KR20120047401A - Energy storage-emission type of ankle joint and foot in gait assistance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ankle joint energy storage-emission type walking aid is provided to consume energy according to a need after efficiently storing energy generated while walking. CONSTITUTION: An ankle joint energy storage-emission type walking aid comprises a foot unit(10) and a foot energy storage unit. The foot unit is worn on the foot of a wearer. The foot energy storage unit is installed in the foot unit and saves energy when the foot moves. The foot unit is equipped with a body part, a front bottom supporting part, and a heel supporting part. The foot energy storage unit saves the energy generated by the rotation of the heel supporting part.

Description

ENERGY STORAGE-EMISSION TYPE OF ANKLE JOINT AND FOOT IN GAIT ASSISTANCE DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a walking assistance device, and more particularly, to a walking assistance device of ankle joint energy storage-release method.

As the body walks forward, one leg carries the trunk and the other leg goes forward. And the legs swap roles with each other. Both feet are attached to the ground while moving their center of gravity from one leg to the other. One such continuous cycle by one leg is called the gait cycle.

Since walking is performed by the flow of motion, there is no special starting point or ending point. Therefore, the start of the walking cycle should be chosen. In general, the action of the heel of the foot in contact with the ground is selected as the start of the gait cycle, since most walking patterns are determined at the time of contact with the ground.

12A to 12H are diagrams illustrating a general gait cycle. Referring to Figure 12a to 12h schematically illustrating the walking cycle as follows. The walking cycle is divided into stance phases and swing phases. The stance is used to represent the entire period of time when the plantar is in contact with the ground, and the stator is the time the foot is in the air to move forward. The stir starts with the soles lifted from the ground.

FIG. 12A shows an initial contact (based on dark color hereinafter) and shows motion when the sole (or heel) is in direct contact with the ground. 12B shows the loading response and uses the legs to move the weight forward. The load reactor continues until the legs are lifted up for swing. 12C shows mid stance and begins when the other foot (marked in white) is lifted. 12D shows the terminal stance, which begins with heel raising and continues until the other plantar reaches the ground. 12E shows the pre-swing and starts by ground contact of the other sole (marked in white). 12F shows an initial swing and begins with raising feet off the ground. 12G and 12H show mid swing and terminal swing, which ends when the heel contacts the ground.

Such gait is a continuous result of motion patterns formed by hip joints, knee joints, and ankle joints. Therefore, walking can be performed smoothly only when there is a normal operation of these, and when any one of these is abnormally operated or difficult to operate, the walking may be abnormal or impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a walking assistance device to help walking smoothly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a walking assistance device capable of efficiently storing and consuming energy generated during walking.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a walking assistance device that can be remotely moved for a long time by minimizing energy consumption during walking.

Still other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the walking assistance device includes a foot worn on the wearer's foot; It is installed on the foot, and includes a foot energy storage unit for storing energy when the foot moves from the initial ground to the load reactor.

The foot is a body portion; A front heel support part connected to the front of the body part and corresponding to the front heel of the foot; And a heel support part connected to the rear of the body part and corresponding to the heel of the foot and switchable to a release position and a storage position by rotation, wherein the foot energy storage unit stores energy generated by rotation of the heel support part. Can be.

The foot energy storage unit may include a lower piston moving in a lower moving space formed along the front and rear of the body portion; A lower elastic body installed in the lower moving space and compressible by the movement of the lower piston; And a lower link connecting the heel support and the lower piston.

The foot energy storage unit may further include a lower fixing lever fixedly installed to the body and restricting movement of the lower piston protrusion through one side.

The front heel support portion is rotatable relative to the body portion, it may be provided with a release lever for allowing the movement of the lower piston projection by pressing the other side of the lower fixing lever by rotation.

The walk assistance device further includes a tibial support, one side of which is connected to the foot, and the tibial support is fixed to the tibial part of the wearer to be fixed to the tibia; And it is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the tibia portion on one side of the tibia, it may be provided with a connecting bar that can be rotated relative to the three different rotation axis with respect to the foot.

