TY - GEN
T1 - Walking assistance apparatus using a spatial parallel link mechanism and a weight bearing lift
AU - Tanaka, Eiichirou
AU - Sato, Yusuke
AU - Sakurai, Tomohiro
AU - Ito, Kazuhisa
AU - Ikehara, Tadaaki
AU - Yusa, Hirokazu
AU - Saegusa, Shozo
AU - Yuge, Louis
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - A prototype for a walking assistance apparatus for the elderly or motor palsy patients was developed as a next-generation vehicle or movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance, using a novel spatial parallel link mechanism and a bearing lift. The flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus can support entire leg alignment (including soles) and assist; walking behavior at ankle, knee and hip joints simultaneously. In order to respond the variation of equipped person's walking velocity, the length of stride and walking cycle while walking with wearing the apparatus were compensated by using the relation of walking ratio. Therefore the apparatus can be controlled in response to equipped person's will. Motor palsy and muscle weakness patients can walk by themselves by using the apparatus; patients who have ambulation difficulty can use the apparatus with weight bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. It is very effective for rehabilitation to use the apparatus with the weight bearing lift. This newly developed system facilitates motor palsy and muscle weakness patients in the rehabilitation program.
AB - A prototype for a walking assistance apparatus for the elderly or motor palsy patients was developed as a next-generation vehicle or movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance, using a novel spatial parallel link mechanism and a bearing lift. The flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus can support entire leg alignment (including soles) and assist; walking behavior at ankle, knee and hip joints simultaneously. In order to respond the variation of equipped person's walking velocity, the length of stride and walking cycle while walking with wearing the apparatus were compensated by using the relation of walking ratio. Therefore the apparatus can be controlled in response to equipped person's will. Motor palsy and muscle weakness patients can walk by themselves by using the apparatus; patients who have ambulation difficulty can use the apparatus with weight bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. It is very effective for rehabilitation to use the apparatus with the weight bearing lift. This newly developed system facilitates motor palsy and muscle weakness patients in the rehabilitation program.
KW - neuro-rehabilitation
KW - spatial parallel link mechanism
KW - walking assistance
KW - walking ratio
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80055033951&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80055033951&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ICORR.2011.5975469
DO - 10.1109/ICORR.2011.5975469
M3 - Conference contribution
C2 - 22275667
AN - SCOPUS:80055033951
SN - 9781424498628
T3 - IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics
BT - 2011 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR 2011 - Rehab Week Zurich 2011
T2 - Rehab Week Zurich 2011 - 2011 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR 2011
Y2 - 27 June 2011 through 1 July 2011
ER -