Abstract: The wheeled support assembly for the disabled is an assembly designed to assist a disabled person to walk steadily. The assembly includes a wheeled frame having a detachable body harness. The body harness is adapted to fit around the torso of the disabled person and to provide back support therefor. The body harness includes a pair of articulated columns for removable attachment to the disabled person's legs. The lower end of each column terminates in a foot member, wherein the disabled person may insert his/her feet. When attached to the wheeled frame, the harness stabilizes the disabled person's body within the frame such that movement of the legs will propel the entire assembly. The assembly also includes rubber handles, an alarm clock and an audible emergency alert device.

Abstract: A gait training device operates in cooperation with a wearable motion assist device that specifies a walking phase of a wearer, and applies power to the wearer in correspondence to the walking phase of the wearer, the gait training device including: a body weight support device that lifts up the wearer to support a weight applied on feet; a moving unit that is movable according to a walking motion of the wearer; and a control device that controls a moving speed of the moving unit and/or an amount of body-weight support by the body weight support device based upon a position of a center of gravity of the wearer detected by the wearable motion assist device.

Abstract: In a walking assistance device for providing a walking assistance force to a femoral part of a user, the walking assistance force generated by a power generator is effectively transmitted to the femoral part of the user while avoiding the user from experiencing any undue pressure or discomfort. The walking assistance device includes a rigid femoral support frame having a base end connected to an output end of an electric motor unit and a free end extending from the base end to a position opposite to a front part of the femoral part of the user, and a flexible belt attached to the free end of the femoral support frame to be releasably worn around a circumference of the femoral part of the user at a height corresponding to the free end of the femoral support frame.

Abstract: A wearable action assisting device comprises an optional control unit for generating a first instruction signal for generating power depending on a biological potential signal in a drive source, an autonomic control unit for generating a second instruction signal for generating power depending on a phase of a task of the wearer in the drive source, a generation unit for generating a drive current of the drive source based on the first and second instruction signals, a display unit having a screen displaying thereon a coordinate axis corresponding to a strength of the power, a detection unit for detecting the coordinate of a designated position in the screen, and a setting unit for extracting parameters corresponding to the detected coordinate from a table defining a correspondence between a coordinate in the screen and parameters of the signal processing, and for setting the extracted parameters in the optional control unit.

Abstract: A wearable action-assist device which assists or executes an action of a wearer by substituting for the wearer is provided with an action-assist tool 2 having an actuator 201 which gives power to the wearer 1, a biosignal sensor 221 which detects a wearer's biosignal, a biosignal processing unit 3 which acquires from a biosignal “a” detected by the biosignal sensor a nerve transfer signal “b” for operating a wearer's muscular line skeletal system, and a myoelectricity signal “c” accompanied with a wearer's muscular line activity, an optional control unit 4 which generates a command signal “d” for causing the actuator 201 to generate power according to the wearer's intention using the nerve transfer signal “b” and the myoelectricity signal “c” acquired by the biosignal processing unit 3, and a driving current generating unit 5 which generates a current according to the nerve transfer signal b and a current according to the myoelectricity signal “c”, respectively, based on the command signal “d” generated by th

Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitation of patients with motor disorders affecting the legs and standing dysfunctions, the apparatus comprising a couple of bars moving along a closed loop representing a walking step for the patient, with each bar including a plate to affix a foot of the patient and the plate being slidably arranged in the bar, with a motor connected to the bars to move the bars along the closed loop, the apparatus also having an harness to support the patient.

Abstract: A wearable motion supporting device includes a waist portion frame having a long base portion in a right-left direction of a wearer, a pair of right and left lower extremity frames connected to a lower portion of the waist portion frame, a back portion frame connected to an upper portion of the base portion of the waist portion frame, and a connection portion connecting the back portion frame and the base portion of the waist portion frame. The connection portion is made of a rotational mechanism of one DOF (Degree Of Freedom) on a frontal plane, for example, a four-node link mechanism.

