A powered lower limb orthosis for gait assistance in incomplete spinal cord injured subjects

Abstract

The paper deals with the mechanical design of a new active stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO). The orthosis is intended to provide gait assistance for incomplete spinal cord injured patients that present functional hip muscles, but partially denervated knee and ankle muscles. It consists of a passive compliant joint that constrains ankle plantar flexion, along with a powered knee unit that prevents knee flexion during stance and controls flexion-extension during swing. For this purpose, the knee joint incorporates a controllable mechanical locking system and an electrical DC motor that actuate independently. The prototype is equipped with different sensors (plantar sensors and angular encoders) for control purposes. They are used to identify the main events defining the gait phases and to provide feedback measurements for the motor control system.