Adaptive arm support systems and methods for use

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for supporting an arm of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to 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, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm support.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for supporting an arm of a user, comprising:
 a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user;   an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm, the arm support comprising an arm bracket carrying an arm rest, the arm bracket pivotable about one or more axes relative to the harness; and   a spring mounted on the arm bracket or mounted remote from the arm bracket and a cable extending between the spring and the arm bracket to transmit the offset force from the spring to the arm bracket, the geometric configuration of the cable relative to the arm bracket as the arm support moves configured to provide a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm bracket.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a pulley, the cable operatively engaged with the pulley to vary the force profile. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the spring is mounted within a housing mounted to the harness remote from the arm bracket, and wherein the pulley is mounted within the housing such that the cable wraps at least partially around the pulley. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the pulley is mounted on the arm bracket, and wherein a first end of the cable is operatively engaged with the pulley and a second end of the cable is coupled to the spring. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a head rest carried by the harness. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a strap for securing the arm such that the arm remains engaged with the arm rest as the arm bracket moves. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the geometric configuration of the cable relative to the arm bracket changes an angle of the cable relative to the arm bracket to modify the offset force as the arm support moves. 
     
     
         28 . A system for supporting an arm of a user, comprising:
 a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user;   an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm, the arm support comprising:
 an arm bracket comprising a first end pivotally coupled to the harness such that the arm bracket is pivotable about a first axis relative to the harness; and 
 an arm rest on the arm bracket for supporting an upper arm of the user; and 
   one or more compensation elements coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to 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, the one or more compensation elements comprising a spring mounted remote from the arm bracket, and a cable extending between the spring and the arm bracket to transmit the offset force from the spring pack to the arm bracket.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the spring is configured to provide a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm bracket about the first axis. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the spring is provided within a spring pack mounted to the harness. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the spring pack is mounted to the harness such that the spring pack is located behind the user's back when the harness is worn. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more elements for guiding the cable from the spring to the arm bracket. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the spring comprises a spring within a housing mounted to the harness. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the spring is mounted within a housing mounted to the harness, the system further comprising a pulley within the housing, the cable wrapped partially around the pulley to modify the offset force based on an orientation of the arm bracket about the first axis. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the cable is a primary cable, further comprising:
 first and second pulleys coupled together in the housing, wherein the primary cable is coupled between the first pulley and the arm bracket; and   a second cable coupled between the spring and the second pulley such that at least a portion of a force from the spring is applied to the arm bracket to the generate the offset force.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the arm support further comprises a shoulder bracket comprising a first end mounted to the harness such that the shoulder bracket is pivotable about a second axis relative to the harness, and wherein the arm bracket is pivotally mounted to the shoulder bracket. 
     
     
         37 . A system for supporting an arm of a user, comprising:
 a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user;   an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm, the arm support comprising an arm bracket carrying an arm rest, the arm bracket pivotable about multiple axes relative to the harness; and   one or more compensation elements coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to 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, the one or more compensation elements comprising a spring mounted on the arm bracket or mounted remote from the arm bracket providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm bracket.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the arm support comprises:
 a first arm support segment pivotally coupled to the harness about a first vertical axis such that the first arm support segment is rotatable substantially horizontally about the first vertical axis relative to the harness; and   a second arm support segment comprising the arm bracket pivotally coupled to the first arm support segment such that the second arm support segment is rotatable about a second axis generally orthogonal to the first vertical axis.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more compensation elements further comprise a pulley mounted on the second arm support segment and a cable wrapped partially around the pulley and including a first end coupled to the resilient member and a second end coupled to the first arm support segment such that at least a portion of a force from the resilient member is applied to the second arm support segment to the generate the offset force. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the one or more compensation elements comprise a spring pack on the harness and a cable extending between the spring pack and the arm bracket to transmits force from the spring pack to the arm bracket. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the spring pack is mounted on a frame strap of the harness. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the spring pack is mounted to the harness such that the spring pack is located behind the user's back when the harness is worn. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising one or more elements for guiding the cable from the spring pack to the arm bracket. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the spring pack further comprise a pulley within the housing, the cable wrapped partially around the pulley to modify the offset force based on an orientation of the arm bracket about the horizontal axis.