Abstract: In a walking assistance device configured to apply a walking assistance force to a femoral part of a user, a walking assistance force provided by a power generator mounted on a pelvic support assembly is transmitted to a femoral part of the user via a femoral support assembly. The femoral support assembly includes a swing arm (60, 62) having a base end connected to an output end of the power generator and a free end opposing a front part of the femoral part of the user, a femoral support member (68, 70) pivotally connected to the free end of the swing arm and having a support surface engaging the front part of the femoral part of the user, and a femoral belt (73, 74) passed around the femoral part of the user and having two ends attached to corresponding lateral ends of the femoral support member. Thereby, the femoral support member is enabled to accommodate changes and/or variations in the contour of the femoral part of the user.

Abstract: In the walking assist device, defining rigidity of a portion from the user to a first joint as K1 [N/m], rigidity of a portion from the first joint to the second joint as K2 [N/m] and rigidity of a portion from the second joint to one of the feet of a free leg of the user as K31 [N/m], when the user is supported by the support member, they are set as: (K1 +K31)<K2. With this, the assist force can avoid being affected by, in the direction of gravity, vertical displacement of a portion other than the main body of the device and the control accuracy of the assist force is enhanced accordingly, thereby improving the assisting feel sensed by the user P.

Abstract: An exoskeleton, configurable to be coupled to a person, includes an exoskeleton trunk connected to first and second leg supports at respective hip joints, which allow for flexion and extension about respective hip axes. A counterweight device including an auxiliary mass is connected to the exoskeleton trunk through an actuator such that the auxiliary mass extends in a position behind the exoskeleton trunk. A front load is supported by the exoskeleton through a load bearing device including a load shifting device for selectively operating powered reel mechanisms to raise or lower the front load with respect to the exoskeleton trunk. The auxiliary mass can be selectively shifted with respect to the exoskeleton trunk to balance the moment created about the hip axes by the auxiliary mass and the moment created by a downward force of the load on the load bearing device.

Abstract: Provided is a walking supporting apparatus for supporting a user walking by using a multi-sensor signal processing system that detects a walking intent. A palm sensor unit detects a force applied to a palm through a stick to generate a palm sensor signal. A sensor unit detects a force applied to a sole through the ground to generate a sole sensor signal. A portable information processing unit checks a user's walking intent by using the palm sensor signal, and if it is checked that the user has a walking intent, the portable information processing unit generates a driving signal in response to the sole sensor signal. A walking supporting mechanism includes a left motor attached to a user's left leg and a right motor attached to a user's right leg to support the user's walking when the left and right motors are driven in response to the driving signal.

Abstract: Provided is a walking motion assisting device capable of assisting a leg of an agent in walking motion to alleviate an assisting burden or eliminate an assisting necessity by a caregiver. According to the walking motion assisting device (1), the value of a persistent energy input term (?0) contained in a simultaneous differential equation denoting a second model configured to generate a second motion oscillator (?1) is adjusted so as to limit a landing position (x) of a leg of the agent in a specified range [x1, x2]. Further, the motion state of the leg is recognized on the basis of a variation mode of a second oscillator (?2), and on the basis of the recognition result, the relative motion between the thigh and crus of the leg around the knee joint is assisted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rehabilitation device using a walking assistance device (1) having an actuator which generates and provides torque to a lower limb joint of a wearer wearing the walking assistance device (1), comprising a floor reaction force pattern storing unit (330) configured to store a reference floor reaction force pattern; a control target floor reaction force setting unit (340) for determining a control target floor reaction force based on the floor reaction force pattern stored in the floor reaction force pattern storing unit (330); a target torque calculating unit (350) for calculating a target torque of the actuator to achieve the control target floor reaction force determined by the control target floor reaction force setting unit (340); and an actuator output controller (150) for controlling output of the actuator such that the actuator generates a torque matching the target torque calculated by the target torque calculating unit (350); wherein the floor reaction force that the we

