Theory analysis and structure optimization design of powered gait orthosis

Patients suffering from paraplegia are special disabled groups in society. In order to help them with lower-limb rehabilitation, a kind of power-assisted gait orthosis is designed. In consideration of the crutches that are rather necessary to keep balance when walking, the effects of crutches on analysis of mechanism cannot be ignored. Based on the gait characteristics, this gait orthosis mechanism is designed, of which the structure is optimized by genetic algorithm and the dynamical model is generated. The periodic movement of hip joints, knee joints, and ankle joints in corrected gait are achieved and the torque can be transferred to the driving force of the back motor and the pushrod according to the orthosis structure. Finally, a verification test shows this design is reasonable and practical.