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A guiding principle to optimize crutch

  • Guangyu Liu
  • , Shane Xie
  • , Longguang Yu
  • , Shaobing Li
  • , Dongning Chu
  • The University of Auckland
  • Jilin University
  • Dongfeng Motor Cooperation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Conventional underarm crutches have been ubiquitous for rehabilitation over the centuries. A disadvantage of the design is that they tend to unintentionally waste the users' energy and increase pain and discomfort. Insight to dynamical crutch walking reveals an optimized design principle that harnesses the dissipated energy arising from the interaction between the crutches, the ground and the user's body. Based on the principle, we design and manufacture novel crutches that are able to store the above dissipated energy and release it at the subsequent heel-strike so as to propel the body forward in an optimized means. It eases off the user's pains and maximize the efficiency of the user's metabolic energy while maintaining a feasible crutch walking. The new product is low cost and reliable that easily accesses to the existing market. The proposed principle is extendable to other rehabilitation devices and walking robots.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2008 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, ROBIO 2008
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages1409-1414
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)1901725537, 9781424426799
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event1999 IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 1999 - Bangkok, Thailand
Duration: 21 Feb 200926 Feb 2009

Publication series

Name2008 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, ROBIO 2008

Conference

Conference1999 IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 1999
Country/TerritoryThailand
CityBangkok
Period21/02/0926/02/09

Keywords

  • Crutch
  • Optimization

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