Abstract: An exercise and gait-training, apparatus includes a framework adapted for location above a surface, a harness to support a person relative to the framework, an orthosis adapted for attachment to a lower leg or a foot of one leg of said person, a first pair of first actuators connected to the framework and to the harness whereby one side of the harness is moved to move a hip or a thigh of said one leg of said supported person relative to the framework, a second pair of first actuators connected to the framework and to the orthosis whereby the orthosis is moved relative to the framework, and a controller to control and to synchronize operation of the actuators such that the first leg is moved in a pathway simulating a natural movement of the leg during walking, a running or a sporting activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for an exoskeleton haptic device, having: a frame structure, to be coupled to the body of a subject; actuators, carried by the frame structure and operable to cause movement of a number of joints of the body; and sensors, coupled to the body to detect first signals indicative of an intention of movement of the subject. The control system is provided with: a feedback stage, controlling a position of the joints based on a reference position; a feedforward stage, controlling a compliance presented by the exoskeleton haptic device to the subject based on the detected first signals; and a combining block, combining outputs from the feedback stage and feedforward stage in order to generate a driving signal for the actuators, thereby imposing a controlled position to the joints. This primary control action may also be integrated with a posture equilibrium control, for controlling postural equilibrium of the subject during the movement.

Abstract: In the assist device, the output of an actuator is adjusted so that it becomes lower as a state of charge of a battery exceeds a first threshold value, and also so that it becomes lower as the state of charge of the battery becomes lower. The output of the actuator is controlled on the basis of the state of charge of the battery, so that it is possible to make the agent recognize the change in the state of charge of the battery by changing the output of the actuator, and as a result, to avoid the situation where the agent feels strange with respect to stopping the operation of the assist device following thereto.

Abstract: An exoskeleton bracing system includes: a trunk support for affixing to the trunk of a disabled person and leg braces for connecting to the legs of the person, each leg brace including limb segment braces. Motorized joints are adapted to provide relative angular movement between the limb segment braces of the leg braces and between the leg braces and the trunk support. One or more ground force sensors are designed to sense ground force exerted on each of the leg braces. The system also includes a controller for receiving sensed signals from said one or more ground force sensors, with an algorithm for identifying a stance from the sensed signals and, based on the identified stance, actuating the motorized joints to perform an action relating to a mode of locomotion selected from a set of predefined actions corresponding to the identified stance.

Abstract: A motorized exoskeleton device comprising: at least two segments, where one segment is superior to the other, the exoskeleton device configured to be coupled to a lower extremity of a user. The exoskeleton device further comprising at least two motorized joints for connecting the at least two segments and for providing relative angular movement between the at least two segments; and the motors coupled to the same superior segment of the exoskeleton device.

Abstract: An exoskeleton bracing system includes: a trunk support for affixing to the trunk of a disabled person and leg braces for connecting to the legs of the person, each leg brace including limb segment braces. Motorized joints are adapted to provide relative angular movement between the limb segment braces of the leg braces and between the leg braces and the trunk support. One or more ground force sensors are designed to sense ground force exerted on each of the leg braces. The system also includes a controller for receiving sensed signals from said one or more ground force sensors, with an algorithm for identifying a stance from the sensed signals and, based on the identified stance, actuating the motorized joints to perform an action relating to a mode of locomotion selected from a set of predefined actions corresponding to the identified stance.

Abstract: A walking assistance device has a drive mechanism for driving a third joint of a leg link of the walking assistance device, the drive mechanism including a crank arm secured to a lower link member and a linear-motion actuator which has a linear-motion output shaft connected to the crank arm. The angle formed by a straight line connecting a joint axis of the third joint and a connecting portion of the linear-motion output shaft relative to the crank arm and a straight line which passes the connecting portion and which is parallel to the axial center of the linear-motion output shaft changes from an angle closer to the straight angle toward an angle closer to the right angle as the flexion degree of the leg link is increased from a flexion degree corresponding to a state wherein a user is in an upright posture.

Abstract: A apparatus includes an a exoskeleton system with a plurality of sensors for generating signals indicating a current motion and a current arrangement of at least the exoskeleton system, a hip segment, and at least one lower limb. The lower limb includes thigh and shank segments for coupling to a lateral surface of a user's leg. The thigh segment includes a first powered joint coupling the thigh segment to the hip segment, a second powered joint coupling the thigh segment to the shank segment, and a controller coupled to the sensors, the first powered joint, and the second powered joint. The controller is configured for determining a current state of the exoskeleton system and a current intent of the user based on the signals and generating control signals for the first and second powered joints based on the current state and the current intent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exercise device which includes at least one pair of independently movable leg supports which are pivotally connectable to a main body support to raise and lower, either separately and/or together, a user's legs during exercise between upper and lower positions and an adjustment device to allow the positions of said the upper and lower positions to be changed.

