US20080000317A1 - Cable driven joint actuator and method - Google Patents
Cable driven joint actuator and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080000317A1 US20080000317A1 US11/809,206 US80920607A US2008000317A1 US 20080000317 A1 US20080000317 A1 US 20080000317A1 US 80920607 A US80920607 A US 80920607A US 2008000317 A1 US2008000317 A1 US 2008000317A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cable
- link
- actuator
- support member
- movable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
- A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
- A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
- A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
- A61F5/0102—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
- A61F5/0123—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations for the knees
- A61F5/0125—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations for the knees the device articulating around a single pivot-point
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus ; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
- A61H1/0237—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the lower limbs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus ; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
- A61H1/0274—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the upper limbs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/15—Arrangements for force transmissions
- A63B21/151—Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
- A63B21/154—Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains using special pulley-assemblies
- A63B21/155—Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16H—GEARING
- F16H19/00—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion
- F16H19/02—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary or oscillating motion and reciprocating motion
- F16H19/06—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary or oscillating motion and reciprocating motion comprising flexible members, e.g. an endless flexible member
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/12—Driving means
- A61H2201/1207—Driving means with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H2201/1215—Rotary drive
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/1628—Pelvis
- A61H2201/163—Pelvis holding means therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/1635—Hand or arm, e.g. handle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/164—Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H2201/1642—Holding means therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/165—Wearable interfaces
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1657—Movement of interface, i.e. force application means
- A61H2201/1676—Pivoting
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/005—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
- A63B21/0058—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters using motors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2220/00—Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
- A63B2220/17—Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2220/00—Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
- A63B2220/50—Force related parameters
- A63B2220/51—Force
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
- Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
- Y10T74/20396—Hand operated
- Y10T74/20402—Flexible transmitter [e.g., Bowden cable]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cable driven actuator and method incorporating moment arm adjustment features.
- a robotic machine capable of training or rehabilitating its human user at home or otherwise outside of a laboratory has the potential to be used more often and thus be more effective.
- Such a robotic machine should be lightweight, inexpensive, and portable, which current rehabilitation robotic machines cannot offer.
- the MIT Manus device uses a five-bar linkage and two torque motors to produce a planar haptic interface (Hogan et al. “MIT-MANUS: a workstation for manual therapy and training”, IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Communication”, pp. 161-165, Tokyo, Japan 1992).
- MIT-MANUS a workstation for manual therapy and training
- IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Communication pp. 161-165, Tokyo, Japan 1992.
- motion pathways are prescribed by the motions of the joints and by design and size of the linkage.
- a robotic actuator for dynamic legged locomotion using a cable-driven series elastic actuator is described by Hurst et al. in “An Actuator with Physically Variable Stiffness for Highly Dynamic Legged Locomotion”, International Conference on Robotics and Automation, New La 2004). Also see Veneman et al. “Design of a Series Elastic and Bowden cable-based actuation system for use as torque-actuator in exoskeleton-type training”, International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Chicago, Ill. 2005).
- a robotic machine that embodies two elastic bands connected to a passive (non-driven) circular disk and that relies on torque unbalance to cause the passive disk to jump between positions is described by Zeeman in “Catastrophe Theory: Selected Papers”, Addison-Wesley 1972-1977.
- the present invention provides a cable driven actuator mechanism that includes moment arm adjustment features to manipulate the position of the moment arm relative to a movable link.
- a cable driven joint actuator includes a movable link that can be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is movable about a path by a cable connected to the link.
- a cable routing element is provided on a movable support member that is rotated and/or translated in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint.
- the joint can include but is not limited to, a human user's joint or a mechanical joint of a mechanical device.
- the cable driven joint actuator includes a pivotal link that is adapted to be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is pivoted about a pivot axis by a length of cable engaging a pulley on the link remote from the pivot axis and having an end coupled to the link.
- One or more cable positioning pulleys is/are provided on a rotatable pulley-support member that is rotated about an axis that is coaxial with the pivot axis to cause the cable positioning pulley to reposition the cable in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint.
- the rotatable pulley support member is rotatable by a first motor.
- a device is provided to maintain a substantially constant tension on the cable.
- the device can comprise a cable spool and a second motor to rotate the spool.
- the pulley on the link and the cable positioning pulley on the movable pulley-support member can be configured as a block and tackle to amplify torque applied to the joint.
- the present invention is useful as a robotic training or rehabilitating machine, prosthetic machine, or orthotic machine for human patient use at home or otherwise outside of a laboratory as a result of its being lightweight, inexpensive, and portable.
- the present invention envisions a cable driven actuator for a human limb comprising a cable connected to a human limb that comprises a pivotal link to be actuated and that is pivoted about an axis by the cable, the cable being connected to the human limb remote from the axis.
- a movable support member includes a cable routing element wherein the support member is movable in a manner to change a moment arm of the cable acting on the human limb to control torque applied about the joint.
- the present invention envisions a cable driven actuator for a garage door or other mechanical link wherein the position of the moment arm relative to a mechanical link is manipulated.
- FIG. 1 is perspective view of a cable driven joint actuator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotator and the cable tensioner of the cable driven joint actuator of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a simplified top view meant to show the variables involved in calculating torque exerted in the joint.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a human user grasping the handle for use in training or rehabilitation where the actuator applies a torque about the elbow joint.
- FIGS. 5A is a schematic view of a human user having a cable driven actuator to apply torque about the knee joint to move the user's leg.
- FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the region boxed-in by dashed lines in FIG. 5A .
- FIG. 6 is a view of the opposite side of the knee orthosis.
- FIG. 7A and 7B are schematic views of a garage door opener mechanism in “door going up” position, where the moment arm in the cable is set to lift the door up.
- the present invention provides a cable driven joint actuator mechanism that includes moment arm adjustment features to control torque applied to a joint.
- the joint to be actuated can include, but is not limited to, a human user's joint such as an elbow joint, a mechanical joint of a mechanical device, or any other joint.
- the cable driven joint actuator includes a pivotal link 4 that is adapted to be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is pivoted about a pivot axis 5 by a discrete length of substantially inelastic cable 12 engaging one or more pulleys 6 disposed on the link 4 remote from the pivot axis 5 and having a cable end coupled to the link as explained below.
- One or more cable positioning pulleys 8 is/are provided on a rotatable pulley-support member 7 that is rotated about a center axis that is coaxial with the pivot axis 5 to cause the one or more cable positioning pulleys 8 to position the cable in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint.
- Moment arm is defined using geometry from FIG. 3 .
- the angle of the cable positioning pulleys 8 relative to a datum, ⁇ , and the angle of the pulleys of link 4 relative to the same datum, ⁇ , are combined with the radius of the link 4 and the cable positioning pulleys 8 , R L and R p , respectively.
- R R L ⁇ R p R L 2 + R p 2 - 2 ⁇ R L ⁇ R p ⁇ ⁇ cos ⁇ ( ⁇ - ⁇ ) ⁇ sin ⁇ ( ⁇ - ⁇ ) .
- the rotatable pulley support member 7 is rotatable by a first motor M 1 .
- a cable tensioner device 10 is provided to maintain a substantially constant tension on the cable 12 .
- the tensioner device 10 can comprise a cable spool 11 and a second motor M 2 to rotate the spool 11 .
- two cable pulleys 6 are shown disposed on the link 4 and two cable pulleys 8 are shown disposed on the pulley-support member 7 configured to form a block and tackle to amplify torque applied to the joint.
- the various components of the actuator are disposed on a base plate B having a base plate frame E.
- the end 4 a of the link 4 is rotatably mounted between the frame plates E 1 , E 2 of the frame E.
