Portable Pneumatic Power-Harvesting Ankle-Foot-Orthosis
Keyword(s):
In this paper, we present a novel ankle-foot-orthosis (AFO) design that controls ankle motion by providing a plantarflexion stop with free dorsiflexion during gait. The biomechanical controls are accomplished with a unique application of a cam-follower design that uses pneumatic power harvested via an air bellow embedded into the insole of the AFO (Figure 1). This portable design is self-contained and does not require any external power source to provide for the plantarflexion stop locking mechanism. It is the first step in a series of untethered fluid-powered orthotic devices.
2009 ◽
Vol 6
(1)
◽
pp. 19
◽
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):