Abstract: Rehabilitation apparatus for use with unweighting apparatus including a vest having shoulder straps connected to the unweighting apparatus. Also included are a pair of thigh cuffs having resistance straps connected to the unweighting apparatus and a pair of foot straps having gait straps connected to the unweighting apparatus. An elongate roll is suspended from the vest and extends across the patient adjacent the pelvis area of the patient. The resistance straps and gait straps are threaded through loops provided on the front fact of the elongate roll.

Abstract: A slider configured to reduce the wear of rotating bodies and an arc-shaped rail. The slider 32 includes: an insertion portion 321 inserted into the arc-shaped rail 31 through the slit 314; a first rotating body 342 which rolls on the outer peripheral wall 312, and a second rotating body 341 which rolls on the inner peripheral wall 311, wherein the second rotating body 341 includes a pair of lateral rotating bodies 411 disposed in both ends in the width direction and a central rotating body 412 disposed in the central portion in the width direction so as to be displaced in the sliding direction from the lateral rotating bodies 411 and wherein the lateral rotating bodies 411 and the central rotating body 412 are pivotally supported by a pivot member 51 provided so as to be swingable in the sliding direction in an insertion portion 321.

Abstract: An orthesis system includes an exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a user and a separate support device in the form of crutches, a walker or a cane. Preferably, the exoskeleton includes leg supports, an exoskeleton trunk, and actuators to provide for movement of the exoskeleton. The support device includes at least one support handle and a signal generator coupled to the support handle configured to generate and send a user command signal to an exoskeleton controller when activated by the user. The user command signal causes the exoskeleton controller to shift the exoskeleton between a first operational state and a second operational state. Optionally, a signal generator separate from the support device may be utilized to control the exoskeleton. Operational states of the exoskeleton include Walking, Standing, Seated, Sitting, Down and Standing Up states. User command signals can include a combination of distinct main, walking, or stopping signals.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.

Abstract: A walking assist device is capable of operating at an appropriate cycle in view of the motion cycle of a human being to be assisted while at the same time reducing the number of control parameters to be adjusted or set. A second phase oscillator, based on which the phase of the periodic operation of each actuator is controlled, is calculated on the basis of the difference between a first phase oscillator, which indicates a phase of the periodic motion of each thigh relative to the upper body of a human being, and the second phase oscillator, and an intrinsic angular velocity. A current intrinsic angular velocity is set by correcting a previous intrinsic angular velocity by an amount based on a previous difference between the first phase oscillator and the second phase oscillator such that the previous difference approaches a desired difference.

Abstract: An exoskeleton bracing system includes: a trunk support for affixing to the trunk of a disabled person and leg braces for connecting to the legs of the person, each leg brace including limb segment braces. Motorized joints are adapted to provide relative angular movement between the limb segment braces of the leg braces and between the leg braces and the trunk support. One or more ground force sensors are designed to sense ground force exerted on each of the leg braces. The system also includes a controller for receiving sensed signals from said one or more ground force sensors, with an algorithm for identifying a stance from the sensed signals and, based on the identified stance, actuating the motorized joints to perform an action relating to a mode of locomotion selected from a set of predefined actions corresponding to the identified stance.

Abstract: A motor control device includes: a coil temperature detection unit which detects a coil temperature of a motor; an upper limit current determination unit which determines an upper limit value of a coil current in which a coil temperature after a lapse of a first predetermined time from the present is maintained at an upper limit temperature or lower, every time a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time elapses, by using a coil temperature detected by the coil temperature detection unit; and a coil current control unit which controls the coil current so as to be equal to or lower than the upper limit value.