- the link 4 rotates about the pivot axis 5 defined by a link pivot shaft 4 s sandwiched between two 1 ⁇ 2 inch inner diameter ABEC 1 bearings from McMaster-Carr Supply Company and mounted between the frame plates E 1 , E 2 .
- the angular position ( ⁇ ) of the link 4 is measured by a 10 k ⁇ conductive plastic potentiometer 14 from Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. with a resolution of 0.03° (0.0005 radians).
- the potentiometer is rotated by the rotatable link shaft 4 s that rotates about axis 5 .
- An adjustable handle 3 is provided and can slide across a track on the link 4 to fit a variety of user arm lengths.
- Two link pulleys 6 are shown located at the remote end of the link 4 so as to form the distal portion of the cable block and tackle.
- the pulleys 6 comprise 5 ⁇ 8 inch outer diameter pulleys from McMaster-Carr Supply Company and are mounted atop one another on the link by a 3/16 inch diameter steel shaft. All machined components (except for steel shafts) are made of 6061 aluminum alloy.
- the pulley-support member 7 comprises a six inch pitch diameter, steel sprocket (Stock Drive Products, Sterling Instrument, 0.25 inch pitch) rotating about its center axis that is coaxial with pivot axis 5 and a roller chain 13 (0.25 inch pitch).
- the sprocket is rigidly connected to a support hub 7 a to prevent wobbling of the sprocket.
- the member 7 and hub 7 a are rotatably mounted on two 0.5 inch inner diameter ABEC 1 bearings from McMaster-Carr Supply Company on a steel shaft 7 s fixed to ground (i.e. base plate B).
- the shaft 4 s and the shaft 7 s have the same center of rotation.
- the pulleys 8 (both 5 ⁇ 8 inch outer diameter) are positioned by a spacer SP to be roughly at the same height as the link 4 for efficient cable-wrapping.
- Each pulley 8 uses a 1 ⁇ 4 inch inner diameter ABEC 1 bearing from McMaster-Carr Supply Company.
- the pulleys 8 are fastened in a fixed position on the member 7 (1.9375 inches from the sprocket center) on fixed shaft 7 s .
- the angular position ( ⁇ ) of the pulleys 6 is measured by the drive motor M 1 with an encoder described below.
- the larger rotating member (sprocket) 7 and the pulleys 8 disposed thereon for rotation are known together as the rotator 7 ′.
- the rotator 7 ′ is driven by a roller chain 13 and sprocket 15 from Stock Drive Products, Sterling Instrument having a 0.25 inch pitch, 0.6 inch pitch diameter coupled to a drive motor M 1 , which comprises a Yaskawa AC servomotor (SGM-02B312) with 0.637 N ⁇ m continuous torque.
- the sprocket drive motor M 1 is provided with an encoder with 8192 counts/revolution that is used as feedback to measure pulley angle ⁇ . Through the transmission ratio of 10, the resulting resolution of the position is 0.016° (0.0003 radian).
- the transmission ratio of 10 results from the ratio of the drive motor coupler (not shown of 0.6 inch diameter) to the sprocket (6 inch diameter).
- the angle of incidence of the cable does not exceed 2°, the cable does not reverse wrapping, and the pulleys are above the minimum diameter as described by Oberg et al., Machinery's Handbook, 26 th Edition: Industrial Press Inc. which is incorporated herein by reference to this end.
- the rotator 7 ′ and the link 4 are mechanically coupled by a steel aircraft cable 12 from Sava Industries ( 1/32 inch diameter, 7 ⁇ 19 strands) that wraps around the rotator pulleys 8 and the link pulleys 6 in a block and tackle configuration to amplify the effective tension of the cable by four, resulting in a four-fold increase in torque and cable excursion.
- Sava Industries 1/32 inch diameter, 7 ⁇ 19 strands
- cable tensioner device 10 is provided on the base plate B and comprises a spool 11 driven by a tensioner motor M 2 , which is also a Yaskawa AC servomotor (SGM-02B312) for multiple cable wraps.
- the cable 12 wraps around the spool 11 which couples to the tensioner motor M 2 with a resolution of 0.16 N, which includes the transmission ratio. Since the cable 12 enters the spool at a large fleet angle but a small fleet angle is desired for better wrapping, a device that decreases the fleet angle at any wrapping level is necessary.
- This embodiment uses a follower 17 with the same pitch and thread diameter that guides the cable into the spool 11 . Since the follower needs to rise and fall with the level of cable on the spool yet maintain consistent orientation, a post 19 is provided with one end fixed to the follower and the other end translatable vertically in the base plate B.
- the follower 17 is similar to a follower employed on a fishing reel.
- the cable 12 runs against the follower 17 and wraps up to the spool 11 as it rotates. Exiting from the follower, the cable needs to match up to the height of the rotator's pulleys 8 . As a result, the cable 12 travels through a cable guidance system that comprises of four pulleys 9 provided to both raise the cable to the proper constant height when approaching the rotator pulleys 8 and also to measure cable tension.
- the pulleys 9 comprise 1 ⁇ 2 inch diameter pulleys from McMaster-Carr Supply Company disposed on fixed support block 10 b .
- strain gauge SG 1 being shown on block 10 b and the other strain gauge being located therebelow on the underlying block surface 10 s ) that are disposed on the pulley support block 10 b in a manner to detect cable tension and provide an optional feedback loop with the tensioner motor M 2 .
- the strain gauges can comprise 350 ⁇ resistance strain gauges SG from Omega Engineering, Inc.
- Cables for use in practice of the invention can include, but are not limited to, steel aircraft cable or other substantially inelastic cables. Elastic cables can be used as well such as one or more bungee cords within the scope of the invention.
- the term cable or cables is intended to include a cable, cord, strand, rope, belt, or other substantially inelastic or flexible, elastic elements.
- the cable can be connected to a source of energy storage such as including, but not limited to, a spring, FIG. 7A, 7B , or even an energy dissipation element, such as a damper and bungee cord.
- a source of energy storage such as including, but not limited to, a spring, FIG. 7A, 7B , or even an energy dissipation element, such as a damper and bungee cord.
- the drive motor M 1 controls the rotational path of the cable positioning pulleys 8 such that the rotator 7 ′ is driven remotely, and the other tensioner motor M 2 controls the tension in the cable 12 .
- the rotator (disk 7 with pulleys 8 ) and the link 4 rotate independently from one another, coupled only by the cable 12 .
- An advantage of the cable driven joint actuator described above is its simple control strategy.
- the data comprised of the angular positions of the link 4 and of the rotator 7 ′ (disk 7 with pulleys 8 ) are sampled at 2 kHz.
- the drive motor M 1 which controls the rotator 7 ′ is operated in a torque mode, using encoder feedback and controls position.
- the tensioner motor M 2 is operated in open loop torque mode when the strain gages SG 1 , etc. are not used, where a voltage command determines the desired tension in the cable.
- the desired torque to be applied to a joint is created by setting the position of rotator 7 ′ to create the proper relative angle between itself and the link 4 .
- the torque per unit tension is the derivative of the excursion according to the position of the link 4 pursuant to:
- ⁇ torque
- T tension in the cable
- R is the moment arm defined above.
- Endpoint stiffness can be manipulated in the same manner. It is noted that changing the rotator position is equivalent to changing the equilibrium position of the actuator.
- the link position (determined from the potentiometer) and the rotator position (determined from the motor encoder) are the only feedback components necessary for control of the actuator, since the tension of the cable 12 is held constant in this particular working embodiment.
- Hard mechanical stops (not shown) are provided to prevent the link 4 from surpassing the user's range of motion.
- a chain guard (also not shown) can be provided to cover the exposed portion of the roller chain 13 to prevent any interference.
- the cable driven joint actuator described above can be used in an illustrative embodiment as a robotic training or rehabilitating machine, FIG. 4 , for a human user who grasps the handle 3 on the link 4 so that torque is applied by the actuator about the elbow joint of the user, centered at the pivot point 5 .
