Abstract
Loss of personal mobility is a large and growing issue that can be caused by a variety of medical problems. Knee pain, muscle weakness, and their associated conditions are among the most common causes of impaired walking. Currently, conventional solutions include simple braces, canes, and medication. In more extreme cases, surgery is also routine. We propose a design for a novel quasi-passive orthotic knee brace which combines a smart support system employing magnetorheological (MR) fluid with a passive load reduction system. To work in concert with the walking motion of the knee, we have designed a four-bar linkage in conjunction with a compliant mechanism. The resulting orthotic knee brace will alleviate common symptoms related to knee pain and restore lost mobility, most notably in cases of osteoarthritis.
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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
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Huber, M., Eschbach, M., Ilies, H., Kazerounian, K. (2015). Novel Quasi-Passive Knee Orthosis with Hybrid Joint Mechanism. In: Kecskeméthy, A., Geu Flores, F. (eds) Interdisciplinary Applications of Kinematics. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10723-3_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10723-3_6
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