Abstract: A walking assist device has rotational actuators that generate drive forces from electric energy supplied from batteries provided in right and left leg links. If there is a difference in the SOCs of the batteries of the two leg links, then a controller controls the rotational actuators such that the drive force of the rotational actuator corresponding to a battery having a lower SOC is smaller than the drive forces of the rotational actuators in the case where the SOCs of the two batteries are the same, while the drive of the rotational actuator corresponding to a battery having a higher SOC is larger than the drive forces of the rotational actuators in the case where the SOCs of the two batteries are the same.

Abstract: A lower extremity exoskeleton, configurable to be coupled to a person, includes: leg supports configurable to be coupled to the person's lower limbs and designed to rest on the ground during stance phases, with each leg support having a thigh link and a shank link; two knee joints, each configured to allow flexion and extension between respective shank and thigh links; an exoskeleton trunk configurable to be coupled to the person's upper body, rotatably connectable to the thigh links of the leg supports, allowing for the flexion and extension between the leg supports and the exoskeleton trunk; two hip actuators configured to create torques between the exoskeleton trunk and the leg supports; and at least one power unit capable of providing power to the hip actuators. In use, power is supplied to the hip actuators in an amount to reduce the energy consumed by a user during a walking cycle.

Abstract: A walking assistance device including a pelvic frame (10) extending from a lower back to each lateral side of a user, and a belly belt (20) for securing the pelvic frame in position. A power generator (30) is attached to each lateral side of the pelvic frame. A power transmitting arm (40) can be attached to an output member (33) of the power generator simply by hooking an upper part of a base end (41) of the power transmitting arm onto an upper groove (38) of the output member, and pushing a latch member or a slider (46) provided in a lower part of the base end onto a lower groove (39) of the output member. The user wearing the pelvic frame (10) can easily attach the power transmitting arm (40) to the output end of the power generator (30) by easily using a single hand without requiring help.

Abstract: A walking assistance device having an ankle joint limited in a swingable range in a rolling direction, enabling a user to open his/her legs apart more easily. The walking assistance device includes a seating member 1, a pair of leg links 2 and 2 which support the seating member 1 from below, and a ground contact member 8 connected to each leg link 2 through an ankle joint 7. The ankle joint 7 has a coupling mechanism 100 which includes a joint shaft member 106 and a retaining portion which swingably retains the joint shaft member 106 in the rolling direction in a predetermined range ?. The joint shaft member 106 is inclined to an abduction side in the rolling direction from the middle position of the predetermined range ? in which the joint shaft member is swingable in the rolling direction when the walking assistance device is in an upright state.

Abstract: A walking assist device is equipped with a load transmit portion, a foot attachment portion fitted to a foot of a user, and a leg link provided between the load transmit portion and the foot attachment portion. The foot attachment portion is equipped with a connecting member connected to the lower end of the leg link at a position forward of an ankle of the user while having at least a degree of rotational freedom around an axis line in a horizontal direction seen from front, and the connecting member is prevented from wobbling back and forth from the change in the direction of the load transmitted from the leg link. The foot attachment portion is equipped with the footplate member having a rigid plate capable of being stepped on by the foot of the user at outside an acting range in a sagittal plane of the load transmitted from the leg link to the connecting member.

Abstract: A walking assistance device has a drive mechanism, which is provided with a linear-motion actuator including an electric motor installed in the upper link member, nut members which are rotationally driven by the electric motor, and a linear-motion output shaft which linearly moves in the direction of the axial centers of the nut members, and a crank arm which is secured to the lower link member coaxially with a joint axis of a third joint and swingably attached to one end of the linear-motion output shaft. The drive mechanism is constructed such that a translational force output from the linear-motion output shaft of the linear-motion actuator is converted into a rotational driving force of the third joint through the crank arm.

Abstract: A knee orthosis gait swing assist mechanism is provided having an adjustable portion and upper and lower fulcrum points, each of the upper and lower fulcrum points attaching opposing ends of an elastic band, the elastic band stretching over the adjustable portion.

