A method of providing rehabilitation movement training for a person suffering from nerve damage, stroke, spinal cord injury, neurological trauma or neuromuscular disorder in attempting to move a body part about a joint using a powered orthotic device includes sensing at least one electromyographic signal of a muscle associated with motion about the joint, applying in a first direction with respect to the joint a force having a magnitude that is a first function of the at least one sensed electromyographic signal, and applying in a second direction with respect to the joint a return force that is a second function of the at least one sensed electromyographic signal, wherein the second function differs from the first function.

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The present invention features a rapid fire rapid response power conversion system comprising (a) a chamber having at least one fluid port configured to supply combustible fluid to the chamber, and an out-take port; (b) a compressor for supplying compressed combustible fuel to the chamber at a variable pressure to at least partially facilitate combustion therein; (c) a controller for initiating and controlling a combustion of the combustible fluid in a combustion portion of the chamber to generate energy; (d) a rapid response component in fluid communication with the chamber and situated adjacent the combustion portion of the chamber, wherein the rapid response component is configured to draw an optimized portion of the energy generated from the combustion and to convert this optimized portion of energy into kinetic energy; and (e) a dynamic mass structure situated between the rapid response component and an energy transfer component and allowing the rapid response component and the energy transfer component to be independent of one another, wherein the dynamic mass structure is configured to receive and store the kinetic energy from the rapid response component upon being acted upon by the rapid response component, wherein the dynamic mass structure is displaced a pre-determined distance and at a given velocity such that it is caused to impact the energy transfer component, thereby transferring substantially all of the kinetic energy stored therein into the energy transfer component. The transfer of stored kinetic energy into the energy transfer component by the dynamic mass structure effectively causes the energy transfer component to displace, wherein the displacement is used to perform work used to power the device or system operable with the energy transfer component.

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A motor that delivers high force linear motion or high torque rotary motion to a moving element. The motor may include a driving brake, a driver, a holding brake and a flexible moving element. Operation of the motor may involve activating the holding brake, activating the driver to flex the moving element, activating the holding brake to maintain the position of a portion of the moving element, releasing the driving brake, and restoring the moving element to an unflexed position. The elements are arranged to provide linear motion, belt-driven rotary motion, or directly-coupled rotary motion using brakes and drivers arranged in linear or circular fashion. Drivers may be linear or rotary actuators or motors based on electrostatic, piezoelectric, magnetic, or electrostrictive properties. The brakes may be applied through electrostatic forces, magnetic forces, or mechanical gears engaged with a linear or rotary driving mechanism.

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(EN)A body-worn motion assisting device (1) comprises a shoulder joint mechanism (5) for assisting the user to move a shoulder joint, an elbow joint mechanism (6) for assisting the user to move an elbow joint, and a control unit (100) having a control circuit for controlling a drive unit (11) of the shoulder joint mechanism (5) and an elbow joint mechanism (6). The control unit (100) controls the drive unit (11) according to the physical quantities and biosignal detected by an angle sensor, a torque sensor, and a biosignal sensor. A control section of the drive unit (11) includes a motor monitoring block for monitoring the operation state of a motor and a motor control block for limiting the drive signal sent to the motor depending on the results of monitoring by the motor monitoring block so that the motor does not become under overload.
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A surface neuroprosthetic device for functional electrical stimulation (FES) having a locating system for locating the device on to a limb segment of a user, and a method therefor, the device including: (a) an at least semi-rigid exoskeleton shell for encompassing at least a portion of the limb segment; (b) at least one electrical stimulation electrode operatively connected with the shell, for making electrical contact with a surface of the limb segment, so as to effect FES of at least one muscle of the limb segment; and (c) a locator, operatively connected with the shell, for determining a positioning of the shell relative to the limb segment, such that the electrode is positioned near an activating point, the locator including: (i) means for determining rotational positioning of the exoskeleton shell on the limb segment, and (ii) means for determining longitudinal positioning of the exoskeleton shell on the limb segment.

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