Tandem Computers Incorporated

3ware, Inc.

Tibion Corporation

Alterg, Inc.

Other

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Network Appliance, Inc.

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation

Robert W Horst

William J Watson

David J Garcia

Robert L Jardine

David P Sonnier

William P Bunton

John C Krause

Richard W Cutts, Jr

James Arthur McDonald

Richard L Harris

William F Bruckert

William Edward Baker

Geoffrey I Iswandhi

Kern S Bhugra

Rod S Thompson

Kenneth C Debacker

Pankaj Mehra

Christophe Therene

Douglas E Jewett

Philip R Manela

Frank A Williams

Alan Bryant Heirich

Edith Merle Arnold

Stephen G Low

Nikhil A Mehta

Thomas J Fogarty

David Allen Brown

David Sonnier

Richard J Biskup

Clifford T Jue

Mark Alexander Shand

Sean Tremaine Whalen

Daniel L Fowler

John Michael Brown

John D Coddington

Mizanur Mohammed Rahman

Anthony Frank Aiello

Susan S Meredith

Steven C Meyers

Eric Richard Kuehne

Richard R Marcus

William Alessi

John David Allison

Shannon J Lynch

Linda Ellen Zalzala

Bryan T Silbermann

Cirillo L Costantino

Paul N Hintikka

Jonathan Smith

Charles E Peet, Jr

Robert B Curtis

Gary F Campbell

Curtis Willard Jones, Jr

Patricia L Whiteside

Aurangzeb K Khan

Randall G Banton

James Stevens Klecka

Ajay K Shah

Babu S Rahman

Lordson L Yue

David T Heron

Peter C Norwood

Richard A Southworth

Brian Davis

I Ko Yamamoto

Albert Tam

David Joseph Kinkade

Laurent Moll

Barry Lee Drexler

Robert B Mizell

Harry Frank Elrod

John M Beirne

Gregory P Marecek

Robert L Weisickle

Patracia L Whiteside

Adrian Abrahami

Emma Essock-burns

Chase Camden Curtiss

Philip W Long

An orthosis includes a first portion and a second portion configured to attach on opposite sides of a joint. An actuator is configured to apply a force between the first and second portions. The actuator includes a first spool and a second spool rotatably mounted to the first portion. An output pulley is mounted to the second portion. A belt has a first end wrapped around the first spool, a second end wrapped around the second spool, and a mid-portion wrapped around the output pulley. The actuator is configured to rotate the first and second spools. The rotation of the first spool pulls the belt a given length, and the rotation of the second spool feeds the belt less than the given length, so as to pull the output pulley towards the first portion to pull the second portion towards the first portion.

Orthotic device drive system and method

A circuit for converting DC to AC power or AC to DC power comprises a storage capacitor, boost and buck inductors and switching elements. The switches are controlled to steer current to and from the storage capacitor to cancel DC input ripple or to provide near unity power factor AC input. The capacitor is alternately charged to high positive or negative voltages with an average DC bias near zero. The circuit is configured to deliver high-efficiency power in applications including industrial equipment, home appliances, mobility devices and electric vehicle applications.

Circuit with low DC bias storage capacitors for high density power conversion

The invention relates to embodiments of methods for extending a subject-controllable range of joint motion, and for increasing subject control of joint movement within a range of motion. Embodiments include fastening a powered device around a joint so as to be able to control the joint, allowing the subject to move the joint within a range of volitional motion, and then engaging the powered device to support movement of the joint into an expanded, rehabilitative range. In some embodiments, the device supports joint movement by substantially providing the force to move the joint beyond the volitional boundary. In other embodiments, supporting movement includes the subject substantially providing the force, and the device allowing movement only in a desired direction. The invention further relates to a system for increasing the functional capability of a joint by implementing embodiments of the method. By such methods and system, rehabilitation is accomplished both by building strength, and training neural pathways.

