Case Western Reserve University

The United States Government As Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Ronald J Triolo

Dustin J Tyler

Lee Fisher

Shawn Dellinger

Kevin M Foglyano

Daniel Brian Tan

Matthew A Schiefer

Marc Louis Vitantonio

Thomas C Bulea

Anna E Krakora

Robert Craig Allen

Stephanie Bailey

Maynard Payumo

Matthew Stone

Vikki Nowak

Roger D Quinn

Michael E Miller

Rebecca Lynn Blice

Kiley Armstrong

Musa L Audu

Richard Bachmann

Arkady Polinkovsky

Lisa M Lombardo

Aidan Friederich

Nicole Kern

Rudolf Kobetic

Natalie Brill

Musa Audu

Michael Miller

A trunk exoskeleton is provided including a flexible corset configured to wrap around a user's torso in the lumbar spine region. The flexible corset includes a plurality of vertical pockets formed around its perimeter. A plurality of flexor columns are included, each of which positioned in one of the plurality of vertical pockets. The flexor columns generate a flexor righting torque when bent from a vertical orientation. The multiple flexor righting torques from each of the plurality of flexor columns combine to generate a combined flexor righting torque. The combined flexor righting torque comprises a portion of a user trunk torque when the user's torso is angled from vertical.

Trunk exoskeleton

As an example, a walker includes a first leg pair, a second leg pair and a cross beam connecting the first and second leg pairs in a parallel, spaced apart relationship. Each leg pair includes a U-shaped tube defining a front leg and a rear leg. A front strut is telescopically movable within the front leg and extends outwardly therefrom. A rear strut is telescopically movable within the rear leg and extends outwardly therefrom. A mechanical linear actuator includes a rotating element adapted to rotate relative to at least one of the front leg or the rear leg. The rotating element includes an interface with a track on the respective strut relative to which the rotating element rotates, whereby rotational motion of the rotating element translates to corresponding linear motion of the strut.

Mechanical self-leveling walker

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Patterned stimulation intensity for neural stimulation

A system and method for improving stability of a wheelchair user includes a wheelchair having sensors measuring motion parameters to sense collisions and sharp turns which may unseat the user. Neuromuscular stimulating electrodes attached to extensor and flexor muscles of the user's trunk and under the command of a controller in communication with the sensors activate the muscles during turns and collisions to counteract the forces induced. A system and method for increasing manual propulsion efficiency includes sensors for sensing motion parameters indicating completion of a manual push of the wheelchair wheels and recovery from the push. Neuromuscular stimulating electrodes attached to extensor and flexor muscles of the user's trunk and under the command of a controller in communication with the sensors activate the muscles at the appropriate time in the cycle of push and recovery.

Wheelchair system with motion sensors and neural stimulation

Walker

A walker for maintaining balance and stability has extendable and retractable struts positioned within tubular legs for leveling the walker when climbing stairs, a curb or an incline. The struts on each side of the walker are connected to one another via cables which coordinate the motion of the struts so that when the front struts retract within their respective tubular legs the rear struts extend proportionally and vice versa. The cables may be arranged using pulleys mounted within the tubular legs or Bowden cables may be used within each of the tubular legs. User actuated clutches engage the cables to arrest the motion of the struts and temporarily fix them in a desired configuration.

The present invention relates a system that can configure a stimulus for functional electrical stimulation ('FES') to maintain a constant muscle force while delaying the onset of muscle fatigue and a related method of use. The stimulus can be delivered to a nerve via a set of multiple electrode contacts according to a stimulation parameter that maximizes a joint moment associated with the stimulus and minimizes the overlap between pairs of contacts. The joint moment can be related to the muscle force, and the overlap can be related to the onset of muscle fatigue.

Delaying the onset of muscle fatigue associated with functional electrical stimulation

An implantable cuff includes an elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within the elastic collar, and at least one conductor in electrical communication with the at least one conductive segment. The elastic collar defines an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue. At least a portion of the elastic collar includes a stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of the elastic collar. The at least one conductor is configured to operably mate with an apparatus capable of delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.

Implantable cuff and method for functional electrical stimulation and monitoring

Systems and methods are provided for stimulating motor units. An electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes configured to provide stimulation to respective motor units of a plurality of independent, mutually agonist motor units. A stimulator assembly is configured to provide a stimulation current to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The stimulation current is provided such that a sum of respective time-varying moments at the plurality of motor units remains substantially constant and non-zero.

System and method for stimulating motor units

This invention relates to a lift to assist in standing and/or walking for persons who have insufficient strength or movement in their legs. The inventive lift walker includes a frame assembly having a lower an upper and lower portion that wheels are provided beneath the lower frame so as to enable the lift to be propelled and maneuvered. A bracing assembly is provided at the upper portion and comprises a supporting platform which is adapted to fit under the forearms of a person, and optional handles for gripping by the user's left and right hands. An elevator assembly is provided which includes lift and stabilization tracks for raising and lowering the supporting assembly in a coordinated, purely vertical fashion, and further includes gas lift means for effectuating the same via use of a remotely switched activation mechanism. There are also anti-tip means for maintaining the stability of the device when contacting uneven ground surface during movement.

Vertical lift walker for sit to stand transition assistance

This invention relates to a self leveling walker to assist persons who have insufficient strength or movement in their legs when standing and walking on uneven surfaces, and for traversing ramps and stairs. The inventive self leveling walker includes a frame assembly with a leveling assembly for adapting the relative length of the four legs of the walker to accommodate a substantially constant level of the walker so that the user may maintain an erect standing posture at all times, without the need to lean forward or back to accommodate uneven surfaces. The invention employs a fluid or gas based circuit between the front and back walker legs on each respective side, so as to shorten or lengthen each front and back leg with respect to each other, thereby maintaining the overall level of the walker on the subject surface being traversed.

Self leveling walker

An orthotic brace () for a joint includes a bracing device () having first and second portions () movable relative to one another and a mechanism () for placing the bracing device () in a first condition in which the first portion () has a first resistance to movement relative to the second portion () and a second condition in which the first portion () has a second, different resistance to movement relative to the second portion (). The mechanism () is capable of placing the bracing device () in a third condition in which the first portion () has a third resistance to movement relative to the second portion () that is between the first and second resistance.

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland Heights, OH, United States of America

Ronald J Triolo