Title: Portable design and range of motion control for an ankle rehabilitation mechanism capable of adjusting to changes in joint axis

Authors: Alexander Szigeti; Yukio Takeda; Daisuke Matsuura

Addresses: Laboratory of Mechanical Systems Design, Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan ' Laboratory of Mechanical Systems Design, Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan ' Laboratory of Mechanical Systems Design, Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan

Abstract: This paper proposes improvements to a simple spatial rehabilitation mechanism for the human ankle, aiming to prevent exertion of forces on the joint, and control the range of flexion it experiences. Such functions would additionally provide information on recovery status in terms of degree of mobility regained, and the force and torque on the affected joint. This information would both provide support for physiotherapists in their work and help to establish self-rehabilitation on the part of the patients themselves. The mechanism presented is built upon previous research of an extended Oldham's coupling mechanism combined with a driving four-bar linkage. A complete rehabilitation device is designed and produced to be lightweight, affixed only to the patient's leg with no additional supporting structure, and able to drive motion along a variety of total flexion angles by changing link lengths using a removable 10 mm pin and pre-drilled holes.

Keywords: adjustable mechanisms; angle of flexion control; mechanism design; passive adaptation; spatial eccentricity; human joints; rehabilitation robotics; self-rehabilitation; variable link length; robot control; motion control; ankle rehabilitation mechanism; joint axis changes; force; torque; physiotherapy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRS.2016.081113

International Journal of Mechanisms and Robotic Systems, 2016 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.222 - 236

Received: 31 Jul 2015
Accepted: 08 Feb 2016
Published online: 23 Dec 2016 *

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