The design of a wearable support device based on link mechanism with Shock reduction for the knee joint based on optimization method

抄録

As a method of preventing knee arthritis caused by age-related decline in muscle strength and bone density in an aging society, this study proposes a non-power-mounted device that reduces the burden on the knee joint during walking by elderly people.

The proposed device consists of a link mechanism and cushioning components, and it is designed to convert the contact force between the sole and the ground into a supporting force during knee joint flexion. In this paper, the optimization method is used to design the dimensions of the mechanism to reduce the disturbance of knee joint motion by the proposed device. The results of the dimensional design were verified using a geometric model to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed device in reducing the inhibition factor on the natural knee motion of the knee joint.