- the Table below shows illustrative design parameters for such use.
- the user's forearm length refers to an actual user's forearm, on which the length of the link 4 is sized and adjusted, if necessary.
- the above range of torques is based on a 25 N endpoint force, and the maximum speed is based on an 8 Hz movement.
- the training or rehabilitating machine can be used in various modes of operation; for example, in a Guidance mode where the actuator torque pushes the user's arm/hand about the elbow joint toward the desired trajectory of movement using a linear force field of 8 N ⁇ m/radian; in an Error Augmentation mode where the actuator torque pushes the user's arm/hand about the elbow joint away from the desired trajectory of movement using a linear force field of 8 N m/radian; and in a Control mode where there is no haptic feedback (actuator motor M 1 not energized).
- the device can be used to control either position or exert any accurate torque on its user as long as the bandwidth and maximum torque are within specifications.
- the invention envisions using a slide or compound slide (not shown) having one or more cable positioning pulleys disposed thereof to engage and position the cable.
- the slide or compound slide can be moved linearly by a motor of any type in a direction to manipulate the moment arm.
- the invention envisions manipulating the moment arm in any given path, whether it be linear, rotational, or a combination of the two.
- FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6 are schematic views of a human user having a cable driven actuator to apply torque about the knee joint in a manner to move the user's leg pursuant to another illustrative embodiment of the invention.
- the cable driven actuator is attached by straps ST to the leg of the user.
- FIG. 6 provides a view of the device from the opposite side.
- FIG. 6 shows a rotator 107 having cable wrapping surface 107 w and having a fixed shaft 108 a that is connected to a proximal bungee cord anchor 110 which fixes the ends of two bungee cords 112 and that allows the anchor 110 to rotate about the shaft 108 a .
- the cable routing element is the proximal bungee cord anchor 110 .
- the other ends of the bungee cords are fixed in a distal bungee cord anchor 111 that connects to a fixed shaft 114 distally located on a rigid leg support member 115 in a manner that allows the anchor 111 to rotate about the shaft.
- the rotator 107 is centered at the knee, and moves in a rotational manner about its rotator shaft, thus moving the proximal bungee cord anchor 110 in a rotational manner.
- the position of the rotator 107 is controlled by cable 119 that wraps around the rotator surface 107 w and then passes through sheaths 119 s to a motor M 11 on a belt B donned by the user.
- One end of each cable sheath 119 s is anchored to an anchor plate 122 of a rigid thigh support member 124 and referred to as a Bowden sheath anchor.
- the other end of each sheath 1119 s is rigidly connected to the motor M 11 which wraps the other end of the cable.
- the members 115 , 124 relatively rotate about the rotator shaft during leg movement.
- the user's belt B also can include a controller C and power source S, such as a battery pack.
- the rotational path of the proximal bungee anchor 110 varies both the length of the bungee cord and the moment arm, altering the torque exerted on the knee.
- the torque could be used for any number of embodiments, including assistive and resistive strategies.
- a cable driven actuator mechanism that includes moment arm adjustment features to manipulate the position of the moment arm relative to a movable link.
- FIGS. 7A and 7B show a cable driven joint actuator according to this embodiment for use as a garage door opener device.
- an inelastic cable 212 attached on one end to an extension spring S 1 fixed to ground, passes through a fixed pulley 214 and then through another pulley 215 attached to a linearly movable bearing 220 for linear movement therewith.
- the pulley 215 comprises a cable routing element.
- the linearly movable bearing 220 provides a movable support member for the cable positioning pulley 215 .
- the bearing 220 is moved in linear manner by lead screw 222 driven by motor M 111 .
- the cable 212 then attaches to the bottom of a conventional multi-hinged garage door D.
- the garage door has wheels W that rotate around each hinge and travel along a fixed track T, which provides a path for movement of the garage door.
- the garage door itself or the door sections is considered a movable link.
- the device works by manipulating the moment arm of the cable 212 relative to the position of the door D.
- motor M 111 moves the linear bearing 220 (with cable positioning pulley 215 thereon) along a horizontal path towards the door, modifying the cable's line of action it creates with the door and thus the spring tension in the cable in the vertical direction is larger than the weight of the door causing the door to rise.
- the motor M 111 will move the linear bearing 220 (with cable positioning pulley 215 thereon) away from the door until the weight of the door is greater than the vertical direction of the tension in the cable.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims benefits and priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/809,698 filed May 31, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention was supported by funding from the Federal Government through the National Institute of Health Science under Grant/Contract No. 5T32 HD 07418. The Government may have certain rights in the invention.
- The present invention relates to a cable driven actuator and method incorporating moment arm adjustment features.
- In rehabilitation robotic, orthotic, or prosthetic applications, devices have been used to apply forces including torques to various points on the human body in order to manipulate those points. When such devices apply forces or torques under programmable computer control, it is said that the human body is subject to robotic manipulation.
- Current robotic manipulation can be used to provide benefits to clinicians and patients that include, but are not limited to, assessment, motor control studies, and therapy of both healthy people and people with neuromuscular difficulties. However, the robotic machines developed to date have been limited for use in a laboratory setting.
- A robotic machine capable of training or rehabilitating its human user at home or otherwise outside of a laboratory has the potential to be used more often and thus be more effective. Such a robotic machine should be lightweight, inexpensive, and portable, which current rehabilitation robotic machines cannot offer.
- Rehabilitation robotic devices known as the STRING-MAN device (Surdilovic et al. “STRING-MAN: A New Wire Robotic System For Gait Rehabilitation”, Proc. 8th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2003) and MACARM device (Mayhew et al. “Development of the MACARM—a Novel Cable Robot for Upper Limb Neurorehabilitation”. Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE, 9th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Chicago, Ill. 2005) use cables to actuate a human user's joints. The torque on the human user's joint is controlled by changing the tension in the wires.
- The MIT Manus device uses a five-bar linkage and two torque motors to produce a planar haptic interface (Hogan et al. “MIT-MANUS: a workstation for manual therapy and training”, IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Communication”, pp. 161-165, Tokyo, Japan 1992). As a linkage, where the individual bars are of fixed length, motion pathways are prescribed by the motions of the joints and by design and size of the linkage.
- Several human interactive robots have embodied Bowden cables guided by pulleys or drums. For example, such a robot is described by Jacobsen et al. in “Design of the Utah/MIT Dextrous Hand”, Proc. IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), San Francisco 1986. Also see Salisbury et al. “The Design and Control of an Experimental Whole-Arm Manipulator”, Proc. 5th Int. Symp On Robotics Research 1989; and Perry et al. “Design of a 7-Degree-of-Freedom Upper-Limb Powered Exoskeleton”, Proc. Int. Conf. of Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, Pisa, Italy 2006.
- A robotic actuator for dynamic legged locomotion using a cable-driven series elastic actuator is described by Hurst et al. in “An Actuator with Physically Variable Stiffness for Highly Dynamic Legged Locomotion”, International Conference on Robotics and Automation, New Orleans 2004). Also see Veneman et al. “Design of a Series Elastic and Bowden cable-based actuation system for use as torque-actuator in exoskeleton-type training”, International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Chicago, Ill. 2005).
- A robotic machine that embodies two elastic bands connected to a passive (non-driven) circular disk and that relies on torque unbalance to cause the passive disk to jump between positions is described by Zeeman in “Catastrophe Theory: Selected Papers”, Addison-Wesley 1972-1977.
- The present invention provides a cable driven actuator mechanism that includes moment arm adjustment features to manipulate the position of the moment arm relative to a movable link.
