Biomechanical Effects of Stiffness in Parallel With the Knee Joint During Walking.

The human knee behaves similarly to a linear torsional spring during the stance phase of walking with a stiffness referred to as the knee quasi-stiffness. The spring-like behavior of the knee joint led us to hypothesize that we might partially replace the knee joint contribution during stance by utilizing an external spring acting in parallel with the knee joint. We investigated the validity of this hypothesis using a pair of experimental robotic knee exoskeletons that provided an external stiffness in parallel with the knee joints in the stance phase. We conducted a series of experiments involving walking with the exoskeletons with four levels of stiffness, including 0%, 33%, 66%, and 100% of the estimated human knee quasi-stiffness, and a pair of joint-less replicas. The results indicated that the ankle and hip joints tend to retain relatively invariant moment and angle patterns under the effects of the exoskeleton mass, articulation, and stiffness. The results also showed that the knee joint responds in a way such that the moment and quasi-stiffness of the knee complex (knee joint and exoskeleton) remains mostly invariant. A careful analysis of the knee moment profile indicated that the knee moment could fully adapt to the assistive moment; whereas, the knee quasi-stiffness fully adapts to values of the assistive stiffness only up to ∼80%. Above this value, we found biarticular consequences emerge at the hip joint.

Design and evaluation of a trilateral shared-control architecture for teleoperated training robots.

Multilateral teleoperated robots can be used to train humans to perform complex tasks that require collaborative interaction and expert supervision, such as laparoscopic surgical procedures. In this paper, we explain the design and performance evaluation of a shared-control architecture that can be used in trilateral teleoperated training robots. The architecture includes dominance and observation factors inspired by the determinants of motor learning in humans, including observational practice, focus of attention, feedback and augmented feedback, and self-controlled practice. Toward the validation of such an architecture, we (1) verify the stability of a trilateral system by applying Llewellyn's criterion on a two-port equivalent architecture, and (2) demonstrate that system transparency remains generally invariant across relevant observation factors and movement frequencies. In a preliminary experimental study, a dyad of two human users (one novice, one expert) collaborated on the control of a robot to follow a trajectory. The experiment showed that the framework can be used to modulate the efforts of the users and adjust the source and level of haptic feedback to the novice user.

Design and evaluation of a quasi-passive knee exoskeleton for investigation of motor adaptation in lower extremity joints.

In this study, we describe the mechanical design and control scheme of a quasi-passive knee exoskeleton intended to investigate the biomechanical behavior of the knee joint during interaction with externally applied impedances. As the human knee behaves much like a linear spring during the stance phase of normal walking gait, the exoskeleton implements a spring across the knee in the weight acceptance (WA) phase of the gait while allowing free motion throughout the rest of the gait cycle, accomplished via an electromechanical clutch. The stiffness of the device is able to be varied by swapping springs, and the timing of engagement/disengagement changed to accommodate different loading profiles. After describing the design and control, we validate the mechanical performance and reliability of the exoskeleton through cyclic testing on a mechanical knee simulator. We then describe a preliminary experiment on three healthy adults to evaluate the functionality of the device on both left and right legs. The kinetic and kinematic analyses of these subjects show that the exoskeleton assistance can partially/fully replace the function of the knee joint and obtain nearly invariant moment and angle profiles for the hip and ankle joints, and the overall knee joint and exoskeleton complex under the applied moments of the exoskeleton versus the control condition, implying that the subjects undergo a considerable amount of motor adaptation in their lower extremities to the exoskeletal impedances, and encouraging more in-depth future experiments with the device.

Design and functional evaluation of a quasi-passive compliant stance control knee-ankle-foot orthosis.

In this paper, we present the mechanical design, control algorithm, and functional evaluation of a quasi-passive compliant stance control knee-ankle-foot orthosis. The orthosis implements a spring in parallel with the knee joint during the stance phase of the gait and allows free rotation during the swing phase. The design is inspired by the moment-angle analysis of the knee joint revealing that the knee function approximates that of a linear torsional spring in the stance phase of the gait. Our orthosis aims to restore the natural function of a knee that is impaired by injury, stroke, post-polio, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, patellofemoral pain syndrome, osteoarthritis, and others. Compared with state-of-the-art stance control orthoses, which rigidly lock the knee during the stance phase, the described orthosis intends to provide the natural shock absorption function of the knee in order to reduce compensatory movements both in the affected and unaffected limbs. Preliminary testing on three unimpaired subjects showed that compliant support of the knee provided by the orthosis explained here results in higher gait speed as well as more natural kinematic profiles for the lower extremities when compared with rigid support of the knee provided by an advanced commercial stance control orthosis.