The tibial support is connected to the foot and has an insertion joint having a first insertion protrusion that is generally parallel with the first rotation shaft; And a connection joint connecting the connection bar and the insertion joint and having second and third insertion protrusions generally parallel to the second and third rotational shafts, respectively, wherein the foot portion is provided with the first insertion protrusion inserted therein. It has a first insertion groove, the connecting bar may have a second insertion groove into which the second insertion projection is inserted, the insertion joint may have a third insertion groove into which the third insertion projection is inserted.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the walking can be smoothly provided by providing external energy in addition to the bioenergy such as joints or muscles when walking, and the long-distance or long-distance movement is possible by minimizing the consumption of bioenergy during walking.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a walking assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 to 4 are views showing the operation of the foot energy storage unit shown in Figure 1 in the initial grounding and the load reactor.
5 is a view showing the operation of the foot energy storage unit shown in FIG.
6 is a view showing the operation of the walking assistance device when walking through the bottom contact of the two feet.
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an insertion joint and a connection joint connecting the connecting bar and the foot part shown in FIG. 1 to each other.
8 to 10 are views showing the operation of the connecting bar and the foot through the insertion joint and the connecting joint shown in FIG.
11 is an illustration of important functional joints of the foot during walking.
12A to 12H are diagrams illustrating a general gait cycle.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. The embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are provided to explain the present invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Accordingly, the shape of each element shown in the drawings may be exaggerated to emphasize a more clear description.

On the other hand, the walking cycle mentioned below is only an example for description, and the contents of the present invention should not be limited to being applied to a specific walking cycle. As mentioned above, the walking cycle is made by the flow of the operation, and it is not appropriate to clearly describe the specific period. In addition, the walking cycle may be different from the above-mentioned contents according to the individual's habits, and in particular, the patient may be different from the aforementioned.

Further, the 'front' and 'rear' described below are based on the wearer, for example, the front heel is in the front and the heel is in the rear.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a walking assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the walking assistance device includes a foot 10 and a connection bar 19. The lower end of the connecting bar 19 is connected to the insertion pocket 18 of the foot 10, the upper strap (V1) is provided on the upper end of the connecting bar 19, the lower strap (V2) to the foot (10) Is provided. Accordingly, the wearer can wear the foot 10 to the leg through the lower strap V2 in a state where the foot is placed on the foot 10, and the connecting bar 19 through the upper strap V1 to the tibia part. Can be fixed on one side. For this reason, the connecting bar 19 when walking can interlock with the tibia.

The foot 10 includes an heel support 12, a body 14, and a heel support 16. The body portion 14 is located under the sole of the wearer, and the heel support 12 and the heel support 16 are placed under the heel and the heel, respectively. The heel support 12 and the heel support 16 are rotatably connected to the front and rear of the body portion 14, respectively.

2 to 4 are views showing the operation of the foot energy storage unit shown in Figure 1 in the initial grounding and the load reactor. The walking aid device further includes a foot energy storage unit, and can store energy as well as consume energy through the foot energy storage unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the foot energy storage unit includes a lower piston 17, a lower link 176, and a lower elastic body S. Body portion 14 has a lower moving space 15 formed along the front and rear, the lower piston 17 moves along the lower moving space (15). The lower elastic body S is installed in the lower moving space 15 and is compressed or restored by the movement of the lower piston 17 to move the lower piston 17. The lower link 176 has a lower front link 176a and a lower rear link 176b, and the lower piston 17 is connected to the heel support 16 by the lower front link 176a and the lower rear link 176b. Connected.

