Technologies for Powered Ankle-Foot Orthotic Systems: Possibilities and Challenges

• Published in: IEEE/ASME transactions on mechatronics Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 337 - 347
• Main Authors: Shorter, K. A., Jicheng Xia, Hsiao-Wecksler, E. T., Durfee, W. K., Kogler, G. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-02-2013; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Active assist; ankle-foot orthosis (AFO); Damping; Devices; fluid power; Foot; Gait; Joints; Legged locomotion; Low noise; Motion control; Motors; Muscles; Orthoses; Springs; Torque; Weight reduction
• ISSN: 1083-4435; 1941-014X
• DOI: 10.1109/TMECH.2011.2174799

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) can be used to ameliorate the impact of impairments to the lower limb neuromuscular motor system that affect gait. Existing AFO technologies include passive devices with fixed and articulated joints, semiactive devices that modulate damping at the joint, and active devices that make use of a variety of technologies to produce power to move the foot. Emerging technologies provide a vision for fully powered, untethered AFOs. However, the stringent design requirements of light weight, small size, high efficiency, and low noise present significant engineering challenges before such devices will be realized. Once such devices appear, they will present new opportunities for clinical treatment of gait abnormalities.