Advantages:
- Integrates lower and upper body support in one discreet wearable system
- Customizable elastic band tension addresses multiple gait issues, including shuffling, wide-based steps, and foot pronation
- Real-time feedback via ankle and chest sensors, processed through an intuitive mobile app
- Concealed wiring and soft fabric design enhance comfort, compliance, and daily wearability
Summary:
Older adults commonly experience gait, balance, and posture difficulties that elevate fall risk, reduce mobility, and negatively impact independence. Various interventions exist—ranging from physical therapy and orthotics to pharmacological and surgical procedures—yet they can be inconsistent in providing ongoing feedback, comfort, or the seamless integration of behavior, sensory input, and external support. Many solutions also rely heavily on patient motivation and frequent clinical oversight, lack robust real-time data interpretation, or fail to dynamically adjust to the user's changing mobility or rehabilitation needs over time.
This invention integrates adjustable elastic supports for the lower and upper body with real-time sensor feedback and a mobile app to correct gait, balance, and posture issues in older adults. Anchored waist-ligament connections provide medial tension to counter wide-based steps, pronation, and shuffling, while a chest sensor and vibrational feedback system address trunk tilt. Sensors near the ankle collect data on stride length, step variability, and trunk angle, analyzed via IMUs in the mobile app for individualized tension adjustments. Interchangeable bands, concealed wiring, and a soft, comfortable design enable continuous daily use or focused rehabilitation.
Human anatomical model wearing the soft exosuit. Elastic support bands are shown in blue; embedded sensors are shown in red.
Desired Partnerships:
- License
- Sponsored Research
- Co-Development