Preliminary investigation of effects of a quasi-passive knee exoskeleton on gait energetics.

In this paper, we explain that the human knee behavior in the weight acceptance phase of gait (first ~40% of gait cycle) resembles that of a linear torsional spring. This led us to study the effects of the assistance provided by a pair of quasi-passive knee exoskeletons, which implement springs in parallel with the knee joints in the weight acceptance phase. Using the exoskeletons in a series of experiments on seven participants, we found that the exoskeleton mildly but non-significantly reduces the metabolic power of walking. We also found that the metabolic power of walking is significantly correlated with both the positive rate of moment generation and positive mechanical power of the lower extremity joints. This suggests that augmenting exoskeletons can aim to reduce both the muscle force and work generation to reduce the metabolic cost of walking.

Estimation of quasi-stiffness of the human hip in the stance phase of walking.

This work presents a framework for selection of subject-specific quasi-stiffness of hip orthoses and exoskeletons, and other devices that are intended to emulate the biological performance of this joint during walking. The hip joint exhibits linear moment-angular excursion behavior in both the extension and flexion stages of the resilient loading-unloading phase that consists of terminal stance and initial swing phases. Here, we establish statistical models that can closely estimate the slope of linear fits to the moment-angle graph of the hip in this phase, termed as the quasi-stiffness of the hip. Employing an inverse dynamics analysis, we identify a series of parameters that can capture the nearly linear hip quasi-stiffnesses in the resilient loading phase. We then employ regression analysis on experimental moment-angle data of 216 gait trials across 26 human adults walking over a wide range of gait speeds (0.75-2.63 m/s) to obtain a set of general-form statistical models that estimate the hip quasi-stiffnesses using body weight and height, gait speed, and hip excursion. We show that the general-form models can closely estimate the hip quasi-stiffness in the extension (R(2) = 92%) and flexion portions (R(2) = 89%) of the resilient loading phase of the gait. We further simplify the general-form models and present a set of stature-based models that can estimate the hip quasi-stiffness for the preferred gait speed using only body weight and height with an average error of 27% for the extension stage and 37% for the flexion stage.

A quasi-passive compliant stance control Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis.

In this paper, we present the design of a novel quasi-passive stance-control orthosis that implements a natural amount of knee compliance during the weight acceptance phase and potentially the entire stance phase of the gait, and allows for free motion during the rest of the gait. We explain that the unaffected knee behaves close to a linear torsional spring in stance and hypothesize that an assistive device that places a linear spring of appropriate stiffness in parallel with the knee can help restore the natural behavior of the joint in stance. We present the design of a friction-based latching mechanism and a control algorithm that engages the spring in parallel with the knee in stance and disengages it during the swing phase of gait, and explain how this module is implemented into a brace in order to create a novel class of compliant stance control orthosis. The device is quasi-passive in that a small actuator serves to lock and unlock the spring module, but the device otherwise requires no actuation and very little power, computation, and control to operate.

Estimation of quasi-stiffness and propulsive work of the human ankle in the stance phase of walking.

Characterizing the quasi-stiffness and work of lower extremity joints is critical for evaluating human locomotion and designing assistive devices such as prostheses and orthoses intended to emulate the biological behavior of human legs. This work aims to establish statistical models that allow us to predict the ankle quasi-stiffness and net mechanical work for adults walking on level ground. During the stance phase of walking, the ankle joint propels the body through three distinctive phases of nearly constant stiffness known as the quasi-stiffness of each phase. Using a generic equation for the ankle moment obtained through an inverse dynamics analysis, we identify key independent parameters needed to predict ankle quasi-stiffness and propulsive work and also the functional form of each correlation. These parameters include gait speed, ankle excursion, and subject height and weight. Based on the identified form of the correlation and key variables, we applied linear regression on experimental walking data for 216 gait trials across 26 subjects (speeds from 0.75-2.63 m/s) to obtain statistical models of varying complexity. The most general forms of the statistical models include all the key parameters and have an R(2) of 75% to 81% in the prediction of the ankle quasi-stiffnesses and propulsive work. The most specific models include only subject height and weight and could predict the ankle quasi-stiffnesses and work for optimal walking speed with average error of 13% to 30%. We discuss how these models provide a useful framework and foundation for designing subject- and gait-specific prosthetic and exoskeletal devices designed to emulate biological ankle function during level ground walking.