- In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a cable driven joint actuator includes a movable link that can be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is movable about a path by a cable connected to the link. A cable routing element is provided on a movable support member that is rotated and/or translated in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint. The joint can include but is not limited to, a human user's joint or a mechanical joint of a mechanical device.
- In a particular illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the cable driven joint actuator includes a pivotal link that is adapted to be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is pivoted about a pivot axis by a length of cable engaging a pulley on the link remote from the pivot axis and having an end coupled to the link. One or more cable positioning pulleys is/are provided on a rotatable pulley-support member that is rotated about an axis that is coaxial with the pivot axis to cause the cable positioning pulley to reposition the cable in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint. The rotatable pulley support member is rotatable by a first motor. A device is provided to maintain a substantially constant tension on the cable. The device can comprise a cable spool and a second motor to rotate the spool. The pulley on the link and the cable positioning pulley on the movable pulley-support member can be configured as a block and tackle to amplify torque applied to the joint.
- The present invention is useful as a robotic training or rehabilitating machine, prosthetic machine, or orthotic machine for human patient use at home or otherwise outside of a laboratory as a result of its being lightweight, inexpensive, and portable.
- The present invention envisions a cable driven actuator for a human limb comprising a cable connected to a human limb that comprises a pivotal link to be actuated and that is pivoted about an axis by the cable, the cable being connected to the human limb remote from the axis. A movable support member includes a cable routing element wherein the support member is movable in a manner to change a moment arm of the cable acting on the human limb to control torque applied about the joint.
- The present invention envisions a cable driven actuator for a garage door or other mechanical link wherein the position of the moment arm relative to a mechanical link is manipulated.
- These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the following detailed description taken with the following drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is perspective view of a cable driven joint actuator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotator and the cable tensioner of the cable driven joint actuator ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a simplified top view meant to show the variables involved in calculating torque exerted in the joint. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a human user grasping the handle for use in training or rehabilitation where the actuator applies a torque about the elbow joint. -
FIGS. 5A is a schematic view of a human user having a cable driven actuator to apply torque about the knee joint to move the user's leg.FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the region boxed-in by dashed lines inFIG. 5A . -
FIG. 6 is a view of the opposite side of the knee orthosis. -
FIG. 7A and 7B are schematic views of a garage door opener mechanism in “door going up” position, where the moment arm in the cable is set to lift the door up. - In one illustrative embodiment, the present invention provides a cable driven joint actuator mechanism that includes moment arm adjustment features to control torque applied to a joint. The joint to be actuated can include, but is not limited to, a human user's joint such as an elbow joint, a mechanical joint of a mechanical device, or any other joint.
- In a particular embodiment of the present invention offered for purposes of illustration and not limitation with respect to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cable driven joint actuator includes apivotal link 4 that is adapted to be operatively coupled to a joint to be actuated and that is pivoted about a pivot axis 5 by a discrete length of substantiallyinelastic cable 12 engaging one ormore pulleys 6 disposed on thelink 4 remote from the pivot axis 5 and having a cable end coupled to the link as explained below. One or morecable positioning pulleys 8 is/are provided on a rotatable pulley-support member 7 that is rotated about a center axis that is coaxial with the pivot axis 5 to cause the one or morecable positioning pulleys 8 to position the cable in a manner to change the moment arm of the cable acting on the link to control torque applied to the joint. Moment arm is defined using geometry fromFIG. 3 . The angle of the cable positioning pulleys 8 relative to a datum, Φ, and the angle of the pulleys oflink 4 relative to the same datum, Θ, are combined with the radius of thelink 4 and the cable positioning pulleys 8, RL and Rp, respectively. The equation for the moment arm, R, is shown below: - The rotatable
pulley support member 7 is rotatable by a first motor M1. Acable tensioner device 10 is provided to maintain a substantially constant tension on thecable 12. Thetensioner device 10 can comprise a cable spool 11 and a second motor M2 to rotate the spool 11. InFIGS. 1 and 2 , twocable pulleys 6 are shown disposed on thelink 4 and twocable pulleys 8 are shown disposed on the pulley-support member 7 configured to form a block and tackle to amplify torque applied to the joint. The various components of the actuator are disposed on a base plate B having a base plate frame E. The end 4 a of thelink 4 is rotatably mounted between the frame plates E1, E2 of the frame E. - A particular illustrative working embodiment of the invention is now described in more detail with respect to
FIGS. 1 and 2 . Thelink 4 rotates about the pivot axis 5 defined by a link pivot shaft 4 s sandwiched between two ½ inchinner diameter ABEC 1 bearings from McMaster-Carr Supply Company and mounted between the frame plates E1, E2. The angular position (Θ) of thelink 4 is measured by a 10 kΩ conductiveplastic potentiometer 14 from Spectrum Sensors and Controls, Inc. with a resolution of 0.03° (0.0005 radians). The potentiometer is rotated by the rotatable link shaft 4 s that rotates about axis 5. - An
adjustable handle 3 is provided and can slide across a track on thelink 4 to fit a variety of user arm lengths. Twolink pulleys 6 are shown located at the remote end of thelink 4 so as to form the distal portion of the cable block and tackle. Thepulleys 6 comprise ⅝ inch outer diameter pulleys from McMaster-Carr Supply Company and are mounted atop one another on the link by a 3/16 inch diameter steel shaft. All machined components (except for steel shafts) are made of 6061 aluminum alloy. - The pulley-
support member 7 comprises a six inch pitch diameter, steel sprocket (Stock Drive Products, Sterling Instrument, 0.25 inch pitch) rotating about its center axis that is coaxial with pivot axis 5 and a roller chain 13 (0.25 inch pitch). The sprocket is rigidly connected to a support hub 7 a to prevent wobbling of the sprocket. Themember 7 and hub 7 a are rotatably mounted on two 0.5 inchinner diameter ABEC 1 bearings from McMaster-Carr Supply Company on a steel shaft 7 s fixed to ground (i.e. base plate B). The shaft 4 s and the shaft 7 s have the same center of rotation. The pulleys 8 (both ⅝ inch outer diameter) are positioned by a spacer SP to be roughly at the same height as thelink 4 for efficient cable-wrapping. Eachpulley 8 uses a ¼ inchinner diameter ABEC 1 bearing from McMaster-Carr Supply Company. Thepulleys 8 are fastened in a fixed position on the member 7 (1.9375 inches from the sprocket center) on fixed shaft 7 s. The angular position (Φ) of thepulleys 6 is measured by the drive motor M1 with an encoder described below. The larger rotating member (sprocket) 7 and thepulleys 8 disposed thereon for rotation are known together as therotator 7′. - The
