Transactions of Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering
Online ISSN : 1881-4379
Print ISSN : 1347-443X
ISSN-L : 1347-443X
Contributions
3rd Prototype of Intelligently Controllable Ankle Foot Orthosis with Compact MR Fluid Brake and Its Application for A Patient with Flaccid Paralysis in Ankle joints
Sosuke TANIDATakehito KIKUCHIKikuko OTSUKITakashi YASUDAJunji FURUSHOTakuya OZAWATakamitsu FUJIKAWAShoji MORIMOTO
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2010 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 50-58

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Abstract
Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) are orthotic devices to support movements of ankles of disabled people, for example hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disease, etc. In our research, we have developed a passive controllable AFO (Intelligently Controllable Ankle Foot Orthosis: i-AFO) which can control its ankle torque by using a Compact Magneto-Rheological Fluid Brake (CMRFB), for improvement of the walking function of the handicapped person. The brake has a simple structure and rapid response. Until now, we have developed the CMRFB and 2nd prototype i-AFO, and evaluated their function. Consequently, the gait had been improve, so the joint movement was smooth which close to normal gait. In this paper, we describe newly developed i-AFO, 3rd prototype. This device was small and lightened to use more compact CMRFB and spring unit, and we used accelerometer and potentiometer for judgment of walking states. Additionally, velocity controller works in initial stance phase to maintain stable gaits even if the walking speed changes. We conducted validation test of new device and controller for a Guillain barre syndrome patient. According to experimental results, velocity of ankle planter flexion in the initial contact phase was an important factor for good gaits, and we could control it with the 3rd i-AFO.
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© 2010 Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering
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