Meanwhile, the foot energy storage unit further includes a lower fixing lever 172 and a lower auxiliary lever 174. The lower fixing lever 172 is fixed to the lower portion of the body portion 14 is rotatable, and has a fixed lever protrusion 173 at one end. The fixed lever protrusion 173 corresponds to the lower piston protrusion 171 protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the lower piston 17. When the lower elastic body S is compressed by the movement of the lower piston 17, the fixed lever protrusion ( 173 restricts the lower piston protrusion 171 to prevent the lower piston 17 from returning to its original position. Similarly, the lower auxiliary lever 174 is fixed to the lower portion of the body portion 14 is rotatable, one end is in contact with the lower fixing lever 172, the other end to the lower release lever 122 of the front heel support portion 12 I touch it. Details of the lower fixing lever 172 and the lower release lever 122 will be described later.

As described above, the walking cycle begins with the initial folding, with the heel of the wearer first facing the ground. At this time, as shown in Figure 2, the lower piston 17 is located on the rear side of the lower movable space 15, the heel support portion 16 is bent down so that the bottom surface of the heel support portion 16 is the body portion 14 It is at an angle to the bottom of the bottom (hereinafter referred to as 'release position').

As shown in Figure 3, the walking cycle proceeds to the load reactor, the weight is carried on the foot, the heel support 16 is rotated counterclockwise (hereinafter referred to as the "storage position"), the heel support 12 And the body portion 14 moves toward the ground. At this time, the lower front link (176a) and the lower rear link (176b) is rotated by the rotation of the heel support 16, for this reason, the lower piston 17 is advanced toward the front to compress the lower elastic body (S). . The lower elastic body S is compressed by the lower piston 17 and at the same time relieves the shock (or a sudden increase in load due to the weight) that can be applied to the foot while the weight is carried on the foot.

In the state in which the lower piston 17 is advanced, the fixed lever protrusion 173 restricts the lower piston protrusion 171, which causes the lower piston 17 to return to its original position. Therefore, the compressed lower elastic body S may maintain a state in which energy generated by the rotation of the heel support part 16 is stored. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the front surface of the heel support portion 12 and the body portion 14, and the heel support portion 16 is in contact with the ground, this state continues to the mid stance (mid stance).

On the other hand, the lower fixing lever 172 and the lower auxiliary lever 174 can maintain the position shown in Figures 2 to 4 by a separate torsion spring (not shown), the lower fixing lever 172 Is temporarily deformed by the advancement of the lower piston 17 and then returned to its original position (or the fixed lever protrusion 173 returns to its original position after temporary movement by the advancement of the lower piston 17). It is possible to limit the reverse of the piston 17. Since the configuration of the torsion spring is already known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5 is a view showing the operation of the foot energy storage unit shown in FIG. As described above, the terminal stand begins with lifting the heel (see FIG. 12D). At this time, the weight is loaded on the heel by the operation of lifting the heel. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the front heel portion 12 rotates clockwise with respect to the body portion 14.

At this time, the lower release lever 122 of the front heel portion 12 presses one end of the lower subsidiary lever 174, whereby the lower subsidiary lever 174 rotates counterclockwise to the other end of the lower subsidiary lever 174. One end of the lower fixing lever 172 is pressed. In conclusion, the fixed lever protrusion 173 releases the restraint of the lower piston protrusion 171, and the lower piston 17 returns to its original position by the lower elastic body S. FIG.

When the lower piston 17 moves backward, the lower front link 176a and the lower rear link 176a rotate, and the lower front link 176a and the lower rear link 176a are the bottom surface of the body portion 14. By being constrained by the heel support 16 is struck down again and placed in the release position. At this time, the elastic force (or restoring force) of the lower elastic body (S) pushes the heel support 16, and consequently, the heel support 16 provides the force to push the ground, so that the wearer lifts the heel in the terminal position Helps to raise. That is, by entering the load reactor to store a certain amount of energy in the lower elastic body (S), by consuming the stored energy in the late standing, it is possible to minimize the body energy required for walking.

