Pneumatic AFO

wildwilly · 12-02-2007, 08:55 AM

I thought this was an interesting idea of how to increase plantarflexion. I attached a picture of the afo. Looks like carbon fiber with a pneumatic system.

J Biomech. 2006;39(10):1832-41. Epub 2005 Jul 14.

Mechanical performance of artificial pneumatic muscles to power an ankle-foot orthosis.

Gordon KE, Sawicki GS, Ferris DP.

Department of Movement Science, University of Michigan, 401 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, 48109-2214, USA. kegordon@umich.edu

We developed a powered ankle-foot orthosis that uses artificial pneumatic muscles to produce active plantar flexor torque. The purpose of this study was to quantify the mechanical performance of the orthosis during human walking. Three subjects walked at a range of speeds wearing ankle-foot orthoses with either one or two artificial muscles working in parallel. The orthosis produced similar total peak plantar flexor torque and network across speeds independent of the number of muscles used. The orthosis generated approximately 57% of the peak ankle plantar flexor torque during stance and performed approximately 70% of the positive plantar flexor work done during normal walking. Artificial muscle bandwidth and force-length properties were the two primary factors limiting torque production. The lack of peak force and work differences between single and double muscle conditions can be explained by force-length properties. Subjects altered their ankle kinematics between conditions resulting in changes in artificial muscle length. In the double muscle condition greater plantar flexion yielded shorter artificial muscles lengths and decreased muscle forces. This finding emphasizes the importance of human testing in the design and development of robotic exoskeleton devices for assisting human movement. The results of this study outline the mechanical performance limitations of an ankle-foot orthosis powered by artificial pneumatic muscles. This orthosis could be valuable for gait rehabilitation and for studies investigating neuromechanical control of human walking.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum

The mom · 12-02-2007, 08:28 PM

Thanks again Wildwilly! I think it would be awesome to replace a standing frame with some type of mechanical braces.... just until the cure arrives!

12-02-2007, 08:55 AM	#1
wildwilly Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,775	Pneumatic AFO I thought this was an interesting idea of how to increase plantarflexion. I attached a picture of the afo. Looks like carbon fiber with a pneumatic system. J Biomech. 2006;39(10):1832-41. Epub 2005 Jul 14. Mechanical performance of artificial pneumatic muscles to power an ankle-foot orthosis. Gordon KE, Sawicki GS, Ferris DP. Department of Movement Science, University of Michigan, 401 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, 48109-2214, USA. kegordon@umich.edu We developed a powered ankle-foot orthosis that uses artificial pneumatic muscles to produce active plantar flexor torque. The purpose of this study was to quantify the mechanical performance of the orthosis during human walking. Three subjects walked at a range of speeds wearing ankle-foot orthoses with either one or two artificial muscles working in parallel. The orthosis produced similar total peak plantar flexor torque and network across speeds independent of the number of muscles used. The orthosis generated approximately 57% of the peak ankle plantar flexor torque during stance and performed approximately 70% of the positive plantar flexor work done during normal walking. Artificial muscle bandwidth and force-length properties were the two primary factors limiting torque production. The lack of peak force and work differences between single and double muscle conditions can be explained by force-length properties. Subjects altered their ankle kinematics between conditions resulting in changes in artificial muscle length. In the double muscle condition greater plantar flexion yielded shorter artificial muscles lengths and decreased muscle forces. This finding emphasizes the importance of human testing in the design and development of robotic exoskeleton devices for assisting human movement. The results of this study outline the mechanical performance limitations of an ankle-foot orthosis powered by artificial pneumatic muscles. This orthosis could be valuable for gait rehabilitation and for studies investigating neuromechanical control of human walking. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum Attached Images __________________ “As the cast of villains in SCI is vast and collaborative, so too must be the chorus of hero's that rise to meet them” Ramer et al 2005

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12-02-2007, 08:28 PM	#2
The mom Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Copper Canyon, Texas Posts: 366	Thanks again Wildwilly! I think it would be awesome to replace a standing frame with some type of mechanical braces.... just until the cure arrives!