Patents by Inventor Daniel Joseph Paluska
Daniel Joseph Paluska has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11273060Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 10588759Abstract: It is to be understood that the methods and apparatus which have been described above are merely illustrative applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 10485681Abstract: An exoskeleton worn by a human user consists of a rigid pelvic harness, worn about the waist of the user, and exoskeleton leg structures, each of which extends downwardly alongside one of the human user's legs. The leg structures include hip, knee, and ankle joints connected by adjustable length thigh and shin members. The hip joint that attaches the thigh structure to the pelvic harness includes a passive spring or an active actuator to assist in lifting the exoskeleton and the human user with respect to the ground surface upon which the user is walking and to propel the exoskeleton and human user forward. A controllable damper operatively arrests the movement of the knee joint at controllable times during the walking cycle and a spring located at the ankle and foot member stores and releases energy during walking.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Conor Walsh, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Andrew Valiente, Kenneth Pasch, William Grand
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Publication number: 20190321201Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 10342681Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Publication number: 20160338857Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Publication number: 20160228265Abstract: It is to be understood that the methods and apparatus which have been described above are merely illustrative applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Hugh M. Herr, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 9339397Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 9333097Abstract: Biomimetic Hybrid Actuators employed in biologically-inspired musculoskeletal architectures employ an electric motor for supplying positive energy to and storing negative energy from an artificial joint or limb, as well as elastic elements such as springs, and controllable variable damper components, for passively storing and releasing energy and providing adaptive stiffness to accommodate level ground walking as well as movement on stairs and surfaces having different slopes.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Publication number: 20140257519Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Patent number: 8734528Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Kwok Wai Samuel Au, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Publication number: 20120209405Abstract: An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Hugh M. Herr, Samuel K. Au, Peter Dilworth, Daniel Joseph Paluska
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Publication number: 20110264230Abstract: Biomimetic Hybrid Actuators employed in biologically-inspired musculoskeletal architectures employ an electric motor for supplying positive energy to and storing negative energy from an artificial joint or limb, as well as elastic elements such as springs, and controllable variable damper components, for passively storing and releasing energy and providing adaptive stiffness to accommodate level ground walking as well as movement on stairs and surfaces having different slopes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Peter Dilworth
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Publication number: 20110040216Abstract: An exoskeleton worn by a human user consists of a rigid pelvic harness, worn about the waist of the user, and exoskeleton leg structures, each of which extends downwardly alongside one of the human user's legs. The leg structures include hip, knee, and ankle joints connected by adjustable length thigh and shin members. The hip joint that attaches the thigh structure to the pelvic harness includes a passive spring or an active actuator to assist in lifting the exoskeleton and the human user with respect to the ground surface upon which the user is walking and to propel the exoskeleton and human user forward. A controllable damper operatively arrests the movement of the knee joint at controllable times during the walking cycle and a spring located at the ankle and foot member stores and releases energy during walking.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Hugh M. Herr, Conor Walsh, Daniel Joseph Paluska, Andrew Valiente, Kenneth Pasch, William Grand