置されるカムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）とを有し、この周縁カム（２２）とカムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）とが上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の一方と他方に夫々取り付けられ、上記周縁カム（２２）の周縁には、上記駆動歯車（２５）が係合する歯列（２２ａ）と、上記カムフォロア（２４）が接する平滑縁（２２ｂ）とが形成され、上記駆動歯車（２５）の回転により上記周縁カム（２２）が上記駆動歯車（２５）と上記カムフォロア（２４）との間で回転すると上記回転運動及びスライド運動が生じるようにした膝関節運動補助装置であるから、膝関節の動きを再現することが出来ると同時に、作動時に部品、部材等が装置本体から食み出たり、人体や他の物体に接触したりするというおそれがない。また、動力の伝達につき減速比が安定するので、膝関節の屈曲角度が大きい場合等においても膝関節を屈伸させるためのトルクの低下を防止することができる。従って、変形性膝関節症や膝関節機能に障害を有する患者、膝関節機能が低下した高齢者等にとって膝関節の無理のない屈伸運動を補助することができ、患者や高齢者等はごく自然に歩行したり、立ち上がったり、座ったりすることができる。 According to the present invention, the upper leg attachment part (5) attached to the upper leg part (4), the lower leg attachment part (7) attached to the lower leg part (6), and the upper leg attachment part (5) ) And a joint part (8) for rotatably connecting the knee joint side ends of the lower leg attachment part (7), and the upper leg attachment part (5) and the lower leg attachment part centering on the connection part (8) And (7) a knee joint motion assisting device including a drive unit that relatively slides in the front-rear direction between the knee joint side ends while relatively rotating and moving the drive unit. 22), and a cam follower (24) and a drive gear (25) arranged so as to sandwich the peripheral cam (22). The peripheral cam (22), the cam follower (24) and the drive gear (25) Are attached to one and the other of the upper thigh mounting portion (5) and the lower thigh mounting portion (7), respectively. A tooth row (22a) with which the drive gear (25) is engaged and a smooth edge (22b) with which the cam follower (24) is in contact are formed at the periphery of the (22), and the rotation of the drive gear (25). Therefore, when the peripheral cam (22) is rotated between the drive gear (25) and the cam follower (24), the rotational movement and the sliding movement are generated. Can be reproduced, and at the same time, there is no fear that parts, members, etc. will protrude from the apparatus main body or come into contact with a human body or other objects during operation. Further, since the speed reduction ratio is stabilized with respect to power transmission, it is possible to prevent a decrease in torque for bending and extending the knee joint even when the knee joint has a large bending angle. Therefore, it is possible to assist the patient with the knee joint function and the knee joint function, the elderly with reduced knee joint function, and the like. You can walk, stand up and sit down.

請求項２に記載されるように、請求項１に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記カムフォロア（２４）及び駆動歯車（２５）が上記上腿装着部（５）に取り付けられ、上記周縁カム（２２）が上記下腿装着部（７）に取り付けられたものとすれば、モーター（２９）等の駆動源を上腿部（４）側に設置することができ、患者等への負担を軽減することができる。 As described in claim 2, in the knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1, the cam follower (24) and the drive gear (25) are attached to the upper thigh mounting portion (5), and the peripheral cam If (22) is attached to the above-mentioned crus mounting part (7), a drive source such as a motor (29) can be installed on the crus (4) side, reducing the burden on patients and the like. can do.

請求項３に記載されるように、請求項１又は請求項２に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記連結部（８）が、枢軸（２０）と、この枢軸（２０）が挿入される長孔（２１）とを有し、この枢軸（２０）と長孔（２１）とが上記上腿装着部（５）及び下腿装着部（７）の一方と他方に夫々設けられたものとすれば、膝関節運動補助装置の構造を簡素化することができる。 As described in claim 3, in the knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, the connecting portion (8) is inserted into the pivot (20) and the pivot (20) is inserted. It has a long hole (21), and the pivot (20) and the long hole (21) are provided on one and the other of the upper thigh mounting part (5) and the lower thigh mounting part (7), respectively. Thus, the structure of the knee joint exercise assisting device can be simplified.

請求項４に記載されるように、請求項１又は請求項２に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、上記周縁カム（２２）の歯列（２２ａ）と平滑縁（２２ｂ）との境界に、上記駆動歯車（２５）とカムフォロア（２４）が夫々当たることによって、上腿部（４）と下腿部（６）の直立状態又は屈曲状態を保持せしめるストッパ（３３）が設けられたものとすれば、膝関節運動補助装置を直立状態や屈曲状態に確実に停止させることができる。したがって、患者等は直立姿勢、着座姿勢を容易に保持することができ、また、着座姿勢から容易に立ち上がり動作に移行することができる。 As described in claim 4, in the knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, at the boundary between the tooth row (22a) and the smooth edge (22b) of the peripheral cam (22), It is assumed that a stopper (33) for holding the upright state or the bent state of the upper leg (4) and lower leg (6) by the contact of the drive gear (25) and the cam follower (24) is provided. Thus, the knee joint exercise assisting device can be reliably stopped in the upright state or the bent state. Therefore, the patient or the like can easily maintain the upright posture and the sitting posture, and can easily shift from the sitting posture to the standing up motion.

