Northeastern University

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Bic Violex S.a.

Technest Holding, Inc.

Constantinos Mavroidis

Brian Weinberg

Richard G Ranky

Mark Sivak

Paolo Bonato

Qingchao Kong

Maciej Pietrusinski

Elias Brassitos

Ozer Unluhisarcikli

John M Vranish

Vassilis Papachristos

Seth John Sivak

Jason Joseph Nikitczuk

Joseph A DiPisa

Melanie Jessel

Stergios Logothetidis

Anat Mirelman

Michael J Mosley

Nikolaos Kalfagiannis

Mircea Badescu

Judith Deutsch

Timothy F Deso

Alyssa Leigh Caddle

Lauren Chiara Govoni

Patrick Murphy

Michael Lancia

Ye Ding

Kara Lyn Gilhooly

Michelle Cleary

Joseph Malack

Rebecca Bularzik

Maureen K Holden

Nathan Willard

Jeffrey Lewis

Kathryn J DeLaurentis

Charles Pfeiffer

Shawn Gelsinger

Lucas Daniel Johnson

Steven McKanas

Nicholas J Pappas

Kyle Thomas Hackmeister

Robert Struble

Daniel T Lau

Michallis Karoussis

Sheng-Che Yen

Maciej Pietrusisnki

A razor blade substrate having a substrate that includes a blade edge portion having a profiled geometry which is covered by a strengthening coating deposited on the razor blade substrate at least at the blade edge portion. The strengthening coating covering the blade edge tip, having a profiled geometry and having a tapering geometry with two coating sides converge toward a blade edge tip. The strengthening coating includes a strengthening layer made of a titanium- and boron-containing material.

Razor blade coating

Systems, methods and components of a joint actuating gait training system are provided. The gait training system includes a base support frame and an upper flexion actuation assembly movably coupled to the base support frame and a lower flexion actuation assembly movably coupled to the base support frame.

Gait training system and methods

A balanced planetary gearbox including an assembly having an input stage and an output stage. The assembly includes two grounds, each with ground rollers and ground rings. The two grounds are fixedly attached to one another. The assembly includes a sun gear and planet sub-assemblies between the two grounds. The planet sub-assemblies include at least one input planet gear and one output planet gear. The sun gear and the input planet gears include rollers. An abutment of rollers in the gearbox keeps the sun gear and the planet gears in alignment. The output gear meshes with an output ring disposed in between the two ground rings, such that a combination of the at least one input planet gears from each of the plurality of planet sub-assemblies provides a structural symmetry to the planetary gearbox.

Gear stabilization techniques

In some embodiments, systems and methods are described for a gear contact system configured to support radial, thrust, and moment loads, the system comprising a first gear comprising a first roller having a first roller bearing surface, the first roller bearing surface having a convex curvature defined by a first radius of curvature; and a second gear comprising a second roller having a second roller bearing surface, the second roller bearing surface having a concave curvature defined by a second radius of curvature.

Curved bearing contact system

A rehabilitation system that combines robotics and interactive gaming to facilitate performance of task-specific, repetitive, upper extremity/hand motor tasks, to enable individuals undergoing rehabilitation to improve the performance of coordinated movements of the forearm and hand is disclosed. More specifically, the rehabilitation system includes a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic, upper limb rehabilitation system and interactive gaming hardware that is coupled to a computer, to provide a virtual reality-like environment.

Multiple degree of freedom rehabilitation system having a smart fluid-based, multi-mode actuator

A method of constructing a sensor includes depositing a first material in a predetermined arrangement to form a structure. The depositing results in at least one void occurring within the structure. The method further includes depositing a second material within the voids. The second material may have electrical properties that vary according to deformation of the second material. The method also includes providing electrical access to the second material to enable observation of the one or more electrical properties. A sensor includes a structure that has one or more voids distributed within the structure. The sensor also includes a material deposited within the one or more voids. The material may be characterized by one or more electrical properties such as piezoresistivity. The sensor includes a first contact electrically coupled to a first location on the material, and a second contact electrically coupled to a second location on the material.

Customizable embedded sensors

The Active Knee Rehabilitation Orthotic System (ANdROS) is a wearable and portable assistive tool for gait rehabilitation and monitoring of people with motor control deficits due to a neurological ailment, such as stroke. ANdROS reinforces a desired gait pattern by continually applying a corrective torque around the knee joint, commanded by a impedance controller. A sensorized yet unactuated brace worn on the unimpaired leg is used to synchronize the playback of the desired trajectory based on the user's intent. The device is mechanically grounded through two ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) rigidly attached to the main structure, which helps reduce the weight perceived by the user.

Lower extremity exoskeleton for gait retraining

Disclosed are methods and systems for using hieroglyphs for communication in a rapid fabrication environment. The method includes receiving, by a control system for an articulated robotic arm, one or more images of a fabrication machine build space. The method includes identifying, by the control system, a hieroglyph present in the one or more images and translating the identified hieroglyph into one or more instructions for manipulation of the articulated robotic arm. The method includes causing the articulated robotic arm to carry out the instructions translated from the identified hieroglyph. Accordingly foreign objects are inserted into fabricated objects during an automated rapid fabrication process without extensive redesign of the rapid fabrication machine. In some implementations, an unmodified third-party stereolithographic rapid fabrication machine can be used.