rotator 7′ is driven by aroller chain 13 andsprocket 15 from Stock Drive Products, Sterling Instrument having a 0.25 inch pitch, 0.6 inch pitch diameter coupled to a drive motor M1, which comprises a Yaskawa AC servomotor (SGM-02B312) with 0.637 N·m continuous torque. The sprocket drive motor M1 is provided with an encoder with 8192 counts/revolution that is used as feedback to measure pulley angle Φ. Through the transmission ratio of 10, the resulting resolution of the position is 0.016° (0.0003 radian). The transmission ratio of 10 results from the ratio of the drive motor coupler (not shown of 0.6 inch diameter) to the sprocket (6 inch diameter). Consistent with cable design principles, the angle of incidence of the cable (the fleet angle) does not exceed 2°, the cable does not reverse wrapping, and the pulleys are above the minimum diameter as described by Oberg et al., Machinery's Handbook, 26th Edition: Industrial Press Inc. which is incorporated herein by reference to this end. - The
rotator 7′ and thelink 4 are mechanically coupled by asteel aircraft cable 12 from Sava Industries ( 1/32 inch diameter, 7×19 strands) that wraps around the rotator pulleys 8 and the link pulleys 6 in a block and tackle configuration to amplify the effective tension of the cable by four, resulting in a four-fold increase in torque and cable excursion. The path of wrapping of the cable from thetensioner device 10 passes through the bottom pulley of the cable positioning pulleys 8, then through the bottom pulley of the link pulleys 6, back to the top pulley of the cable positioning pulleys 8, and then back to the top pulley of the link pulleys 6 until it is anchored back at the shaft 7 s of the cable positioning pulleys 8 by anchor 12 b. To account for the increased excursion,cable tensioner device 10 is provided on the base plate B and comprises a spool 11 driven by a tensioner motor M2, which is also a Yaskawa AC servomotor (SGM-02B312) for multiple cable wraps. Thecable 12 wraps around the spool 11 which couples to the tensioner motor M2 with a resolution of 0.16 N, which includes the transmission ratio. Since thecable 12 enters the spool at a large fleet angle but a small fleet angle is desired for better wrapping, a device that decreases the fleet angle at any wrapping level is necessary. This embodiment uses afollower 17 with the same pitch and thread diameter that guides the cable into the spool 11. Since the follower needs to rise and fall with the level of cable on the spool yet maintain consistent orientation, apost 19 is provided with one end fixed to the follower and the other end translatable vertically in the base plate B. Thefollower 17 is similar to a follower employed on a fishing reel. Proximate one end, thecable 12 runs against thefollower 17 and wraps up to the spool 11 as it rotates. Exiting from the follower, the cable needs to match up to the height of the rotator'spulleys 8. As a result, thecable 12 travels through a cable guidance system that comprises of four pulleys 9 provided to both raise the cable to the proper constant height when approaching the rotator pulleys 8 and also to measure cable tension. The pulleys 9 comprise ½ inch diameter pulleys from McMaster-Carr Supply Company disposed on fixed support block 10 b. There are provided two strain gauges (strain gauge SG 1 being shown on block 10 b and the other strain gauge being located therebelow on the underlying block surface 10 s) that are disposed on the pulley support block 10 b in a manner to detect cable tension and provide an optional feedback loop with the tensioner motor M2. The strain gauges can comprise 350 Ω resistance strain gauges SG from Omega Engineering, Inc. Cables for use in practice of the invention can include, but are not limited to, steel aircraft cable or other substantially inelastic cables. Elastic cables can be used as well such as one or more bungee cords within the scope of the invention. As used herein, the term cable or cables is intended to include a cable, cord, strand, rope, belt, or other substantially inelastic or flexible, elastic elements. - In lieu of the cable being connected to the
tensioner device 10 as described above, the cable can be connected to a source of energy storage such as including, but not limited to, a spring,FIG. 7A, 7B , or even an energy dissipation element, such as a damper and bungee cord. - From the above description, it is evident that the drive motor M1 controls the rotational path of the cable positioning pulleys 8 such that the
rotator 7′ is driven remotely, and the other tensioner motor M2 controls the tension in thecable 12. Moreover, the rotator (disk 7 with pulleys 8) and thelink 4 rotate independently from one another, coupled only by thecable 12. - An advantage of the cable driven joint actuator described above is its simple control strategy. Using a real time operating system, the data comprised of the angular positions of the
link 4 and of therotator 7′ (disk 7 with pulleys 8) are sampled at 2 kHz. The drive motor M1 which controls therotator 7′ is operated in a torque mode, using encoder feedback and controls position. The tensioner motor M2 is operated in open loop torque mode when thestrain gages SG 1, etc. are not used, where a voltage command determines the desired tension in the cable. A general-purpose, procedural, imperative computer programming language, such as C++, and that interrupts in a semaphore structure to control the actuator motors M1 and M2 ofFIGS. 1, 2 , and 3. - The desired torque to be applied to a joint is created by setting the position of
rotator 7′ to create the proper relative angle between itself and thelink 4. For example, the torque per unit tension is the derivative of the excursion according to the position of thelink 4 pursuant to: The torque on the arm is the product of the moment arm and the effective tension, which through the block and tackle, is four times the tension:
τ=R*4T.
where τ is torque, T is tension in the cable, R is the moment arm defined above. Endpoint stiffness can be manipulated in the same manner. It is noted that changing the rotator position is equivalent to changing the equilibrium position of the actuator. The link position (determined from the potentiometer) and the rotator position (determined from the motor encoder) are the only feedback components necessary for control of the actuator, since the tension of thecable 12 is held constant in this particular working embodiment. Hard mechanical stops (not shown) are provided to prevent thelink 4 from surpassing the user's range of motion. A chain guard (also not shown) can be provided to cover the exposed portion of theroller chain 13 to prevent any interference. - The cable driven joint actuator described above can be used in an illustrative embodiment as a robotic training or rehabilitating machine,
FIG. 4 , for a human user who grasps thehandle 3 on thelink 4 so that torque is applied by the actuator about the elbow joint of the user, centered at the pivot point 5. The Table below shows illustrative design parameters for such use. In the Table, the user's forearm length refers to an actual user's forearm, on which the length of thelink 4 is sized and adjusted, if necessary.TABLE Quantitative Design Parameters Range of Motion User Forearm Torque Speed from full extension (rad) Length (m) (N · m) (rad/s) Minimum 0 0.28 0 0 Maximum 3π/4 0.4 10 50 - The above range of torques is based on a 25 N endpoint force, and the maximum speed is based on an 8 Hz movement. The training or rehabilitating machine can be used in various modes of operation; for example, in a Guidance mode where the actuator torque pushes the user's arm/hand about the elbow joint toward the desired trajectory of movement using a linear force field of 8 N·m/radian; in an Error Augmentation mode where the actuator torque pushes the user's arm/hand about the elbow joint away from the desired trajectory of movement using a linear force field of 8 N m/radian; and in a Control mode where there is no haptic feedback (actuator motor M1 not energized). In summary, the device can be used to control either position or exert any accurate torque on its user as long as the bandwidth and maximum torque are within specifications.