請求項５に記載されるように、請求項１に記載の膝関節運動補助装置において、モーター（２９）が上記上腿装着部（５）に取り付けられ、このモーター（２９）から上記駆動歯車（２５）への動力伝達系が、平歯車及びすぐばかさ歯車（３０，３１）の一方又は双方からなる歯車列によって構成されたものとすれば、クラッチ等を設けずとも人体側からの入力に対してその動きを制限することがない。したがって、モーター（２９）の非稼動時に患者等は自由に脚を動かせることができるのはもちろんのこと、稼動時において患者等が転倒するような場合であってもすこぶる安全である。 As described in claim 5, in the knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1, a motor (29) is attached to the upper thigh mounting portion (5), and the drive gear ( If the power transmission system to 25) is constituted by a gear train composed of one or both of a spur gear and a quick bevel gear (30, 31), it is possible to input from the human body side without providing a clutch or the like. On the other hand, the movement is not limited. Accordingly, the patient can freely move his / her legs when the motor (29) is not in operation, and it is extremely safe even when the patient or the like falls during operation.

以下、図面を参照して本発明を実施するための最良の形態について説明する。 The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

図１乃至図３に示すように、この膝関節運動補助装置は、人体の脚に装着されるもので、脚の膝関節から上腿部４にかけて装着される上腿装着部５と、膝関節から下腿部６にかけて装着される下腿装着部７と、上腿装着部５及び下腿装着部７の膝関節側端部間を回転可能に連結する連結部８と、連結部８を中心にして上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とを相対的に回転させながら上記膝関節側端部間を前後方向に相対的にスライド運動させる駆動部とを具備する。 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this knee joint exercise assisting device is attached to a leg of a human body, and includes an upper thigh attachment part 5 attached from the knee joint of the leg to the upper thigh part 4, and a knee joint. A crus attachment part 7 to be worn from the crus part 6 to the crus part 6, a joint part 8 that rotatably connects the knee joint side ends of the upper leg attachment part 5 and the crus attachment part 7, and the connection part 8 as a center. A driving unit that relatively slides between the knee joint side end portions in the front-rear direction while relatively rotating the upper thigh mounting unit 5 and the lower thigh mounting unit 7;

図４及び図５に示すように、上腿装着部５は、膝関節の側面に沿うように設けられる板状の基部９を有する。 As shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5, the upper leg mounting | wearing part 5 has the plate-shaped base 9 provided along the side surface of a knee joint.

この基部９には、図１乃至図５に示すように、細長い板状の上添え部１０が連結されて基部９と一体化される。この上添え部１０が上腿部４の外側面に沿って立ち上がる。図１乃至図３に示すように、上添え部１０の上端部は患者の腰に巻き付けられた腰ベルト１１に連結具１２を介して連結され、上添え部１０の上記基部９に隣接した部分が上腿当て部１３、面ファスナ１４等を介して上腿部４に連結される。 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the base 9 is connected to a base plate 9 by connecting an elongated plate-like top attachment 10. The upper appendage 10 rises along the outer surface of the upper thigh 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper end portion of the upper attachment portion 10 is connected to a waist belt 11 wound around the patient's waist via a connector 12, and a portion adjacent to the base portion 9 of the upper attachment portion 10. Is connected to the upper thigh 4 via the upper thigh pad 13 and the hook-and-loop fastener 14.

また、図１乃至図５に示すように、下腿装着部７は細長い板状の下添え部１５を有し、この下添え部１５の上端部が上記基部９に膝関節側から重なり合い、そこから下腿部６の外側面に沿って垂下する。図１乃至図３に示すように、下添え部１５の上記基部９に隣接する部分が下腿当て部１６、面ファスナ１７等を介して下腿部６の膝下部分に連結され、下添え部１５の下端部が足首当て部１８、面ファスナ１９等を介して下腿部６の足首に連結される。 Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the crus mounting portion 7 has an elongated plate-like bottom attachment portion 15, and the upper end portion of the lower attachment portion 15 overlaps the base portion 9 from the knee joint side, and from there It hangs along the outer surface of the lower leg 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a portion of the lower attachment portion 15 adjacent to the base portion 9 is connected to the lower knee portion of the crus portion 6 via the crus pad portion 16, the hook-and-loop fastener 17, and the like. Is connected to the ankle of the crus 6 via the ankle pad 18 and the hook-and-loop fastener 19.

上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の膝関節側端部間は、連結部８によって回転可能に連結される。 The knee joint side ends of the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 are rotatably connected by a connecting portion 8.

図４及び図５に示すように、上腿装着部５の膝関節側端部は上記上添え部１０が連結された基部９が該当し、下腿装着部７の膝関節側端部は上記下添え部１５の上端部が該当する。 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the knee joint side end portion of the upper thigh mounting portion 5 corresponds to the base portion 9 to which the upper appendage portion 10 is connected, and the knee joint side end portion of the lower thigh mounting portion 7 is the above lower portion. The upper end part of the attachment part 15 corresponds.

図４乃至図６に示すように、連結部８は、ピン状の枢軸２０とこの枢軸２０が挿入される長孔２１を具備する。枢軸２０は基部９に固定され、基部９から下添え部１５の上端部へと突出する。下添え部１５の上端部には基部９に対向するように後述する駆動部の周縁カム２２が固定され、この周縁カム２２の中央部に上記長孔２１が形成される。枢軸２０はこの長孔２１を下添え部１５へと貫通する。図５及び図６に示すように、枢軸２０の先端には周縁カム２２を基部９側に拘束する頭部２０ａが設けられる。下添え部１５にはこの頭部２０ａが移動可能な覗き孔２３が上記長孔２１と相似形に形成される。 As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the connecting portion 8 includes a pin-shaped pivot 20 and a long hole 21 into which the pivot 20 is inserted. The pivot 20 is fixed to the base 9 and protrudes from the base 9 to the upper end of the lower attachment 15. A peripheral cam 22 of a driving unit, which will be described later, is fixed to the upper end portion of the lower attachment portion 15 so as to face the base portion 9, and the long hole 21 is formed in the central portion of the peripheral cam 22. The pivot 20 passes through the long hole 21 to the lower attachment 15. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a head 20 a that restrains the peripheral cam 22 to the base 9 side is provided at the tip of the pivot 20. A peek hole 23 in which the head 20 a can move is formed in the lower attachment 15 in a shape similar to the long hole 21.

これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７は、連結部８の枢軸２０を中心にして相対的な回転運動が可能であり、かつ、枢軸２０が長孔２１内をスライド可能であることによって上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の膝関節側端部間は前後方向に相対的にスライド運動が可能となる。 Thereby, the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 can be relatively rotated around the pivot 20 of the connecting part 8, and the pivot 20 can slide in the long hole 21. As a result, the relative movement between the knee joint side ends of the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7 is possible in the front-rear direction.

なお、枢軸２０と長孔２１とは、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７との間で入れ替えることも可能である。 The pivot 20 and the long hole 21 can be interchanged between the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7.

上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の上記回転運動とスライド運動は、図４乃至図６に示す駆動部の駆動によって行われる。 The rotational movement and sliding movement of the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 are performed by driving the driving unit shown in FIGS.

この駆動部は、周縁カム２２と、この周縁カム２２を挟むように配置されるカムフォロア２４及び駆動歯車２５とを有する。駆動部は、図３に示すように、カバー２８によって覆われる。カバー２８は基部９に対して着脱可能である。 The drive unit includes a peripheral cam 22, and a cam follower 24 and a drive gear 25 arranged so as to sandwich the peripheral cam 22. The drive unit is covered with a cover 28 as shown in FIG. The cover 28 is detachable from the base 9.

周縁カム２２は上述したように下腿装着部７の下添え部１５の上端部に固定される。図６中、符号２６は周縁カム２２を下添え部１５の上端部に固定するための固定ネジを示す。 The peripheral cam 22 is fixed to the upper end portion of the lower attachment portion 15 of the crus mounting portion 7 as described above. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 26 denotes a fixing screw for fixing the peripheral cam 22 to the upper end portion of the lower attachment portion 15.

カムフォロア２４及び駆動歯車２５は、上腿装着部５の基部９に回転可能に枢支され、基部９から上記枢軸２０と同じ方向に突出する。カムフォロア２４は回転自在なローラとして基部９に取り付けられる。駆動歯車２５はピニオンとして形成され、その軸２５ａが基部９にベアリング２７を介して回転自在に支持される。カムフォロア２４と駆動歯車２５は、上記枢軸２０の中心を通って周縁カム２２を横切るように伸びる線上に配置され、周縁カム２２を挟んで対峙するように設けられる。 The cam follower 24 and the drive gear 25 are pivotally supported by the base 9 of the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and protrude in the same direction as the pivot 20 from the base 9. The cam follower 24 is attached to the base 9 as a rotatable roller. The drive gear 25 is formed as a pinion, and its shaft 25 a is rotatably supported by the base 9 via a bearing 27. The cam follower 24 and the drive gear 25 are arranged on a line extending through the center of the pivot 20 so as to cross the peripheral cam 22 and are provided so as to face each other with the peripheral cam 22 interposed therebetween.

図６に示すように、周縁カム２２の周縁には、駆動歯車２５が係合する歯列２２ａと、カムフォロア２４が接する平滑縁２２ｂとが形成される。歯列２２ａ及び駆動歯車２５の歯は望ましくはすぐ歯として形成される。 As shown in FIG. 6, a tooth row 22 a with which the drive gear 25 engages and a smooth edge 22 b with which the cam follower 24 contacts are formed on the periphery of the peripheral cam 22. The teeth of the tooth row 22a and the drive gear 25 are preferably formed as immediate teeth.

これにより、駆動歯車２５が回転すると、周縁カム２２が駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４との間で回転すると同時に揺動する。したがって、図６乃至図９に示すように、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが枢軸２０を支点にして相対的な回転運動を行うと同時に、枢軸２０が長孔２１内をスライドし、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の膝関節側端部間は前後方向に相対的にスライド運動を行うこととなる。このときの上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の動きは、図１０に示した膝関節の回転運動ないしすべり転がり運動に近似し、また、大腿骨１の下部における回転中心３は、図１１に示した螺旋状の軌跡を描くように移動する。 Thus, when the drive gear 25 rotates, the peripheral cam 22 swings simultaneously with the rotation between the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 perform relative rotational movement with the pivot 20 as a fulcrum, and at the same time, the pivot 20 slides in the long hole 21. The knee joint side end portions of the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 are relatively slid in the front-rear direction. The movements of the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 at this time approximate the rotational movement or sliding rolling movement of the knee joint shown in FIG. 10, and the rotation center 3 at the lower part of the femur 1 is shown in FIG. Move to draw the spiral trajectory shown in.

上記周縁カム２２の周縁の輪郭は、上記のような膝関節の運動を生じるように形成される。すなわち、実際の膝関節は、図１０及び図１１に示したように、膝関節角がまっすぐな０°から曲がり始めの１５°の間は、すべりのない単純な回転運動を行うことから、周縁カム２２の輪郭のうち膝関節角の０°〜１５°に対応する部分は、真円状の円弧に形成され、膝関節角が１５°〜１０５°の間では、膝関節は回転すべり運動を行うことから、周縁カム２２の輪郭は横方向に延びる楕円状の円弧に形成され、膝関節角が１０５°以上では膝関節は再び回転運動を行うことから、周縁カム２２の輪郭は真円状の円弧に形成される。これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７には、実際の膝関節の動きに近似した動きが実現される。 The peripheral contour of the peripheral cam 22 is formed so as to cause the movement of the knee joint as described above. That is, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the actual knee joint performs a simple rotational motion without slipping between 0 ° where the knee joint angle is straight and 15 ° where it begins to bend. A portion of the contour of the cam 22 corresponding to the knee joint angle of 0 ° to 15 ° is formed into a perfect circular arc, and the knee joint performs a rotational sliding motion when the knee joint angle is between 15 ° and 105 °. As a result, the contour of the peripheral cam 22 is formed in an elliptical arc extending in the lateral direction, and when the knee joint angle is 105 ° or more, the knee joint rotates again, so the contour of the peripheral cam 22 is a perfect circle. The arc is formed. As a result, movement similar to the actual movement of the knee joint is realized in the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7.