Systems and methods of using a hieroglyphic machine interface language for communication with auxiliary robotics in rapid fabrication environments

The unique advantages of computer-controlled fabrication of a patient-specific orthotic device using an automated fabrication machine capable of following computer instructions to create 3D surface contours and new developments in non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) scanning have made it possible to acquire digital models of freeform surfaces such as the surface anatomy of the human body and to then fabricate such a patient-specific device with high precision. Such a patient-specific device brings significant improvement in patient-specific fit, comfort, and function of medical devices (and, in particular, to orthoses that require a close fit to the wearer's body to act effectively). The combination of these two technologies is ideally suited for the development of patient-specific orthotic devices. A patient specific ankle-foot orthotic device using this technology is disclosed. This exemplary device is used to help stabilize the ankle-foot region, for example, in patients with impaired gait.

Patient specific ankle-foot orthotic device

A rehabilitation system that combines robotics and interactive gaming to facilitate performance of task-specific, repetitive exercise to enable individuals undergoing rehabilitation to improve the performance of coordinated movements of the ankle, and to practice balance activities, is disclosed. More specifically, the rehabilitation system includes at least one two degree-of-freedom robotic, haptic interface for a mammalian foot and interactive gaming hardware that is coupled to a controller, to provide a virtual reality-like environment.

Virtual ankle and balance trainer system

Electro-rheological fluid brake or actuator devices provide controllable resistance with or without inclusion of active torque output in either direction of rotation under manual or computer control. The brake and actuator devices are suitable for use in an orthotic device for a joint, such as the knee or elbow.

Electro-rheological fluid brake and actuator devices and orthotic devices using the same

A mechatronic exercise system, e.g., for rehabilitation, having instrumented handle and pedal systems and, preferably, an interactive virtual environment is disclosed. Alternatively, the instrumented handle and pedal systems are part of a virtual reality augmenting kit that can convert most types of exercise equipment, such as a stationary or exercise bicycle, ergometer, rowing machine or the like, into full virtual reality (VR) smart systems. In another embodiment, the instrumented handle and pedal systems can each be used separately with other types of devices. In a preferred embodiment, components embedded with sensors are implemented, e.g., on a stationary, exercise bicycle to monitor physiological and biomechanical parameters of the user. Signal data from the sensing components is used to immerse the user in a VR simulation so as to provide the user with visual, auditory, and haptic feedback to the user's performance.

Instrumented handle and pedal systems for use in rehabilitation, exercise and training equipment

A gear bearing drive provides a compact mechanism that operates as an actuator providing torque and as a joint providing support. The drive includes a gear arrangement integrating an external rotor DC motor within a sun gear. Locking surfaces maintain the components of the drive in alignment and provide support for axial loads and moments. The gear bearing drive has a variety of applications, including as a joint in robotic arms and prosthetic limbs.

Gear bearing drive

A connector is provided for the electrical and mechanical connection of components of a system. The connector includes plug and receptacle components. The plug has a central pin surrounded by a plurality of lamellae. An actuator is positioned about the lamellae for controlling the movement thereof. The receptacle has a pin housing corresponding to the central pin of the plug. Additionally, the receptacle includes a plurality of lamellae for mating with the plug lamellae. Like the plug, the receptacle includes an actuator for controlling movement of the receptacle lamellae. The plug lamellae and the receptacle lamellae have corresponding shoulders at the free ends thereof for engagement for interconnecting the plug and the receptacle. The actuators about the plug lamellae and receptacle lamellae control movement thereof and can be engaged to allow for the disconnection of the plug and the receptacle. The central trail pin of the plug and the pin housing of the receptacle can include conductive material for transmitting electrical signals. Similarly, the lamellae can include conductive materials for engagement and transmission of electric signals. In another embodiment, the plug and receptacle are positioned side by side to provide a universal connector.

Active quick connecting/disconnecting connector

The present invention is directed to state-of-the-art medical devices using smart materials and related emerging technologies under development for robotics. In particular, the present invention is directed to the development of rehabilitative (i.e. prosthetic, orthotic, surgical) devices actuated by smart material artificial muscles to increase the dexterity and agility of an artificial limb or a dysfunctional body part, so that movement of the limb more accurately simulates movement of a human appendage. A kinetic assistive device is provided is provided which is constructed of a lightweight material (such as aluminum) and has a plurality of smart material actuators attached thereto. A system for detecting environmental stimulation of the device is provided in electrical communication with such actuators to effect movement of said device in response to detection signals produced thereby. The system includes a plurality of sensors, such as proximity detectors, accelerometers, tactile sensors and the like which are mounted on the assistive device and which provide data to computer-controlled command circuitry. This data can be encoded and used to control the movement of the assistive device via the actuators to more accurately predict the performance of the device in relation to that of an actual human limb.

Prosthetic, orthotic, and other rehabilitative robotic assistive devices actuated by smart materials

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Constantinos Mavroidis