Spinal support unit and biomimetic kyphosis orthosis

Human-Spine-Mimicking Kyphosis Assistive Device

This technology relates to a spinal assist unit and a human-spine-mimicking kyphosis assistive device, specifically a wearable device designed to correct and support spinal curvature while the user is in an upright position.

Conventional spinal orthotics are rigid, significantly restricting torso movement and causing discomfort in daily life. Furthermore, they are difficult to adapt to individual body types, making long-term wear challenging.

This technology utilizes a semi-active approach, connecting multiple spinal assist units to mimic the human spine and adjusting tension via a wire-driven system, allowing for customized support tailored to the wearer's height, width, and weight.

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Key Features:

• A lumbar support section that makes surface contact with the back where the spine is positioned when worn, featuring a pair of wing sections extending horizontally at both ends.
• A drive member connected to the rear of the lumbar support via a hinge, which transmits the driving force of the wire to the wearer.
• A recessed section formed along the vertical direction between the pair of wing sections, where the spinous process of the spine is positioned when worn.
• A plurality of spinal assist units stacked along the longitudinal direction of the spine, each designed to be detachable and attachable.

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of a human-augmentation hybrid robot suit capable of safe 100m sprints in 7 seconds and comfortable 12-hour wear, as well as the development of core technologies for string-twist-based, compact, lightweight, high-performance, and highly durable safe drive modules utilizing string surface reinforcement, variable radius pulleys, and hybrid drive control.