Abstract: A connector provided in a lower middle part of a battery pack, is protected from moisture in a reliable manner while simplifying the installing and removing of the battery pack. A vertical wall of the battery pack is formed with an arch-shaped ridge having a higher middle part and a pair of lower lateral end parts. A battery pack receiving recess is provided with a vertical wall opposing the vertical wall of the battery pack, and a pair of through holes on either lower end thereof. The vertical wall of the battery pack receiving recess is formed with an arch-shaped groove configured to receive the arch-shaped ridge of the battery pack. Moisture that may be deposited on the vertical wall surfaces is trapped by a water channel defined by the groove and the ridge, and drained from the battery pack receiving recess via the through holes.

Abstract: In a walking assistance device (10) that can transmit the power generated by a power generator (26, 28) to a femoral part of a user, a swing arm (60, 62) is attached to an output member of the power generator at a base end thereof, and is connected to a femoral support plate (68, 70) at a free end thereof via a pivot joint (64). The pivot joint includes a spherical projection (100) provided on the free end of the swing arm and a socket (112) provided on the femoral support plate, the socket defining a spherical recess (110) configured to receive the spherical projection to permit a tilting movement of the femoral support plate at least in two directions with respect to the free end of the swing arm. Thereby, the femoral support plate is enabled to accommodate the build and/or the movement of the femoral part of the user.

Abstract: A walking assist device evaluates the degree of asymmetry between a left motion oscillator, which is a waveform signal indicative of the time-dependent change form of an output of a left hip joint angle sensor, and a right motion oscillator, which is a waveform signal indicative of the time-dependent change form of an output of a right hip joint angle sensor. In order to reduce the degree of asymmetry, the value of at least one of a left bending coefficient, a left stretching coefficient, a right bending coefficient, and a right stretching coefficient is adjusted.

Abstract: A leg training equipment has a base fixed in place, a support portion configured to support a part of a user's body, and a coupling mechanism provided between the base and the support portion. The coupling mechanism movably couples the support portion to the base such that a load applied to a leg of the user by the user's own weight changes by a relative positional displacement between a foot position and a position of center of gravity of the user. In addition, the coupling mechanism limits a movable direction of the support portion such that at least when the load applied to the leg increases, a direction of the relative positional displacement between the foot position and the position of center of gravity is substantially limited to a direction of flexion and extension of knee joint. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently provide the user with an exercise that applies less load on the knee joint.

Abstract: A control system for a walking assist device includes a ground detecting means having a plurality of force sensors equipped to each foot attachment portion. Each ground sensor selectively outputs a ground state output and non-ground state output in accordance with whether the foot attachment portion is grounded at a position immediately below the ground sensor. The control system is equipped with means that continuously generate reference data for each of the ground detecting means, where the reference data increases and decreases in value in accordance with the change of a total number of the ground sensors generating ground state output in the ground detecting means. Also, a means that determines a mutual desired proportion of the supporting force to be applied to the both leg links from the floor side is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a device capable of assisting a periodical motion of a creature, such as a human, by applying a force to the creature so as to match a motion rhythm and a motion scale of the periodical motion to a desired motion rhythm and a desired motion scale, respectively, while reducing computation processing load. According to a motion assist device (10) of the present invention, a value of a member or a coefficient contained in a simultaneous differential equation of a state variable (ui) for defining a second model which generates a second oscillator (?2) is adjusted by means of an adjusting device (14). The second oscillator (?2) is generated by the adjusted second model and a torque (T) applied to a human (P) is controlled to vary periodically according to the second oscillator (?2).

Abstract: A treadmill for providing walking rehabilitation to a rehabilitee is provided including a base including a belt and a walking rehabilitation device interconnected with the base. The walking rehabilitation device includes a user engagement structure extending at least partially above the belt and being configured to be removably secured relative to one or more locations of a rehabilitee's lower extremities. The walking rehabilitation device further includes a plurality of drive systems coupled to the user engagement structure. The drive systems include at least a first drive system controlling the rehabilitee's motion in a first direction and a second drive system controlling the rehabilitee's motion in a second direction. The treadmill further includes one or more motors coupled to and driving the plurality of drive systems. The motion from the drive systems is transferred to the rehabilitee by the user engagement structure, allowing the rehabilitee to walk along the belt.

