Active spinal support system

摘要

A wearable spinal support system having an upper body adapter engaging the head and/or torso of a wearer and a lower body adapter engaging the hips/pelvis, the upper and lower body adapters joined by an articulated structural column. The structural column is made up of stacked vertebral elements each having an aperture provided there through such that a tendon can be fed through the aligned apertures of the vertebral elements. The tendons are fixed at one end and each engaged to mechanical control element at the other end such that the tension/payout in each tendon is independently variable under direction of a controller receiving sensor feedback in order to support the loaded upper body of the wearer and position it relative to the lower body when desirable according to the controller.

主权项

1. A spinal support system for a seated occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
an upper body adapter for engaging said seated occupant above the abdomen; a structural column engaged at a first end to said upper body adapter, said structural column further comprising, a plurality of vertebral elements coupled together and arranged serially end-to-end, and a tendon coupling said vertebral elements and configured to affect the alignment of said plurality of vertebral elements; a seat support fixture attached to a second end of said structural column, said seat support fixture being configured for attachment to a seat of said vehicle for redirecting loads to said seat rather than said seated occupant's body; and an actuator secured relative to said seat support fixture and operatively connected to said tendon for selectively adjusting tension in said tendon, and thereby stiffness of said structural column.