- In lieu of using the
rotator 7′ described above to manipulate the moment arm, the invention envisions using a slide or compound slide (not shown) having one or more cable positioning pulleys disposed thereof to engage and position the cable. The slide or compound slide can be moved linearly by a motor of any type in a direction to manipulate the moment arm. In fact, the invention envisions manipulating the moment arm in any given path, whether it be linear, rotational, or a combination of the two. -
FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6 are schematic views of a human user having a cable driven actuator to apply torque about the knee joint in a manner to move the user's leg pursuant to another illustrative embodiment of the invention. The cable driven actuator is attached by straps ST to the leg of the user.FIG. 6 provides a view of the device from the opposite side.FIG. 6 shows arotator 107 havingcable wrapping surface 107 w and having a fixed shaft 108 a that is connected to a proximalbungee cord anchor 110 which fixes the ends of twobungee cords 112 and that allows theanchor 110 to rotate about the shaft 108 a. In this embodiment, the cable routing element is the proximalbungee cord anchor 110. The other ends of the bungee cords are fixed in a distalbungee cord anchor 111 that connects to a fixedshaft 114 distally located on a rigidleg support member 115 in a manner that allows theanchor 111 to rotate about the shaft. Therotator 107 is centered at the knee, and moves in a rotational manner about its rotator shaft, thus moving the proximalbungee cord anchor 110 in a rotational manner. - The position of the
rotator 107 is controlled bycable 119 that wraps around therotator surface 107 w and then passes throughsheaths 119 s to a motor M11 on a belt B donned by the user. One end of eachcable sheath 119 s is anchored to ananchor plate 122 of a rigidthigh support member 124 and referred to as a Bowden sheath anchor. The other end of each sheath 1119 s is rigidly connected to the motor M 11 which wraps the other end of the cable. Themembers - The rotational path of the
proximal bungee anchor 110 varies both the length of the bungee cord and the moment arm, altering the torque exerted on the knee. There are two angular position sensors (goniometers) 125 that detect the position of both therotator 107 and the leg relative to the thigh. Since the torque varies based on rotator position relative to knee flexion angle, the position of the rotator can be varied relative to the leg, and thus a controlled torque can be provided at the knee. The torque could be used for any number of embodiments, including assistive and resistive strategies. - In another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a cable driven actuator mechanism is provided that includes moment arm adjustment features to manipulate the position of the moment arm relative to a movable link. For purposes of illustration and not limitation,
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a cable driven joint actuator according to this embodiment for use as a garage door opener device. In this embodiment, aninelastic cable 212 attached on one end to an extension spring S1 fixed to ground, passes through a fixedpulley 214 and then through anotherpulley 215 attached to a linearlymovable bearing 220 for linear movement therewith. Thepulley 215 comprises a cable routing element. The linearlymovable bearing 220 provides a movable support member for thecable positioning pulley 215. Thebearing 220 is moved in linear manner bylead screw 222 driven by motor M111. Thecable 212 then attaches to the bottom of a conventional multi-hinged garage door D. The garage door has wheels W that rotate around each hinge and travel along a fixed track T, which provides a path for movement of the garage door. The garage door itself or the door sections is considered a movable link. - The device works by manipulating the moment arm of the
cable 212 relative to the position of the door D. To open a closed door, motor M111 moves the linear bearing 220 (withcable positioning pulley 215 thereon) along a horizontal path towards the door, modifying the cable's line of action it creates with the door and thus the spring tension in the cable in the vertical direction is larger than the weight of the door causing the door to rise. To close an open door, the motor M111 will move the linear bearing 220 (withcable positioning pulley 215 thereon) away from the door until the weight of the door is greater than the vertical direction of the tension in the cable. - While certain embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes and modifications can be made therein within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims (18)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/809,206 US20080000317A1 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2007-05-31 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
US14/597,598 US9597217B2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2015-01-15 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US80969806P | 2006-05-31 | 2006-05-31 | |
US11/809,206 US20080000317A1 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2007-05-31 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/597,598 Division US9597217B2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2015-01-15 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080000317A1 true US20080000317A1 (en) | 2008-01-03 |
Family
ID=38875241
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/809,206 Abandoned US20080000317A1 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2007-05-31 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
US14/597,598 Active US9597217B2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2015-01-15 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/597,598 Active US9597217B2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2015-01-15 | Cable driven joint actuator and method |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20080000317A1 (en) |
Cited By (43)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080317719A1 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | Valentin Fulga | Regulating stem cells |
WO2010059743A1 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-05-27 | Hoffman Enclosures, Inc. | Variable angle fitting |
ITTO20090042A1 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2010-07-24 | Fond Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia | LINEAR ACTUATOR AND REHABILITATION DEVICE INCORPORATING SUCH ACTUATOR. |
WO2010118116A2 (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2010-10-14 | Schlumberger Canada Limited | High tension cable measurement system and assembly |
US20110264018A1 (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2011-10-27 | Zlatko Matjacic | Universal haptic drive system |
US20130068054A1 (en) * | 2011-09-19 | 2013-03-21 | Arthur Quaid | Parallelogram based actuating device |
US20140163435A1 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2014-06-12 | Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd. | Swinging leg pendulum movement aid for walking, and assistance force control method |
US20140190786A1 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2014-07-10 | Mark Patterson | Clutch Engagement Mechanism |
US20140318288A1 (en) * | 2011-11-23 | 2014-10-30 | Livsmed Inc. | Differential member |
CN104188786A (en) * | 2014-09-11 | 2014-12-10 | 东南大学 | Rope-drive-based assisted knee joint rehabilitation apparatus |
US8931359B2 (en) | 2011-09-19 | 2015-01-13 | Vivero One Research, Llc | Parallelogram based actuating device |
US9050527B2 (en) | 2012-08-23 | 2015-06-09 | Wms Gaming Inc. | Interactive tether using tension and feedback |
US20150190249A1 (en) * | 2012-06-27 | 2015-07-09 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Wearable Power Assist System |
US20150190246A1 (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2015-07-09 | Korea University Of Technology And Education Industry-University Cooperation Foundation | Motion control device based on winding string |
US20150224013A1 (en) * | 2014-02-11 | 2015-08-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Wearable robot and method for controlling the same |
US9265685B1 (en) * | 2014-05-01 | 2016-02-23 | University Of South Florida | Compliant bimanual rehabilitation device and method of use thereof |
US20160052129A1 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2016-02-25 | Paul Ekas | Link structure and assembly including cable guide system for robotic mechanical manipulator structure |
US20160052130A1 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2016-02-25 | Paul Ekas | Link structure and assembly including cable guide system for robotic mechanical manipulator structure |
US20160107309A1 (en) * | 2013-05-31 | 2016-04-21 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Soft Exosuit for Assistance with Human Motion |
US20160193101A1 (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2016-07-07 | National Tsing Hua University | Rehabilitation system with stiffness measurement |
US20180207047A1 (en) * | 2016-06-30 | 2018-07-26 | Shanghai Fourier Intelligence Co., Ltd. | Upper limb rehabilitation training machine |
US10285765B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2019-05-14 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US10299979B2 (en) * | 2014-03-27 | 2019-05-28 | Universite Catholique De Louvain | Upper limbs rehabilitating, monitoring and/or evaluating interactive device |
CN110327181A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-10-15 | 湖北英特搏智能机器有限公司 | Arm length adjusting device and tensioning mechanism of upper limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robot |
US10631886B2 (en) | 2014-04-24 | 2020-04-28 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10695141B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2020-06-30 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10709467B2 (en) | 2014-10-02 | 2020-07-14 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10722315B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2020-07-28 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US10799308B2 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2020-10-13 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical tools system |
US10864100B2 (en) | 2014-04-10 | 2020-12-15 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Orthopedic device including protruding members |
US20210077334A1 (en) * | 2018-01-12 | 2021-03-18 | Dynasplint Systems, Inc. | Knee replacement therapy unit |
