XNUMX.Technical overview/background

　Exoskeleton-type or clothing devices that enhance and support movement and physical abilities when worn by humans are called powered suits.Also known as a reinforced suit or assist suit, it is actually usedThe industry is mainly nursing care and logistics sitesIt can be used to lift heavy loads or to support a person requiring nursing care from a bed to a wheelchair, reducing the burden on the worker's body and helping to prevent back pain.
　Powered suits can be roughly divided into ①motor(below), and (XNUMX) rubber and springArtificial muscleThere is a type that supports using

　The artificial muscle type, which does not require power, is difficult to fine-tune the assisting power and the assisting power is weak, but it has the advantage of being inexpensive, hard to break down, lightweight, and easy to handle.
　The power type requires a power source such as a battery, so it is heavy, requires maintenance, and is expensive, but some have strong assist power and can be finely adjusted.

Source:
　https://www.kantsu.com/terms/4661/
　https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/center/poweredsuit.html

XNUMX.Research strategy (outline)

　The purpose of this search was to understand domestic applicant trends for each of the above (XNUMX) and (XNUMX).
　When creating the population, a preliminary search was first conducted using keywords related to "powered suits" and "artificial muscles" to create a provisional population, from which patent classifications (F-terms) with high frequency of use were extracted. bottom.
　Then, by multiplying the extracted F-terms, we created a population that includes the concepts of ① and ② above.

■ Search formula (target country: JP)

・Search formula ①:motor type
Formula 3: 707C06XKXNUMX (attached to the body of the assist target)
　　　× 3C707HS27 (electric motor）
Formula 4: 046C42AA4 (rehabilitation equipment > provision of assist force) + 046C49AAXNUMX (rehabilitation equipment > muscle strength assistance)
　　　× 4C046DD36 (rehabilitation equipment > wearing type) + 4C046DD41 (rehabilitation equipment > belt, belt-shaped member)
　　　× 4C046DD02 (rehabilitation equipment>electric motor）

⇒ Formula 1156 + Formula XNUMX: XNUMX cases

・Search formula ②:artificial muscle type　(*Those that do not use a motor as a drive source)
Formula 3: 707C06XKXNUMX (attached to the body of the assist target)
　　　× 3C707HS21 (Artificial muscle）
Formula 4: 046C42AA4 (rehabilitation equipment > provision of assist force) + 046C49AAXNUMX (rehabilitation equipment > muscle strength assistance)
　　　× 4C046DD36 (rehabilitation equipment > wearing type) + 4C046DD41 (rehabilitation equipment > belt, belt-shaped member)
　　　× 4C046DD05 (rehabilitation equipment>Artificial muscle) + 4C046DD06 (rehabilitation equipment>Repulsion and restoration of elastic bodies）

⇒ (Formula 415 + Formula XNUMX) - ①: XNUMX cases

<Patent classification>

XNUMX.Applicant trend (ranking)

■ Ranking

・①Motor type

・②Artificial muscle type

■ Applicant trends

　As for motor type (XNUMX), automobile manufacturers, heavy equipment manufacturers, and their suppliers have entered the top ranks, suggesting that applications are being filed using their own technology.
　Universities are the top artificial muscle type in (XNUMX), but for both (XNUMX) and (XNUMX), applicants from universities and university-launched venture companies are ranked, and there are also joint applications between manufacturers and universities, so-called research institutes. It can be seen that this also plays a central role in the development of technologies related to this search.

XNUMX.Related patent introduction

■ Patent No. 7095407 (① Motor type)

　The rights holder, JTEKT Corporation, has been increasing the number of applications in recent years, while there is general information that some of the applicants in the ranking have frozen development.According to the company website, the fields of commercialization are wide-ranging, such as work sites and nursing care sites.
Source:
　https://active-life.jp/jpaslumbus/
　https://active-life.jp/jpasfleairy/

* Some contents have been revised and added from the original publication.

[Filing date] May 2018, 5
[Title of Invention] Assist Device
[Right holder] JTEKT Corporation
An object of the present invention is to provide a lighter assist device that does not interfere with arm movements during lifting and lowering of a subject.
[Summary of the Invention (Claim XNUMX)]　
Assist having a body attachment that is worn around at least the waist of a subject, a thigh unit that transmits an assist torque for assisting movement, and a torque generation unit that has an actuator that generates the assist torque The device is...
A control box is arranged above the waist of the subject in the body attachment, and the control box accommodates the torque generation section and control means for controlling the torque generation section. It is...
The body attachment includes a right frame and a left frame, and the right frame and the left frame are more rigid to the subject wearing the assist device in the front-rear direction than to the subject. The assist device has a structure in which rigidity in the lateral direction is weaker, and is elastically deformed so as to curve in the lateral direction according to the waist width of the subject.
[Effect] Since the torque generator and the control means are housed together in the control box placed above the waist of the subject, it interferes with the movement of the subject's arm when lifting or lowering. There is nothing bulky like that.In addition, it becomes possible to share a case or the like, and it is possible to further reduce the weight.

Patent No. 7095407 (J-PlatPat publication link)

---

■ Patent No. 7043420 (② artificial muscle type)
　The right holder, Innophys Co., Ltd., is a venture company originating from the Tokyo University of Science, and the commercialized product "Muscle Suit" has also won the 2022 Good Design Award.
Source:https://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/53086?token=GlNAYWhOtx

* Some contents have been revised and added from the original publication.

[Filing date] May 2017, 12
[Title of Invention] Extension Assist Device
[Right holder] Innophys Co., Ltd.
[PROBLEMS] When training for realizing normal walking, it is important to widen the range of motion of joints.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extension assist device capable of assisting movement of joints.
[Summary of the Invention (Claim XNUMX)]　
a thigh engaging portion engaged with the front portion of the user's thigh;
When configured and actuated by artificial muscles, the thigh engaging portion exerts a rearward force on the user's thighs to push the user's thighs against the upper body. an extension force imparting portion that relatively displaces to the rear side;
a wire locked to the end of the artificial muscle;
a first pulley whose rotation axis is located on a first axis corresponding to the hip joint of the user and on which a part of the wire is locked;
a second pulley whose rotational axis is located on a second axis corresponding to the sacroiliac joint of the user and guides the intermediate portion of the wire;
Extension assist device with.
[Effect] The extension assist device according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to assist the movement of joints.

Patent No. 7043420 (J-PlatPat publication link)

---

■ Patent No. 6849192 (② artificial muscle type)
　Chuo University, which ranks top in the artificial muscle type ranking, is characterized by joint applications with companies, and joint applications with multiple companies can be seen here and there.

* Some contents have been revised and added from the original publication.

[Filing date] May 2018, 8
[Title of Invention] Muscle power assisting device and operation device
[Right holder] Chuo University; Nabtesco Corporation
An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of a muscle strength assisting device.
[Summary of the Invention (Claim XNUMX)]　
a force supply unit that outputs force acting on the wearer's body;
an input unit operated by the wearer;
and a control unit that causes the force supply unit to start an operation for outputting the force with a delay of a preset time after the input unit is operated.
[Effect] The operability of the muscle strength assisting device can be improved.

Patent No. 6849192 (J-PlatPat publication link)

XNUMX.Summary

　Regarding "powered suits/artificial muscles," it was found that research institutes such as universities, as well as major manufacturers that diverted their own technology, are also focusing on it.Attention will be paid to how the trends of applicants will change as the market expands, such as the growing demand for nursing care in an aging society.

Research Division Kashiwagi