A 7R Spatial Linkage for Ankle Rehabilitation with an Arbitrary Ankle Rotation Axis

Authors

Chih-Ching Hsieh, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
Chin-Hsing Kuo, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, University of WollongongFollow
Daisuke Matsuura, Tokyo Institute Of Technology
Yukio Takeda, Tokyo Institute Of Technology

RIS ID

136693

Publication Details

Hsieh, C., Kuo, C., Matsuura, D. & Takeda, Y. (2019). A 7R Spatial Linkage for Ankle Rehabilitation with an Arbitrary Ankle Rotation Axis. Mechanisms and Machine Science, 73 1491-1498. Krakow, Poland Advances in Mechanism and Machine Science: Proceedings of the 15th IFToMM World Congress on Mechanism and Machine Science

Abstract

In this paper, a 7R spatial linkage for ankle rehabilitation was proposed. Thanks to its kinematic geometry, the output joint, which is accommodated by the patient's ankle, of the linkage can possess an arbitrary joint axis at any configuration. This advantage allows the patient achieving a flexible ankle motion in 3-D space while performing the rehabilitation exercise. The design concept of the 7R linkage is explained, and the displacement and force relationships between the input and output joints (i.e., the motor and patient's ankle) are analyzed through an equivalent RSSR linkage. A prototype is built to validate the proposed design concept.