On the other hand, as described above, the front heel portion 12 rotates clockwise with respect to the body portion 14, thereby, as shown in Figure 5, the front heel portion 12 is a constant angle with the body portion 14 (tilt angle). At this time, the lower subsidiary lever 174 is rotated by the lower release lever 122, thereby the torsion spring (not shown) installed in the lower subsidiary lever 174 can be compressed to store the elastic force. Thereafter, while entering the pre-swing during the walking cycle, the front heel portion 12 rotates counterclockwise to spur the ground, and at this time, the elastic force stored in the torsion spring is released and the front heel portion 12 ) Can be rotated, and the force can be strongly hit by the small force. In other words, by entering a terminal position, the energy of a certain size is stored in the torsion spring, and the stored energy is consumed in the pre-tilt, thereby minimizing body energy required for walking.

6 is a view showing the operation of the walking assistance device when walking through the bottom contact of the two feet. As shown in FIG. 6, the left foot (located on the left side based on FIG. 6) corresponds to the load reactor, and the right foot (located on the right side based on FIG. 6) corresponds to the pre-embosser. That is, the two feet make different bottom contact, and walking is performed by repeating the bottom contact. Therefore, the wearer can walk while wearing the walking assistance device on both feet, and can receive the above-described help according to the cycle of the two feet.

On the other hand, the double limb support, which is in contact with the ground to change the supporting role of the limbs, is a basic feature of gait. When the lower leg support is omitted, a person enters a running phase. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, walking occurs alternately with support of the lower limbs, while running occurs alternately with support of the lower limbs without support of both limbs.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an insert joint and a connecting joint connecting the connecting bar and the foot shown in FIG. 1 to each other, and FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate operations of the connecting bar and the foot using the insert and the connecting joint shown in FIG. 7. It is a figure which shows.

As shown in FIG. 7, the foot 10 includes an insertion pocket 18 provided on the side of the foot 10, and the insertion pocket 18 has a first insertion groove 18a. The insertion joint J has a first insertion protrusion 22, and the first insertion protrusion 22 is disposed substantially parallel to the first rotation shaft R1. The first insertion protrusion 22 may be inserted into the first insertion groove 18a and rotate about the first rotation shaft R1 in the first insertion groove 18a.

The knee joint is a joint with a very complex feature that exhibits a greater range of motion in the sagittal and a smaller range of motility in the coronal and horizontal planes. Of these, the movement of the coronal plane in each gait cycle shows that the knee joint moves into adduction (abduction toward the center of the body) and abduction (movement away from the center of the body). The first insertion protrusion 22 is provided for adduction and abduction, and the first insertion protrusion 22 may provide degrees of freedom for adduction and abduction by rotating based on the first rotation axis R1. . FIG. 8 is a view illustrating movement of the foot 10 during adduction or abduction, and the foot 10 may move independently from the upper strap V1 and the connecting bar 19.

The connecting joint 26 connects the connecting bar 19 and the insertion joint J, and the connecting joint 26 has a tetrahedron shape. The connecting joint 26 has second and third insertion protrusions 26a and 26b. The second insertion protrusions 26a are generally disposed in parallel with the predetermined second rotation shaft R2, and are installed on surfaces opposite to each other. The connecting bar 19 has a second connecting portion 19a provided at the bottom, and the second connecting portion 19a has a second insertion groove (not shown). The second insertion protrusion 26a is inserted into and installed in the second insertion groove of the second connecting portion 19a and may rotate about the second rotation shaft R2 in the second insertion groove.

The ankle alternates plantar flexion (PF) and dorsiflexion during the gait cycle. Bottom flexion refers to the downward motion of the foot, and dorsal flexion refers to the upward motion of the foot. The range of motion of the ankle is about 30 degrees (20-40 degrees), and the motion of the ankle is related to the type of support of the ankle. The second insertion protrusion 26a is provided for the bottom side flexion and the dorsal flexion, and when the bottom side flexion or the dorsal flexion is performed, the second insertion protrusion 26a is rotated with respect to the second axis of rotation R2 to the lower side flexion and the dorsal flexion. Can provide freedom. 9 is a view showing the movement of the connecting bar 19 during the low side flexion or dorsal bending, the connection bar 19 can be moved independently from the foot (10).

