Proposal and Verification of Support Device for Knee Joints Based on a Link Mechanism and Spring Component

A wearable support device to reduce the burden on the knee joint is proposed in this paper. By using link mechanisms and spring component, proposed device will provide the support to the knee joint without any actuator. It is also expected to reduce the inhibition effect to users' natural walking motion of the lower limbs by the proposed device. In this paper, basic design of proposed device and optimization of the mechanical parameters to realize its performance better are described. Moreover, verification of the design results above and estimation for the performance of proposed device are conducted through the simulation analysis with lower limbs model. As the results, possibility of reduction of the force and moment around the knee joint under the walking conditions have been confirmed.