Orthopedic joint device and method for controlling same

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, the orthopedic device comprising an upper part, a lower part mounted in articulated fashion to the upper part, and a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts. The conversion device provides for, during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part, mechanical work from a relative movement between the upper and lower parts to be converted and stored in at least one energy store and supplied back to the joint device with a time offset in order to assist the relative movement. The stored energy is converted back and the supply of mechanical work takes place in a controlled manner during the assistance of the relative movement.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, comprising:
 providing the orthopedic joint device, the device comprising an upper part, a lower part mounted to the upper part in an articulated manner, a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts and including an energy store, and a dampening device arranged between the upper part and the lower part;   pivoting the upper part relative to the lower part, converting mechanical work from the relative movement between the upper and lower parts to energy with the conversion device, and storing the energy in the energy store;   re-supplying the energy from the energy store to the joint device in a time-offset manner to assist relative movement of the upper and lower parts;   reconverting the stored mechanical work in a controlled manner to assist relative movement of the upper and lower parts; and   dampening relative movement between the upper part and the lower part with the dampening device, wherein dampening is adjusted based on walking speeds of a wearer of the orthopedic joint device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the energy store comprises a spring. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein energy is externally supplied to, or removed from, the energy store. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the energy store comprises an actuator, and the method further comprises filling the energy store to a minimum level if the relative movement is insufficient to assist relative movement of the upper part and the lower part. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 determining that the stored energy is insufficient to assist relative movement of the upper part and the lower part; and   filling the energy store using the actuator to a level sufficient to assist relative movement of the upper part and the lower part.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the energy store further comprises a release device capable of releasing energy from the energy store. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mechanical work is supplied in a manner dependent on at least one of:
 an angular position of the upper part relative to the lower part;   a position of at least one of the upper part and the lower part in space;   an angular velocity of at least one of the upper part and the lower part;   a relative velocity between the upper part and the lower part;   a load situation; and   an acceleration of at least one of the upper part and the lower part.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the spring is configured to store energy, and the energy is supplied or removed in a manner dependent on at least one of:
 an angular position of the upper part relative to the lower part;   a position of at least one of the upper part and the lower part in space;   an angular velocity of at least one of the upper part and the lower part;   a relative velocity between the upper part and the lower part;   a load situation; and   an acceleration of at least one of the upper part and the lower part.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 determining that the conversion device is not active due to the relative movement between the upper part and the lower part and;   charging the energy store with the actuator when the conversion device is inactive.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adjusting a time of engagement of the conversion device to modify the amount of energy to be converted and/or the amount of energy re-supplied. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising charging the energy store with an actuator if the conversion device is not active. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the relative movement is influenced by the dampening device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the dampening is reduced with an increasing joint angle between the upper part and the lower part. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a flexion damping is reduced at higher walking speeds. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at higher walking speeds the flexion damping is increased at the end of a swing phase. 
     
     
         33 . A orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, comprising:
 an upper part;   a lower part mounted to the upper part in an articulated manner;   a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts, the conversion device including an actuator, and being configured to mechanically convert mechanical work from relative movement between the upper and lower parts to energy stored in the energy store, the conversion device being further configured to re-supply the stored energy to the joint device in a time-offset manner in order to assist the relative movement, wherein the actuator is operable to supply energy to, or remove energy from, the energy store in a controlled manner when assisting the relative movement.   
     
     
         34 . The orthopedic joint device of  claim 33 , further comprising a separate damper device arranged between the upper part and the lower part. 
     
     
         35 . The orthopedic joint device of  claim 34 , wherein the separate damper device is adjustable. 
     
     
         36 . The orthopedic joint device of  claim 33 , wherein the conversion device comprises at least one of a spring, a spring mechanism, and a transducer. 
     
     
         37 . The orthopedic joint device of  claim 33 , wherein the energy store comprises at least one of a spring and a accumulator. 
     
     
         38 . The orthopedic joint device of  claim 31 , wherein the conversion device comprises at least two springs having different spring constants.