The third insertion protrusion 26b is generally disposed in parallel with the predetermined third rotation shaft R3 and is installed on surfaces opposite to each other. The insertion joint J has a third connection part 24 provided at the upper end, and the third connection part 24 has a third insertion groove. The third insertion protrusion 26b is inserted into and installed in the third insertion groove of the third connecting portion 24, and may rotate about the third rotation shaft R3 in the third insertion groove.

As shown in FIG. 11, the foot has three main joints, which are the ST-subtalar joint, the MT-midtarsal joint, and the MP-metatarsophalangeal joint. Among these, the subtalar joint has a single axis, and the axis is inclined to allow inward (inversion) and inward (eversion) valgus. If the initial floor contact of the heel is normal, the subtalar joint is valgus, and the vertex of the valgus is reached at the initial mid stance (14% gait cycle). The subtalar joint motion is gradually reversed into the varus through a terminal swing, and the vertices of the varus are reached at the beginning of the preliminary phase (52% walking cycle). The third insertion protrusion 26b is provided for the varus and valgus, and when the varus or valgus is rotated with respect to the third rotation axis R3, the third insertion protrusion 26b may provide degrees of freedom for the varus and valgus. . FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the movement of the connecting bar 19 at the inner and outer valgus, and the connecting bar 19 may move independently from the foot 10.

Although the present invention has been described in detail by way of preferred embodiments thereof, other forms of embodiment are possible. Therefore, the technical idea and scope of the claims set forth below are not limited to the preferred embodiments.

10: foot 12: heel support
14: body portion 15: lower moving space
16: heel support 17: lower piston
122: lower release lever 171: lower piston projection
172: lower fixed lever 173: fixed lever projection
174: lower auxiliary lever

Claims (7)

A foot worn on the wearer's foot;
Is installed in the foot, walking aid device comprising a foot energy storage unit for storing energy when the foot is moved from the initial ground to the load reactor. The method of claim 1,
The foot,
A body portion;
A front heel support part connected to the front of the body part and corresponding to the front heel of the foot; And
It is connected to the rear of the body portion corresponding to the heel of the foot, and includes a heel support that is switchable to the release position and the storage position by rotation,
The foot energy storage unit is a walk assistance device, characterized in that for storing the energy generated by the rotation of the heel support. The method of claim 2,
The foot energy storage unit,
A lower piston moving in the lower moving space formed along the front and rear of the body portion;
A lower elastic body installed in the lower moving space and compressible by the movement of the lower piston; And
And a lower link connecting the heel support and the lower piston. The method of claim 3,
The foot energy storage unit is fixed to the body portion is walking aid device further comprises a lower fixing lever for limiting the movement of the lower piston projection through one side. The method of claim 4, wherein
The front heel support portion is rotatable assistance device, characterized in that it is rotatable with respect to the body portion, and has a release lever for allowing the movement of the lower piston projection by pressing the other side of the lower fixing lever by rotation. The method of claim 1,
The walk assistance device further includes a tibia support, one side of which is connected to the foot,
The tibia support,
A fixing part fixed to the tibia part of the wearer and interlocked with the tibia part; And
Walking assistance device, characterized in that provided on one side of the tibia portion along the longitudinal direction of the tibial portion, the connection bar that can be rotated relative to the three different rotation axis with respect to the foot. The method of claim 6,
The tibia support,
An insertion joint connected to the foot and having a first insertion protrusion that is generally parallel with the first rotation shaft; And
Further comprising a connection joint connecting the connection bar and the insertion joint and having second and third insertion protrusions generally parallel with the second and third rotational shafts, respectively.
The foot portion has a first insertion groove into which the first insertion protrusion is inserted,
The connecting bar has a second insertion groove into which the second insertion protrusion is inserted, and the insertion joint has a third insertion groove into which the third insertion protrusion is installed.

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