Description:
Non-Confidential Description:
This technology defines a novel control strategy for a powered prosthetic leg that unifies the entire gait cycle, eliminating the need to switch between controllers during different periods of gait. Current control methods divide the gait cycle into several sequential periods with independent controllers, resulting in many patient-specific control parameters and switching rules that must be tuned by clinicians. Having a single controller could reduce the number of control parameters to be tuned for each patient, thereby reducing the clinical time and effort involved in fitting a powered prosthesis for a lower-limb amputee. The control system regulates a single output function that characterizes the desired actuated joint motion over the entire gait cycle, where the progression through the joint pattern(s) is controlled by a mechanical phasing variable.
Background:
Currently there are few motorized prosthetic legs and exoskeletons on the market – the main roadblock relates to control technology. This technology is a breakthrough in the field of control strategies that has the potential to drive the field forward.
Key Benefit:
• Single Controller: Unified control strategy for continuous gait cycle
Applications:
• Any motorized prosthetic leg or exoskeleton could be an embodiment of this control technology
• Could also be applied to below-knee or transpelvic prosthetic legs
Publications:
ICORR 2015 Conference Publication - Link
IP Status: Patent pending.
Licensing Opportunity: This technology is available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.
Inventors:
• Robert Gregg, PhD - UT Dallas Assistant Professor of Bioengineering
• David Quintero - UT Dallas Research Assistant, Bioengineering
• Anne Martin, PhD - UT Dallas Postdoctoral Student, now Assistant Professor at Penn State University
Inventor Page: http://www.utdallas.edu/~rdg130030/locolab/
Contact:
otc@utdallas.edu
ID Number: 15008