Strength-assistive device

Muscular Strength Assistive Device

This technology is a fiber-based actuator mechanism that physically assists with joint flexion and extension. It features heat-shrinkable/expandable polymer fiber warps integrated into a body worn on the upper or lower limb joints, which are individually controlled via heating wires.

Conventional metal exoskeleton structures are heavy and complex, which reduces user comfort, requires significant space for fitting, and restricts natural movement.

This technology integrates heat-shrinkable and expandable polymer fibers (homochiral/heterochiral warps) into a body to form a fiber-based muscular strength assist unit. Based on data from electromyography (EMG) sensors, it selectively controls the contraction and expansion of inner and outer warps according to the direction of joint flexion to actively assist movement. It can be applied to rehabilitation training, gait assistance, and medical/welfare services, enhancing ease of movement and improving the fit for joint support.

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Key Features:

• A body section designed to wrap around upper or lower limb joints
• A muscular strength assist unit mounted on the body section that operates by detecting joint movement
• The muscular strength assist unit features heat-shrinkable and expandable warps arranged alternately at intervals
• A configuration that individually controls the contraction and expansion of inner and outer warps during joint flexion and extension

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning for the development of renewable energy and intelligent robot convergence technology.