膝関節の動きは患者の体型、年齢、性等によって違いが生じるが、これには周縁カム２２の輪郭を適宜変更することによって対処可能である。 The movement of the knee joint varies depending on the patient's body shape, age, sex, etc., but this can be dealt with by appropriately changing the contour of the peripheral cam 22.

なお、周縁カム２２とカムフォロア２４及び駆動歯車２５とは、上記上腿装着部５及び下腿装着部７との間で入れ替えることも可能である。 The peripheral cam 22, the cam follower 24, and the drive gear 25 can be interchanged between the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7.

図４及び図５に示すように、駆動部の動力源としてのモーター２９が上記上腿装着部５の基部９に縦向きに取り付けられる。また、このモーター２９から上記駆動歯車２５への動力伝達系もこの基部９に取り付けられる。 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a motor 29 as a power source of the drive unit is attached to the base 9 of the upper thigh mounting unit 5 in the vertical direction. A power transmission system from the motor 29 to the drive gear 25 is also attached to the base 9.

動力伝達系は、具体的には、平歯車及びすぐばかさ歯車の組合せからなる歯車列によって構成される。この歯車列の一部はモーター２９内の図示しない歯車減速機として設けられる。この歯車減速機は例えば平歯車列によって構成される。図５に示すように、歯車減速機の終端歯車の軸２９ａがモーター２９のケーシングから略垂直下方に向かって突出し、その軸２９ａの先端にすぐばかさ歯車３０が固定される。このすぐばかさ歯車３０には他のすぐばかさ歯車３１が噛み合っており、このすぐばかさ歯車３１が上記駆動歯車２５の軸２５ａに固定される。 Specifically, the power transmission system is constituted by a gear train composed of a combination of a spur gear and a straight bevel gear. A part of this gear train is provided as a gear reducer (not shown) in the motor 29. This gear reducer is constituted by a spur gear train, for example. As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 29a of the terminal gear of the gear reducer projects from the casing of the motor 29 substantially vertically downward, and the bevel gear 30 is immediately fixed to the tip of the shaft 29a. This straight bevel gear 30 is engaged with another straight bevel gear 31, and this quick bevel gear 31 is fixed to the shaft 25 a of the drive gear 25.

これにより、モーター２９が回転すると、その動力が駆動歯車２５に伝達され、上述したような相対的回転運動及びスライド運動が上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７との間に生じることになる。また、このように動力伝達系が平歯車及びすぐばかさ歯車３０，３１の一方又は双方からなる歯車列によって構成されることから、クラッチ等を設けずとも人体側からの入力に対してその動きを制限することがない。したがって、セルフロックが回避されることとなり、モーター２９の非稼動時に患者等は自由に脚を動かせることができるのはもちろんのこと、モーター２９の稼動時において患者等が転倒するような場合であってもモーター２９に抗するように脚を動かせることができるのですこぶる安全である。 Thus, when the motor 29 rotates, the power is transmitted to the drive gear 25, and the relative rotational movement and sliding movement as described above occur between the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7. Since the power transmission system is constituted by a gear train composed of one or both of a spur gear and a quick bevel gear 30, 31 in this way, its movement with respect to an input from the human body side without providing a clutch or the like. There is no limit. Therefore, self-locking is avoided, and the patient can freely move his / her legs when the motor 29 is not in operation, as well as when the patient falls while the motor 29 is in operation. But you can move your legs to resist the motor 29.

上記モーター２９は図４に示す制御部３２によって制御され、上記周縁カム２２の所定の角度範囲内において正転し又は逆転する。 The motor 29 is controlled by the control unit 32 shown in FIG. 4 and rotates forward or reverse within a predetermined angle range of the peripheral cam 22.

例えば、この膝関節運動補助装置を装着した患者等が、図６に示す起立状態から図７に示す中間状態を経て図８に示す屈曲状態に姿勢を変更しようとする場合は、駆動歯車２５が矢印Ａの方向に回転しつつ周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ａの方向に公転する。これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７が連結部８を中心にして屈曲し、例えば患者の上腿部４は椅子等に着座可能になる。 For example, when a patient or the like wearing this knee joint exercise assisting device tries to change the posture from the standing state shown in FIG. 6 to the bent state shown in FIG. 8 through the intermediate state shown in FIG. While rotating in the direction of arrow A, the periphery cam 22 revolves in the direction of arrow a. As a result, the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 are bent around the connecting portion 8, and for example, the patient's upper thigh portion 4 can be seated on a chair or the like.

図６に示すように、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して真っ直ぐに伸びた状態から少しばかり屈曲するまでは、枢軸２０が長孔２１の一端２１ａに当たって停止し、長孔２１内を滑ることなく回転のみ可能である。これは、膝関節角の０°〜１５°に対応し、この角度範囲内では、膝関節はすべりのない単純な回転運動を行う。 As shown in FIG. 6, until the upper thigh mounting portion 5 is bent straight from the state where the upper thigh mounting portion 5 extends straight to the lower thigh mounting portion 7, the pivot 20 hits one end 21 a of the long hole 21 and stops. Only rotation is possible without sliding. This corresponds to a knee joint angle of 0 ° to 15 °, and within this angle range, the knee joint performs a simple rotational motion without slipping.