Estimation of quasi-stiffness of the human knee in the stance phase of walking.

Biomechanical data characterizing the quasi-stiffness of lower-limb joints during human locomotion is limited. Understanding joint stiffness is critical for evaluating gait function and designing devices such as prostheses and orthoses intended to emulate biological properties of human legs. The knee joint moment-angle relationship is approximately linear in the flexion and extension stages of stance, exhibiting nearly constant stiffnesses, known as the quasi-stiffnesses of each stage. Using a generalized inverse dynamics analysis approach, we identify the key independent variables needed to predict knee quasi-stiffness during walking, including gait speed, knee excursion, and subject height and weight. Then, based on the identified key variables, we used experimental walking data for 136 conditions (speeds of 0.75-2.63 m/s) across 14 subjects to obtain best fit linear regressions for a set of general models, which were further simplified for the optimal gait speed. We found R(2) > 86% for the most general models of knee quasi-stiffnesses for the flexion and extension stages of stance. With only subject height and weight, we could predict knee quasi-stiffness for preferred walking speed with average error of 9% with only one outlier. These results provide a useful framework and foundation for selecting subject-specific stiffness for prosthetic and exoskeletal devices designed to emulate biological knee function during walking.

On the mechanics of the ankle in the stance phase of the gait.

In this paper we explore the mechanical behavior of the ankle in the progression stage of stance during normal walking. We show that the torque/angle behavior of the ankle during this stage can be approximated by an augmented linear torsional spring. The mechanical parameters completely specifying this spring are identified, including stiffness, amount of rotation, and angle of zero moment. The effect of load weight, gait speed and ground slope on those parameters and the propulsive work of the ankle are also discussed. The findings of this paper can be applied to the design of leg orthoses, prostheses and exoskeletons, and bipedal robots in general, allowing the implementation of human-like leg compliance during stance with a relatively simple latched-spring mechanism.

On the mechanics of the knee during the stance phase of the gait.

In this paper, we explore the mechanical behavior of the knee during the weight acceptance stage of stance during normal walking. We show that the torque/angle behavior of the knee during this stage can be approximated by a linear torsional spring. The mechanical parameters completely specifying this spring are identified, including stiffness, amount of rotation, and angle of engagement, and the effect of gait speed and body/load mass on those parameters are discussed. We discuss how the findings of this paper can be applied to the design of leg orthoses, prostheses and exoskeletons, and bipedal robots in general, allowing the implementation of human-like leg compliance during stance with a relatively simple latched-spring mechanism.

Single-camera focus-based localization of intraocular devices.

Future retinal therapies will be partially automated in order to increase the positioning accuracy of surgical tools. Proposed untethered microrobotic approaches that achieve this increased accuracy require localization information for their control. Since the environment of the human eye is externally observable, images can be used to localize the microrobots. In this paper, the common methods of ophthalmoscopy assuming a single stationary camera are examined and compared with respect to their imaging and localizing properties on a schematic model of the human eye. The first algorithm for wide-angle intraocular localization based on indirect ophthalmoscopy is presented, and its sensitivity with respect to uncertainties in the parameters of individual eyes is estimated. A calibration technique to account for these uncertainties is proposed, and the localization algorithm is validated with experiments in a model eye.

Wide-angle intraocular imaging and localization.

Vitreoretinal surgeries require accuracy and dexterity that is often beyond the capabilities of human surgeons. Untethered robotic devices that can achieve the desired precision have been proposed, and localization information is required for their control. Since the interior of the human eye is externally observable, vision can be used for their localization. In this paper we examine the effects of the human eye optics on imaging and localizing intraocular devices. We propose a method for wide-angle intraocular imaging and localization. We demonstrate accurate localization with experiments in a model eye.