Therapeutic method and device for rehabilitation

Portable devices and methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by assuring that the ankle is flexed and extended sufficiently to promote blood flow in the lower leg are disclosed. The device includes an actuator with a free movement mode that allows a patient to move freely between activations or to initiate movement to delay a next automatic activation.

Methods and devices for deep vein thrombosis prevention

A foot pad device includes a foot pad, force sensors that provide force data, sensor electronics coupled to the force sensors, and a processor. The foot pad includes a ball region configured to be located under a ball of the foot of the user or a heel region configured to be located under a heel of the foot of the user. At least a portion of the force sensors is located in the ball region or the heel region of the foot pad. The sensor electronics include a flexible circuit with force sensor connection paths adapted to transmit force data from the force sensors and are configured to condition the force data to be within a conditioned force data range. The processor is configured to calculate a weight value based on the conditioned force data, a gain value, and an offset value.

Foot pad device and method of obtaining weight data

A method for controlling movement using an active powered device including an actuator, joint position sensor, muscle stress sensor, and control system. The device provides primarily muscle support although it is capable of additionally providing joint support (hence the name 'active muscle assistance device'). The device is designed for operation in several modes to provide either assistance or resistance to a muscle for the purpose of enhancing mobility, preventing injury, or building muscle strength. The device is designed to operate autonomously or coupled with other like device(s) to provide simultaneous assistance or resistance to multiple muscles.

Intention-based therapy device and method

A foot pad device and a method of obtaining weight data from a force sensor in a foot pad worn by a user engaging in a footstep, including placing the force sensor under the ball of the foot of the user and/or the heel of the foot of the user; receiving an entered patient weight value for the user; collecting force data from the force sensor; calculating a weight value based on the collected force data and a scaling and/or offset parameter; comparing the calculated weight value to the entered patient weight value; comparing the calculated weight value to zero; adjusting the scaling and/or offset parameter; and repeating the steps periodically. The method may include comparing the collected force data to a functionality indication range, flagging the force sensor if the collected force data is outside the functionality indication range, and disregarding force data from the flagged force sensor.

Method and devices for moving a body joint

An actuator system for assisting extension of a biological joint is provided with a motor assembly, a rotary-to-linear mechanism, and an extension stop. The rotary-to-linear mechanism includes a screw that accepts rotational output of the motor assembly, and a nut that cooperates with the screw to convert rotational movement of the screw to linear movement of the nut. The extension stop is driven by linear movement of the nut in an extension direction to cause extension of the biological joint. The motor assembly, the rotary-to-linear mechanism and the extension stop cooperate to allow unpowered flexion of the joint. The system is configured without a flexion stop, and is configured such that the nut cannot drive the joint in a flexion direction. Methods of use are also disclosed.

Actuator system and method for extending a joint

An actuator system for extending and flexing a joint, including a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism for converting the rotational output from the multi-motor assembly into an extension and flexion of the joint, and a controller for operating the actuator system in several operational modes. The multi-motor assembly preferably combines power from two different sources, such that the multi-motor assembly can supply larger forces at slower speeds ('Low Gear') and smaller forces at higher speeds ('High Gear'). The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).

Actuator system with a multi-motor assembly for extending and flexing a joint

A technique for deflecting an actuator belt includes applying a variable deflection force to the actuator belt. The technique may be used to construct actuators for active orthotics, robotics or other applications. Versions with passive clutches may also be used to construct variable-ratio motor gearheads, or may be scaled up to build continuously variable transmissions for automobiles, bicycles, or other vehicles.

Deflector assembly

A technique for providing a variable-ratio coupling between output shaft and input motor involves driving an output shaft with drivers that are out of phase with each other. Advantageously, the technique provides a gear reduction via a simple, high-efficiency mechanism; continuous output torque is provided by alternating the load between two belts deflected by, by way of example but not limitation, cam devices.

Rotary actuator

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Robert W Horst