US11014804B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2021-05-25 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Systems and methods for fabricating 3D soft microstructures |
US11172999B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2021-11-16 | Livsmed Inc. | Roll joint member for surgical instrument |
US11259977B2 (en) * | 2017-08-21 | 2022-03-01 | National Rehabilitation Center | Upper limb exercise apparatus and control method therefor |
US11324655B2 (en) | 2013-12-09 | 2022-05-10 | Trustees Of Boston University | Assistive flexible suits, flexible suit systems, and methods for making and control thereof to assist human mobility |
US11344381B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2022-05-31 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11431231B2 (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2022-08-30 | Shaun William FETHERSTON | Cable-actuated position sensors and gear motors |
US11464700B2 (en) | 2012-09-17 | 2022-10-11 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Soft exosuit for assistance with human motion |
US11498203B2 (en) | 2016-07-22 | 2022-11-15 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Controls optimization for wearable systems |
US20230008704A1 (en) * | 2011-07-29 | 2023-01-12 | Leonis Medical Corporation | Method and system for control and operation of motorized orthotic exoskeleton joints |
US11583342B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2023-02-21 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical camera system |
US11590046B2 (en) | 2016-03-13 | 2023-02-28 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Flexible members for anchoring to the body |
US11896336B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2024-02-13 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102015113977A1 (en) * | 2015-08-24 | 2017-03-02 | Otto Bock Healthcare Products Gmbh | Artificial joint |
CN106236518B (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2018-08-14 | 中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院 | Exoskeleton robot line winding driving hip joint |
US10072743B1 (en) | 2016-09-02 | 2018-09-11 | Michael Brian Wittig | Rotary-to-linear transmission system |
IT201800003965A1 (en) * | 2018-03-23 | 2019-09-23 | Univ Degli Studi Di Siena | Haptic ring |
KR20220003524A (en) | 2019-04-26 | 2022-01-10 | 마이오스위스 아게 | wearable assistive devices |
CN111888187B (en) * | 2020-07-24 | 2021-06-11 | 华中科技大学 | Active type knee hyperextension lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton device |
US20220133519A1 (en) * | 2020-10-29 | 2022-05-05 | Arizona Board Of Regents On Behalf Of Northern Arizona University | Differential and variable stiffness orthosis design with adjustment methods, monitoring and intelligence |
USD962451S1 (en) * | 2020-12-05 | 2022-08-30 | Vision Quest Industries Incorporated | Orthopedic device with multiple Q-angle adjusters |
USD972153S1 (en) * | 2020-12-09 | 2022-12-06 | Parker-Hannifin Corporation | Movement assistance device for an orthosis |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3142459A (en) * | 1963-03-07 | 1964-07-28 | Boeing Co | Aileron control on variable sweep wing designs |
US3448633A (en) * | 1966-12-30 | 1969-06-10 | Monarch Road Machinery Co | Flexible control mechanism for valves and the like |
US4067070A (en) * | 1976-11-03 | 1978-01-10 | The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs | Prosthetic joint lock and cable mechanism |
US4784010A (en) * | 1987-04-27 | 1988-11-15 | Graco Robotics Inc. | Electric robotic work unit |
US5163340A (en) * | 1991-09-16 | 1992-11-17 | Bender Armon J | Handicapped person control apparatus |
US5207114A (en) * | 1988-04-21 | 1993-05-04 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Compact cable transmission with cable differential |
US5549712A (en) * | 1993-07-21 | 1996-08-27 | Otto Bock Orthopaedische Industrie Besitz- und Verwaltungs-Kommanditgesel lschaft | Forearm lifter |
US5873734A (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1999-02-23 | The Science Learning Workshop, Inc. | Biomechanical models |
US20040250644A1 (en) * | 2001-11-19 | 2004-12-16 | Florian Gosselin | Articulated mechanism comprising a cable reduction gear for use in a robot arm |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4433679A (en) * | 1981-05-04 | 1984-02-28 | Mauldin Donald M | Knee and elbow brace |
US5888235A (en) * | 1997-01-07 | 1999-03-30 | Sarcos, Inc. | Body-powered prosthetic arm |
US7396337B2 (en) * | 2002-11-21 | 2008-07-08 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Powered orthotic device |
JP4503311B2 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2010-07-14 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Method for controlling generated torque of leg exercise assistive device |
EP1902700B1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2011-10-19 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Walking assisting device |
-
2007
- 2007-05-31 US US11/809,206 patent/US20080000317A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2015
- 2015-01-15 US US14/597,598 patent/US9597217B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3142459A (en) * | 1963-03-07 | 1964-07-28 | Boeing Co | Aileron control on variable sweep wing designs |
US3448633A (en) * | 1966-12-30 | 1969-06-10 | Monarch Road Machinery Co | Flexible control mechanism for valves and the like |
US4067070A (en) * | 1976-11-03 | 1978-01-10 | The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs | Prosthetic joint lock and cable mechanism |
US4784010A (en) * | 1987-04-27 | 1988-11-15 | Graco Robotics Inc. | Electric robotic work unit |
US5207114A (en) * | 1988-04-21 | 1993-05-04 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Compact cable transmission with cable differential |
US5163340A (en) * | 1991-09-16 | 1992-11-17 | Bender Armon J | Handicapped person control apparatus |
US5549712A (en) * | 1993-07-21 | 1996-08-27 | Otto Bock Orthopaedische Industrie Besitz- und Verwaltungs-Kommanditgesel lschaft | Forearm lifter |
US5873734A (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1999-02-23 | The Science Learning Workshop, Inc. | Biomechanical models |
US20040250644A1 (en) * | 2001-11-19 | 2004-12-16 | Florian Gosselin | Articulated mechanism comprising a cable reduction gear for use in a robot arm |
Cited By (79)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080317719A1 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | Valentin Fulga | Regulating stem cells |
US20110264018A1 (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2011-10-27 | Zlatko Matjacic | Universal haptic drive system |
US9233046B2 (en) * | 2008-10-10 | 2016-01-12 | Fundacion Fatronik | Universal haptic drive system |
WO2010059743A1 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-05-27 | Hoffman Enclosures, Inc. | Variable angle fitting |
US20100133390A1 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-06-03 | Lange Timothy G | Variable Angle Fitting |
US20110306473A1 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2011-12-15 | Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Technologia | Linear actuator and rehabilitation device incorporating such an actuator |
CN102387769A (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2012-03-21 | 意大利科技研究基金会 | Linear actuator and rehabilitation device incorporating such an actuator |
WO2010092497A1 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2010-08-19 | Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia | Linear actuator and rehabilitation device incorporating such an actuator |
ITTO20090042A1 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2010-07-24 | Fond Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia | LINEAR ACTUATOR AND REHABILITATION DEVICE INCORPORATING SUCH ACTUATOR. |
US8986232B2 (en) * | 2009-01-23 | 2015-03-24 | Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia | Linear actuator and rehabilitation device incorporating such an actuator |
WO2010118116A3 (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2011-02-03 | Schlumberger Canada Limited | High tension cable measurement system and assembly |
WO2010118116A2 (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2010-10-14 | Schlumberger Canada Limited | High tension cable measurement system and assembly |
GB2483004A (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2012-02-22 | Schlumberger Holdings | High Tension cable measurement system and assembly |
GB2483004B (en) * | 2009-04-07 | 2014-05-14 | Schlumberger Holdings | High tension cable measurement system and assembly |
US20230008704A1 (en) * | 2011-07-29 | 2023-01-12 | Leonis Medical Corporation | Method and system for control and operation of motorized orthotic exoskeleton joints |
US8931359B2 (en) | 2011-09-19 | 2015-01-13 | Vivero One Research, Llc | Parallelogram based actuating device |
US20130068054A1 (en) * | 2011-09-19 | 2013-03-21 | Arthur Quaid | Parallelogram based actuating device |
US8464603B2 (en) * | 2011-09-19 | 2013-06-18 | Vivero One Research, Llc | Parallelogram based actuating device |
US11490979B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2022-11-08 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10695141B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2020-06-30 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US9695916B2 (en) * | 2011-11-23 | 2017-07-04 | Livsmed Inc. | Differential member |
US11723736B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2023-08-15 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US20140318288A1 (en) * | 2011-11-23 | 2014-10-30 | Livsmed Inc. | Differential member |
US11684440B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2023-06-27 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US11628027B2 (en) | 2011-11-23 | 2023-04-18 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US20150190249A1 (en) * | 2012-06-27 | 2015-07-09 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Wearable Power Assist System |
US20140163435A1 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2014-06-12 | Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd. | Swinging leg pendulum movement aid for walking, and assistance force control method |
US10028881B2 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2018-07-24 | Kyushu University, National University Corporation | Swinging leg pendulum movement aid for walking, and assistance force control method |
