Portable Pneumatic Power-Harvesting Ankle-Foot-Orthosis

Abstract

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.

Passive Articulated and Non-Articulated Ankle–Foot Orthoses for Gait Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review

“…Chin et al [ 58 , 59 ] presented the concept of pneumatic harvested ankle–foot orthoses (PhAFOs), which are composed of two components fabricated from carbon-composite laminate: the tibial upright and the footplate. The sole of the device includes a bellow pump, an actuator, two check valves, a pressure-release valve, and a cam-lock mechanism attached on the lateral side of the PhAFO ( Figure 6 ).…”

A Portable Ankle-Foot Rehabilitation Orthosis Powered by Electric Motor

“…Because most of the ankle motion occurs in the sagittal plane which outweighs the motion in the transverse and frontal planes [7][8][9], P-AFOs' function mainly focuses on the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion rehabilitation training and assistance. A self-controlled P-AFO using a bidirectional pneumatic rotary actuator was presented to generate the needed power [10,11]. An actuated cam-lock mechanism was designed to accomplish the ankle motion by pressurizing the pump located in the sole of the foot.…”