図７に示すように、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して更に曲がろうとすると、枢軸２０が長孔２１内をその一端２１ａから他端２１ｂに向かって滑りつつ回転運動を行う。これは、膝関節角の１５°〜１０５°に対応する。これにより、図８に示すように、患者の上腿部４は下腿部６に対して約９０°屈曲し、患者は無理なく椅子等に着座することができる。 As shown in FIG. 7, when the upper thigh mounting portion 5 tries to bend further with respect to the lower thigh mounting portion 7, the pivot 20 performs a rotational motion while sliding in the elongated hole 21 from one end 21a to the other end 21b. . This corresponds to a knee joint angle of 15 ° to 105 °. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the patient's upper thigh 4 is bent about 90 ° with respect to the lower thigh 6, and the patient can comfortably sit on a chair or the like.

また、この膝関節運動補助装置を装着した患者が、図８に示す椅子等への着座状態から起立しようとする場合は、患者の上腿部４は下腿部６に対して９０°を超えて更に屈曲しようとする。その場合の膝関節角は１０５°〜１３５°であり、この角度範囲内では膝関節は再び回転運動のみを行う。これにより、膝関節角が１０５°に到達するまでは、図８中、枢軸２０が長孔２１内をその一端２１ａから他端２１ｂに向かって滑りつつ回転運動を行い、膝関節角が１０５°に到達すると、図９に示すように、枢軸２０が長孔２１の他端２１ｂに当って停止し、膝関節が１０５°〜１３５°の範囲内で屈曲する際は枢軸２０はその停止位置で回転運動のみ行う。 In addition, when the patient wearing the knee joint exercise assisting device tries to stand up from the sitting state on the chair shown in FIG. 8, the patient's upper leg 4 exceeds 90 ° with respect to the lower leg 6. Try to bend further. In this case, the knee joint angle is 105 ° to 135 °. Within this angle range, the knee joint again performs only rotational motion. Thus, until the knee joint angle reaches 105 °, the pivot 20 in FIG. 8 performs a rotational motion while sliding in the long hole 21 from one end 21a to the other end 21b, and the knee joint angle is 105 °. 9, as shown in FIG. 9, the pivot 20 stops against the other end 21 b of the long hole 21, and when the knee joint bends within the range of 105 ° to 135 °, the pivot 20 is in its stop position. Perform only rotational motion.

その後、制御部３２からの指令によってモーター２９が逆転し、図９、図８、図７および図６で順次示すように、駆動歯車２５が矢印Ｂの方向に回転しつつ周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ｂの方向に公転する。これにより、患者は椅子等への着座状態から起立することが可能になる。 Thereafter, the motor 29 reverses in response to a command from the control unit 32, and the drive gear 25 rotates around the peripheral cam 22 while rotating in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIGS. 9, 8, 7, and 6 in sequence. Revolve in the direction of arrow b. As a result, the patient can stand up from a sitting state on a chair or the like.

なお、図６及び図９に示すように、膝関節角０°及び１３５°に対応して、周縁カム２２にはストッパ３３が設けられる。すなわち、周縁カム２２の歯列２２ａと平滑縁２２ｂとの境界に、駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４が夫々当たることによって、上腿部４と下腿部６の直立状態又は屈曲状態を保持せしめるストッパ３３が凸状に設けられる。 6 and 9, the peripheral cam 22 is provided with a stopper 33 corresponding to the knee joint angles of 0 ° and 135 °. That is, the stopper 33 that holds the upper leg 4 and the lower leg 6 in an upright state or a bent state when the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24 hit the boundary between the tooth row 22a and the smooth edge 22b of the peripheral cam 22, respectively. Are provided in a convex shape.

図６に示すように、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して直立状態になると、駆動歯車２５がストッパ３３に当たって停止し、その結果、患者は直立姿勢を容易に保持することができる。また、図９に示すように、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して所定の膝関節角の屈曲状態になると、カムフォロア２４がストッパ３３に当たって停止し、その結果、患者は着座姿勢から容易に立ち上がり動作に移行することができる。 As shown in FIG. 6, when the upper thigh mounting portion 5 is in an upright state with respect to the lower thigh mounting portion 7, the drive gear 25 hits the stopper 33 and stops, so that the patient can easily hold the upright posture. . Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the upper thigh mounting portion 5 is bent with a predetermined knee joint angle with respect to the lower thigh mounting portion 7, the cam follower 24 hits the stopper 33 and stops, and as a result, the patient moves from the sitting posture. It is possible to easily shift to a rising operation.

また、図９中、周縁カム２２における歯列２２ａと平滑縁２２ｂの各々をより長く形成することによって、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して例えば約１６０°屈曲可能とすることもできる。その場合は、患者は正座をすることができる。 Further, in FIG. 9, each of the tooth row 22 a and the smooth edge 22 b in the peripheral cam 22 is formed longer so that the upper thigh mounting portion 5 can be bent with respect to the lower thigh mounting portion 7 by, for example, about 160 °. it can. In that case, the patient can sit upright.

次に、上記構成の膝関節運動補助装置の作用について説明する。 Next, the operation of the knee joint motion assisting device having the above configuration will be described.

まず、図１（Ａ）及び図２に示すように、膝関節運動補助装置が変形性膝関節症を発症した患者の脚に装着される。 First, as shown in FIG. 1 (A) and FIG. 2, the knee joint movement assist device is attached to the leg of a patient who has developed knee osteoarthritis.

