Adaptive arm support systems and methods for use

摘要

A system is provided for supporting an arm of a user that includes a harness configured to be worn by the user, and an arm support coupled to the harness and including an arm rest to support an arm of the user. The arm support is configured to accommodate and follow movement of the arm without substantially interfering in such movement. The arm support may at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the user moves and the arm support follows the movement of the user's arm. For example, the arm support may transfer at least a portion of the weight of the user's arm to the torso or other region of the user's body and/or may apply an opposing force to at least partially offset the gravitational force acting on the arm.

主权项

1. A support system, consisting essentially of: a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user comprising an attachment band configured to be worn around the torso of the user, a shoulder harness configured to be worn over or around one or both shoulders of the user, and one or more rigid support members extending between the shoulder harness and the attachment band; a bracket comprising a first end mounted to the harness such that a second end thereof is substantially fixed relative to the harness and terminates above the user's shoulder adjacent the arm being supported; an arm support pivotally coupled to the harness comprising a unitary L-shaped first arm support bar pivotally coupled to the second end of the bracket at a first pivot point such that the first arm support bar is rotatable horizontally about a vertical axis relative to the harness, and a single unitary second arm support bar including a first end segment pivotally coupled to the first arm support bar such that a second free end of the second arm support bar is rotatable about a second axis generally orthogonal to the vertical axis, the second arm support bar sized such that the arm support terminates adjacent the user's upper arm and the user's forearm remains unsupported; an arm rest carried by the second arm support bar such that the arm rest rotates about the second axis when the user raises and lowers the upper arm; and a compensation element consisting essentially of a spring mechanism coupled to the first and second arm support bars to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm support.