Abstract: A walking assistance device providing an assistance force to a user is provided. The device compensates for an influence of an inertial force of the device itself. An actuator drives leg joints such that a total sum of supporting forces acting on the leg links from a floor side is a target total lifting force. The total sum of supporting forces acting on leg links from a floor side in reaction to a vertical inertial force generated in the device due to a motion of the device and the gravity acting on the device is estimated as a force which compensates for the self weight of the device. The total sum of a target value of a lifting force to be applied to the user and the estimated value of the force which compensates for the self weight of the device is defined as a target total lifting force.

Abstract: Provided is a walking assist device including a seat member having a holding portion to be held by a user, a leg link connected to the seat member, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction of pushing up the seat member. At least a part of the body weight of a user is supported by the leg link through the seat member. The walking assist device can be self-mounted easily by the user. When a holding detection unit detects that the holding portion is held by the user, the walking assist device performs a mounting assist control by driving the leg link in the direction of pushing up the seat member until a seating detection unit detects the contact of the seat member with the crotch of the user.

Abstract: A control device for a walking assist device is provided. The control device has a means that decides whether the total sum of measured values of treading forces of the legs of a user is greater than a predetermined value and a means which determines a predetermined ratio according to observed values or desired values of reference parameters obtained immediately before a negative determination result by using supporting forces acting on the leg links from the floor side as the reference parameters. This is in the case where the determination result of the decision means is negative and is a process undertaken instead of determining the predetermined ratio between the supporting forces acting on the leg links according to the measured values of the treading forces of the legs of the user.

Abstract: Provided is a motion assisting device capable of assisting a periodical walking motion of a creature so as to conduct a smooth motion of a leg thereof. According to the motion assisting device, an assisting force applied to the creature so as to assist a leg of the creature in moving with respect to a body thereof is reinforced by an increment in an auxiliary coefficient increased in a reinforcement duration. Accordingly, the stretch motion of the leg at the on-ground state is assisted by a relatively stronger assisting force. Thereby, the body is conducted to translate forward by a floor reaction force subjected to the leg at the on-ground state. A flexion motion of the leg at an off-ground state is induced by a reflex (stretch reflex) to the stretch motion of the leg by the assisting force at a previous off-ground state.

Abstract: A walking assistance device is capable of preventing a load transmit portion thereof from falling due to gravity when the operation of an actuator of the walking assistance device is stopped. A leg link is provided with an elastic member that imparts, to a third joint, an urging torque for restraining the flexion degree of the leg link from changing from a predetermined first flexion degree due to the gravity acting on the walking assistance device in a reference state wherein a foot-worn portion connected to the load transmit portion through the leg link is in contact with a ground and the flexion degree of the leg link at the third joint is the first flexion degree.

Abstract: A gait rehabilitation machine and a method of using the same are provided for lower-limb rehabilitation. The gait rehabilitation machine includes: a frame; a rear supporting member provided at the frame so that the back side of a human body can lean against the rear supporting member; a thigh supporting member corresponding to a thigh of the human body and pivotally connected to the frame; a shank supporting member corresponding to the corresponding shank of the human body, pivotally connected to the thigh supporting member, and having a petal to be stepped on by the human body; a knee supporting member corresponding to the corresponding knee of the human body and provided at the thigh supporting member or the shank supporting member; and a transmission device for driving the shank supporting member to move. Thus, a patient can do lower-limb gait rehabilitation exercise without using a suspension system.

Abstract: A walking assist device having a load transmit portion, a leg link connected to the load transmit portion, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction to raise a seat member, so that at least a partial weight of a user may be supported by the leg link through the load transmit portion. An electric component to be used for controlling the driving source can be mounted on the walking assist device without degrading the compactness of the walking assist device. At least a part of the leg link is constituted of a cylindrical link member in which at least the electric component, such as a motor driver to be used for the control of the driving source, is partially housed. The walking assist device also includes a heat transfer member for absorbing the heat of the electric component by the cylindrical link member. The heat transfer member is thermally connected to a side plate of the cylindrical link member directed toward the side opposite to the leg of the user.