US9566173B2 (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2017-02-14 | Korea University Of Technology And Education Industry-University Cooperation Foundation | Motion control device based on winding string |
US20150190246A1 (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2015-07-09 | Korea University Of Technology And Education Industry-University Cooperation Foundation | Motion control device based on winding string |
US9050527B2 (en) | 2012-08-23 | 2015-06-09 | Wms Gaming Inc. | Interactive tether using tension and feedback |
US11464700B2 (en) | 2012-09-17 | 2022-10-11 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Soft exosuit for assistance with human motion |
US9206863B2 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2015-12-08 | Mark Patterson | Clutch engagement mechanism |
US20140190786A1 (en) * | 2013-01-09 | 2014-07-10 | Mark Patterson | Clutch Engagement Mechanism |
US20160107309A1 (en) * | 2013-05-31 | 2016-04-21 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Soft Exosuit for Assistance with Human Motion |
US10843332B2 (en) * | 2013-05-31 | 2020-11-24 | President And Fellow Of Harvard College | Soft exosuit for assistance with human motion |
US11324655B2 (en) | 2013-12-09 | 2022-05-10 | Trustees Of Boston University | Assistive flexible suits, flexible suit systems, and methods for making and control thereof to assist human mobility |
US20150224013A1 (en) * | 2014-02-11 | 2015-08-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Wearable robot and method for controlling the same |
US9707146B2 (en) * | 2014-02-11 | 2017-07-18 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Wearable robot and method for controlling the same |
US10299979B2 (en) * | 2014-03-27 | 2019-05-28 | Universite Catholique De Louvain | Upper limbs rehabilitating, monitoring and/or evaluating interactive device |
US10864100B2 (en) | 2014-04-10 | 2020-12-15 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Orthopedic device including protruding members |
US11246615B2 (en) | 2014-04-24 | 2022-02-15 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10631886B2 (en) | 2014-04-24 | 2020-04-28 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10292889B1 (en) | 2014-05-01 | 2019-05-21 | University Of South Florida | Compliant bimanual rehabilitation device and method of use thereof |
US9265685B1 (en) * | 2014-05-01 | 2016-02-23 | University Of South Florida | Compliant bimanual rehabilitation device and method of use thereof |
US11744660B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2023-09-05 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US10842576B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2020-11-24 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US11045269B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2021-06-29 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US11540888B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2023-01-03 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US10285765B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2019-05-14 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical device |
US10046461B2 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2018-08-14 | Paul Ekas | Link structure and assembly including cable guide system for robotic mechanical manipulator structure |
US20160052129A1 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2016-02-25 | Paul Ekas | Link structure and assembly including cable guide system for robotic mechanical manipulator structure |
US20160052130A1 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2016-02-25 | Paul Ekas | Link structure and assembly including cable guide system for robotic mechanical manipulator structure |
CN104188786A (en) * | 2014-09-11 | 2014-12-10 | 东南大学 | Rope-drive-based assisted knee joint rehabilitation apparatus |
US11793538B2 (en) | 2014-10-02 | 2023-10-24 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US10709467B2 (en) | 2014-10-02 | 2020-07-14 | Livsmed Inc. | Surgical instrument |
US20160193101A1 (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2016-07-07 | National Tsing Hua University | Rehabilitation system with stiffness measurement |
US10413431B2 (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2019-09-17 | National Tsing Hua University | Rehabilitation system with stiffness measurement |
US11896336B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2024-02-13 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11896337B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2024-02-13 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11490980B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2022-11-08 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11344381B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2022-05-31 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11510746B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2022-11-29 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US10722315B2 (en) | 2015-02-17 | 2020-07-28 | Livsmed Inc. | Instrument for surgery |
US11590046B2 (en) | 2016-03-13 | 2023-02-28 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Flexible members for anchoring to the body |
US20180207047A1 (en) * | 2016-06-30 | 2018-07-26 | Shanghai Fourier Intelligence Co., Ltd. | Upper limb rehabilitation training machine |
US11498203B2 (en) | 2016-07-22 | 2022-11-15 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Controls optimization for wearable systems |
US11690692B2 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2023-07-04 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical tools system |
US10799308B2 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2020-10-13 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical tools system |
US11014804B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2021-05-25 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Systems and methods for fabricating 3D soft microstructures |
US11259977B2 (en) * | 2017-08-21 | 2022-03-01 | National Rehabilitation Center | Upper limb exercise apparatus and control method therefor |
US11583342B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2023-02-21 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical camera system |
US11911116B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2024-02-27 | Vicarious Surgical Inc. | Virtual reality surgical camera system |
US11172999B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2021-11-16 | Livsmed Inc. | Roll joint member for surgical instrument |
US20210077334A1 (en) * | 2018-01-12 | 2021-03-18 | Dynasplint Systems, Inc. | Knee replacement therapy unit |
US20230067399A1 (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2023-03-02 | Shaun William FETHERSTON | Gear motors with cable-actuated position sensors |
US11689083B2 (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2023-06-27 | Shaun William FETHERSTON | Gear motors with cable-actuated position sensors |
US11431231B2 (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2022-08-30 | Shaun William FETHERSTON | Cable-actuated position sensors and gear motors |
CN110327181A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-10-15 | 湖北英特搏智能机器有限公司 | Arm length adjusting device and tensioning mechanism of upper limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robot |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20150150706A1 (en) | 2015-06-04 |
US9597217B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9597217B2 (en) | Cable driven joint actuator and method | |
Buongiorno et al. | WRES: A novel 3 DoF WRist ExoSkeleton with tendon-driven differential transmission for neuro-rehabilitation and teleoperation | |
Mihelj et al. | ARMin II-7 DoF rehabilitation robot: mechanics and kinematics | |
US10857664B2 (en) | Exoskeleton | |
US9144528B2 (en) | Wearable cable-driven exoskeleton for functional arm training | |
Worsnopp et al. | An actuated finger exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation following stroke | |
TWI600421B (en) | Shoulder joint rehabilitation assistive device | |
US5062673A (en) | Articulated hand | |
JP3578375B2 (en) | Robot arm drive and robot hand | |
Ball et al. | A planar 3DOF robotic exoskeleton for rehabilitation and assessment | |
EP2948276B1 (en) | Robotic device for assisting human force | |
US9233046B2 (en) | Universal haptic drive system | |
EP2343034B1 (en) | Robotic arm for controlling arm movement | |
Jones et al. | Control and kinematic performance analysis of an Actuated Finger Exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation following stroke | |
US11246787B2 (en) | Bi-directional underactuated exoskeleton | |
Sulzer et al. | MARIONET: An exotendon-driven rotary series elastic actuator for exerting joint torque | |
EP3283038B1 (en) | Ergonomic exoskeleton system for the upper limb | |
US20070138886A1 (en) | Converting Rotational Motion into Radial Motion | |
Sutapun et al. | A 4-DOF upper limb exoskeleton for stroke rehabilitation: kinematics mechanics and control | |
Wu et al. | Series elastic actuation of an elbow rehabilitation exoskeleton with axis misalignment adaptation | |
Wang et al. | A lightweight series elastic actuator with variable stiffness: Design, modeling, and evaluation | |
Kütük et al. | Design of a robot-assisted exoskeleton for passive wrist and forearm rehabilitation | |
Jones et al. | A shoulder mechanism for assisting upper arm function with distally located actuators | |
Zhang et al. | Design and human–machine compatibility analysis of Co-Exos II for upper-limb rehabilitation | |
CN109394478B (en) | Hand function rehabilitation training robot |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PATTON, JAMES L.;PESHKIN, MICHAEL A.;SULZER, JAMES S.;REEL/FRAME:019759/0336;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070731 TO 20070806 Owner name: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PATTON, JAMES L.;PESHKIN, MICHAEL A.;SULZER, JAMES S.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070731 TO 20070806;REEL/FRAME:019759/0336 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF Free format text: CONFIRMATORY LICENSE;ASSIGNOR:NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY;REEL/FRAME:021209/0898 Effective date: 20070808 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY;REEL/FRAME:031027/0269 Effective date: 20130815 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - DIRECTOR DEITR, MARYLAND Free format text: CONFIRMATORY LICENSE;ASSIGNOR:NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY;REEL/FRAME:058477/0308 Effective date: 20211207 |