すなわち、膝関節運動補助装置の連結部８が患者の膝関節の側面に当てられ、上腿装着部５の上添え部１０が上腿部４の側面に当てられ、下腿装着部７の下添え部１５が下腿部６の側面に当てられる。 That is, the connecting portion 8 of the knee joint movement assisting device is applied to the side surface of the knee joint of the patient, the upper appendage portion 10 of the upper leg attachment portion 5 is applied to the side surface of the upper leg portion 4, and the lower attachment portion of the lower leg attachment portion 7 is provided. The part 15 is applied to the side surface of the lower leg part 6.

そして、上添え部１０の上端部が患者の腰に巻き付けられた腰ベルト１１に連結具１２を介して連結され、上添え部１０の基部９に隣接した部分が上腿当て部１３、面ファスナ１４等を介して上腿部４の膝上部分に連結される。 The upper end portion of the upper attachment portion 10 is connected to a waist belt 11 wound around the patient's waist via a connector 12, and a portion adjacent to the base portion 9 of the upper attachment portion 10 is an upper thigh pad portion 13, a hook and loop fastener. It connects with the above-knee part of the upper leg part 4 via 14 grade | etc.,.

また、下添え部１５の基部９に隣接する部分が下腿当て部１６、面ファスナ１７等を介して下腿部６の膝下部分に連結され、下添え部１５の下端部が足首当て部１８、面ファスナ１９等を介して下腿部６の足首に連結される。 Further, the portion of the lower attachment portion 15 adjacent to the base portion 9 is connected to the lower knee portion of the lower leg portion 6 via the lower leg contact portion 16 and the hook and loop fastener 17, and the lower end portion of the lower attachment portion 15 is connected to the ankle contact portion 18. It is connected to the ankle of the crus 6 via a hook-and-loop fastener 19 or the like.

その他、図示しないが電池が腰ベルト１１に取り付けられ、この電池にモーター２９が電気的に接続される。 In addition, although not shown, a battery is attached to the waist belt 11, and a motor 29 is electrically connected to the battery.

モーター２９の図示しないＯＮ／ＯＦＦスイッチが入れられると、モーター２９が起動し、その動力が駆動部の歯車列を介して駆動歯車２５に入力される。 When an ON / OFF switch (not shown) of the motor 29 is turned on, the motor 29 is activated and the power is input to the drive gear 25 via the gear train of the drive unit.

モーター２９は制御部３２によって歩行用、着座用等の各種の制御モードで制御される。 The motor 29 is controlled by the control unit 32 in various control modes such as walking and sitting.

歩行用の制御モードにセットされた場合は、図６のごとく膝関節が伸長した状態で駆動歯車２５が矢印Ａの方向に回り始め、周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ａ方向に公転し、その結果、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが相対的回転運動を行って図７のごとく膝関節を屈曲させる。この回転運動による膝関節の回転角度は例えば０°〜６０°の範囲内である。 When the walking control mode is set, the drive gear 25 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow A with the knee joint extended as shown in FIG. 6, and revolves around the peripheral cam 22 in the direction of arrow a. The upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 perform relative rotational motion to bend the knee joint as shown in FIG. The rotation angle of the knee joint by this rotational movement is in the range of 0 ° to 60 °, for example.

また、同時に周縁カム２２が駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４との間で周縁カム２２の直径方向に揺動することから、枢軸２０が図６の位置から及び図７の位置へと長孔２１内を後方にスライドする。 At the same time, the peripheral cam 22 swings in the diametrical direction of the peripheral cam 22 between the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24, so that the pivot 20 moves through the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. Slide backwards.

このように、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが枢軸２０を支点にして屈曲する回転運動を行うと同時に、枢軸２０が長孔２１内を後方にスライド運動することから、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７は、図１０に示した人体の膝関節のすべり転がり運動に近似した動きをすることとなり、患者は無理なく自然に脚を屈曲させることができる。 In this way, the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 perform a rotational motion of bending with the pivot 20 as a fulcrum, and at the same time, the pivot 20 slides backward in the long hole 21, so that the upper thigh is mounted. The part 5 and the crus mounting part 7 move similar to the sliding movement of the knee joint of the human body shown in FIG. 10, and the patient can bend the leg naturally without difficulty.

駆動歯車２５が周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ａ方向に所定角度だけ公転すると、モーター２９が逆転に切り替えられ、駆動歯車２５が矢印Ｂの方向に回り始め、周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ｂ方向に公転し、その結果、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが相対的回転運動を行って図６のごとく膝関節を伸長させる。 When the drive gear 25 revolves around the peripheral cam 22 in the direction of arrow a by a predetermined angle, the motor 29 is switched to reverse rotation, the drive gear 25 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow B, and around the peripheral cam 22 in the direction of arrow b. As a result, the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 perform a relative rotational movement to extend the knee joint as shown in FIG.

また、同時に周縁カム２２が駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４との間を周縁カム２２の直径方向に揺動することから、枢軸２０が図７の位置から及び図６の位置へと長孔２１内を前方にスライドする。 At the same time, the peripheral cam 22 swings between the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24 in the diameter direction of the peripheral cam 22, so that the pivot 20 moves through the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 7 to the position of FIG. 6. Slide forward.

これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが枢軸２０を支点にして脚を伸ばす方向に回転運動を行うと同時に、枢軸２０が長孔２１内を前方にスライド運動することから、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７は、図１０に示した人体の膝関節のすべり転がり運動に近似した動きをすることとなり、患者は無理なく自然に脚を伸ばすことができる。 As a result, the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 rotate in the direction of extending the legs with the pivot 20 as a fulcrum, and at the same time, the pivot 20 slides forward in the elongated hole 21, The thigh attachment part 5 and the crus attachment part 7 move similar to the sliding movement of the knee joint of the human body shown in FIG. 10, and the patient can naturally stretch his / her legs without difficulty.

