Pneumatic Assist Device for Gait Restoration

Abstract

An assist device for gait restoration powered by body weight has been developed using pneumatic equipment. The aim of this system is to assist people who have weakened lower limbs and require rehabilitation for walking. An experimental design system based on a mechanical bracing structure demonstrates the possibility of using upper body weight to power a pneumatically operated assistive walking system for weakened lower limbs. Continuous forward stepping can be achieved by shifting the upper body weight consecutively from one walking stick to the other through the upper limbs. The main feature of the proposed device is that an individual “walks” using his own energy.