枢軸２０が図７の位置から及び図６の位置へと長孔２１内を前方にスライドすると、長孔２１の他端２１ｂに当たって停止する。 When the pivot 20 slides forward in the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 7 to the position of FIG. 6, it strikes against the other end 21 b of the long hole 21 and stops.

また、駆動歯車２５が周縁カム２２のストッパ３３に当たって停止する。これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の逆向きの屈曲が阻止され、患者の起立状態が保持され膝関節が保護される。 Further, the drive gear 25 comes into contact with the stopper 33 of the peripheral cam 22 and stops. Thereby, the bending | flexion of the reverse direction of the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7 is blocked | prevented, a patient's standing state is maintained and a knee joint is protected.

その後、モーター２９の正逆転の繰り返しによって、上記駆動歯車２５の回転が矢印Ａの方向と矢印Ｂの方向に交互に切り替えられ、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の伸長と屈曲とが繰り返され、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示すように、患者の歩行動作が補助される。 Thereafter, the rotation of the drive gear 25 is alternately switched between the direction of the arrow A and the direction of the arrow B by repeating the forward and reverse rotations of the motor 29, and the extension and bending of the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7 are repeated. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the walking motion of the patient is assisted.

モーター２９が制御部３２によって着座用の制御モードにセットされた場合は、図６のごとく膝関節が伸長した状態で駆動歯車２５が矢印Ａの方向に回り始め、周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ａ方向に公転し、その結果、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが相対的回転運動を行い、図７の状態を経て、図８のごとく膝関節を屈曲させる。この回転運動による膝関節の回転角度は例えば０°〜９０°の範囲内である。 When the motor 29 is set to the seating control mode by the control unit 32, the drive gear 25 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow A with the knee joint extended as shown in FIG. As a result, the upper thigh mounting portion 5 and the lower thigh mounting portion 7 perform relative rotational movement, and the knee joint is bent as shown in FIG. 8 through the state of FIG. The rotation angle of the knee joint by this rotational movement is in the range of 0 ° to 90 °, for example.

また、同時に周縁カム２２が駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４との間を周縁カム２２の直径方向に揺動することから、枢軸２０が図６の位置から図８の位置へと長孔２１内を後方にスライドする。 At the same time, the peripheral cam 22 swings between the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24 in the diameter direction of the peripheral cam 22, so that the pivot 20 moves backward in the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 8. Slide to.

これにより、枢軸２０は図１０に示した膝関節のすべり転がり運動に倣うように運動する。 Thereby, the pivot 20 moves so as to follow the sliding motion of the knee joint shown in FIG.

駆動歯車２５が周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ａ方向に所定角度だけ公転すると、モーター２９が停止し、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７との相対的回転運動も停止し、患者は椅子等に着座可能となる。 When the drive gear 25 revolves around the peripheral cam 22 in the direction of arrow a by a predetermined angle, the motor 29 stops, the relative rotational movement between the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 also stops, and the patient becomes a chair or the like. Can be seated.

患者が椅子から起立しようとする場合は、患者の上腿部４は下腿部６に対して９０°を超えて更に屈曲しようとする。これに対応して、モーター２９が正転を開始し、膝関節角が１０５°になったところで枢軸２０が長孔２１の他端２１ｂに当って停止し、膝関節角が１０５°〜１３５°の範囲内において枢軸２０はその停止位置で回転運動のみ行う。 When the patient wants to stand up from the chair, the patient's upper leg 4 tries to bend more than 90 ° with respect to the lower leg 6. Correspondingly, when the motor 29 starts normal rotation and the knee joint angle reaches 105 °, the pivot 20 stops by hitting the other end 21b of the long hole 21, and the knee joint angle is 105 ° to 135 °. Within the range, the pivot 20 only performs rotational movement at its stop position.

なお、膝関節角が１３５°になると、図９に示すように、カムフォロア２４がストッパ３３に当たって停止する。これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７の更なる屈曲が阻止され、膝関節が保護される。 When the knee joint angle reaches 135 °, the cam follower 24 hits the stopper 33 and stops as shown in FIG. Thereby, the further bending | flexion of the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7 is blocked | prevented, and a knee joint is protected.

続いて、モーター２９が逆転に切り替えられ、駆動歯車２５が矢印Ｂの方向に回り始め、周縁カム２２の回りを矢印ｂ方向に公転し、その結果、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７とが相対的回転運動を行って図６のごとく膝関節を伸長させる。 Subsequently, the motor 29 is switched to reverse rotation, the drive gear 25 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow B, revolves around the peripheral cam 22 in the direction of the arrow b, and as a result, the upper leg mounting part 5 and the lower leg mounting part 7 Performs a relative rotational movement to extend the knee joint as shown in FIG.

また、同時に周縁カム２２が駆動歯車２５とカムフォロア２４との間を周縁カム２２の直径方向に揺動することから、枢軸２０が図８の位置から及び図６の位置へと長孔２１内を前方にスライドする。 At the same time, the peripheral cam 22 swings between the drive gear 25 and the cam follower 24 in the diametrical direction of the peripheral cam 22, so that the pivot 20 moves through the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 6. Slide forward.

枢軸２０が図８の位置から及び図６の位置へと長孔２１内を前方にスライドすると、長孔２１の他端２１ｂに当たって停止する。 When the pivot 20 slides forward in the long hole 21 from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 6, it strikes against the other end 21 b of the long hole 21 and stops.

また、駆動歯車２５がストッパ３３に当たって停止する。これにより、上腿装着部５と下腿装着部７が真っ直ぐに伸びた状態に保持される。また、逆向きの屈曲が阻止され、膝関節が保護される。 Further, the drive gear 25 hits the stopper 33 and stops. Thereby, the upper thigh mounting part 5 and the lower thigh mounting part 7 are held in a state of extending straight. In addition, reverse bending is prevented and the knee joint is protected.

なお、図９中、周縁カム２２における歯列２２ａと平滑縁２２ｂの各々をより長く形成することによって、上腿装着部５が下腿装着部７に対して例えば約１６０°屈曲可能とすることもできる。その結果、患者は正座も可能になる。 In FIG. 9, the upper leg mounting part 5 can be bent with respect to the lower leg mounting part 7 by, for example, about 160 ° by forming each of the tooth row 22 a and the smooth edge 22 b in the peripheral cam 22 longer. it can. As a result, the patient can also sit upright.

なお、本発明は、上記実施形態に限定されるものではなく、本発明の要旨の範囲内において種々の変更が可能である。例えば、上記実施の形態では、膝関節運動補助装置を右脚用として示したが、右脚用のものを略対称形にすることによって左足用のものとすることも可能である。また、左右両脚に膝関節運動補助装置を装着することも可能である。また、駆動源としてモーターを用いたが他の種類の駆動源を使用することも可能である。 In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the knee joint exercise assisting device is shown for the right leg, but it is also possible to make it for the left foot by making the right leg device substantially symmetrical. It is also possible to wear knee joint exercise assisting devices on the left and right legs. Further, although a motor is used as the drive source, other types of drive sources can be used.

本発明に係る膝関節運動補助装置の使用状態を示す説明図であり、（Ａ）は脚を伸ばした状態を示し、（Ｂ）は脚を曲げた状態を示す。It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the knee joint exercise assistance apparatus which concerns on this invention, (A) shows the state which extended the leg, (B) shows the state which bent the leg. 図１に示した膝関節運動補助装置の装着状態を示す斜視図である。It is a perspective view which shows the mounting state of the knee joint exercise assistance apparatus shown in FIG. 本発明に係る膝関節運動補助装置の要部を示す斜視図である。It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the knee joint exercise assistance apparatus which concerns on this invention. 図３に示す膝関節運動補助装置の中心部を保護カバーを除いて示す正面図である。It is a front view which shows the center part of the knee joint movement assistance apparatus shown in FIG. 3 except a protective cover. 図４中、Ｖ−Ｖ線矢視断面図である。In FIG. 4, it is a VV arrow directional cross-sectional view. 図５中、ＶＩ−ＶＩ線矢視断面図であり、膝関節が伸長した状態を示す。In FIG. 5, it is a VI-VI arrow directional cross-sectional view, and shows the state which the knee joint extended | stretched. 図６と同様な断面図であり、膝関節が歩行時に屈曲した状態を示す。FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing a state where the knee joint is bent during walking. 図６と同様な断面図であり、膝関節が着座時に屈曲した状態を示す。FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing a state where the knee joint is bent when seated. 図６と同様な断面図であり、膝関節が立上がりに際し更に屈曲した状態を示す。FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the knee joint is further bent upon rising. 膝関節の運動を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the exercise | movement of a knee joint. 大腿骨の下部の回転中心が膝関節の屈曲と共に移動する様子を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the rotation center of the lower part of a femur moves with the bending of a knee joint.

Explanation of symbols

４…上腿部
５…上腿装着部
６…下腿部
７…下腿装着部
８…連結部
２０…枢軸
２１…長孔
２２…周縁カム
２２ａ…歯列
２２ｂ…平滑縁
２４…カムフォロア
２５…駆動歯車
２９…モーター
３０，３１…すぐばかさ歯車
３３…ストッパ 4 ... Upper leg part 5 ... Upper leg part 6 ... Lower leg part 7 ... Lower leg part 8 ... Connection part 20 ... Axis 21 ... Long hole 22 ... Peripheral cam 22a ... Teeth row 22b ... Smooth edge 24 ... Cam follower 25 ... Drive Gear 29 ... Motor 30, 31 ... Immediately bevel gear 33 ... Stopper

Claims

An upper thigh attachment portion attached to the upper thigh portion, a lower thigh attachment portion attached to the lower thigh portion, and a connecting portion that rotatably connects between the upper thigh attachment portion and the knee joint side ends of the lower thigh attachment portion; And a knee provided with a drive part that relatively slides between the knee joint side end parts in the front-rear direction while relatively rotating the upper leg attachment part and the lower leg attachment part around the connecting part. In the joint motion assisting device, the drive unit includes a peripheral cam, a cam follower and a drive gear arranged so as to sandwich the peripheral cam, and the peripheral cam, the cam follower, and the drive gear include the upper thigh mounting unit and Mounted on one and the other of the lower leg mounting portions, respectively, a tooth row with which the drive gear engages and a smooth edge with which the cam follower comes into contact are formed on the periphery of the peripheral cam. The cam is connected to the drive gear Knee exercise assisting apparatus characterized by the rotating and to the rotational movement and sliding movement occurs between the Muforoa.

The knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the cam follower and the drive gear are attached to the upper thigh mounting portion, and the peripheral cam is attached to the lower thigh mounting portion. .

The knee joint exercise assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion has a pivot and a long hole into which the pivot is inserted, and the pivot and the long hole are the upper thigh mounting portion. And a knee joint motion assisting device provided on one and the other of the lower leg mounting portions, respectively.

The knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving gear and the cam follower hit the boundary between the dentition and the smooth edge of the peripheral cam, respectively, so that A knee joint motion assisting device provided with a stopper for holding an upright state or a bent state.

The knee joint motion assisting device according to claim 1, wherein a motor is attached to the upper thigh mounting portion, and a power transmission system from the motor to the drive gear is composed of one or both of a spur gear and a straight bevel gear. A knee joint motion assisting device comprising a gear train.