AI-Integrated Knee Walker with Enhanced Navigation and Rehabilitation

Publication ID: 24-11857485_0003_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Synergistic Combinations

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “AI-Integrated Knee Walker with Enhanced Navigation and Rehabilitation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857485_0003_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857485_0003_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,485.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept integrates a knee walker with four-wheel steering with AI-powered navigation, IoT-enabled sensors, and blockchain-based tracking to create a comprehensive rehabilitation system that provides personalized support and real-time feedback to users.

Background and Problem Solved

The original knee walker with four-wheel steering patent addressed the need for improved maneuverability and stability in turning. However, it lacked the ability to provide real-time navigation and personalized rehabilitation support. The present inventive concept solves this problem by incorporating AI-powered navigation, IoT-enabled sensors, and blockchain-based tracking to create a more comprehensive and supportive rehabilitation system.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The AI-Integrated Knee Walker with Enhanced Navigation and Rehabilitation comprises a knee walker with four-wheel steering, an AI-powered navigation module, and a sensor array integrated into the knee walker. The AI-powered navigation module provides real-time obstacle detection and alerts the user through a wearable device. The sensor array collects data on user movement and balance, providing real-time feedback to the AI-powered navigation module. The system further integrates with a blockchain-based tracking system to monitor and record user activity, providing personalized recommendations for rehabilitation and recovery. The system can also be connected to a cloud-based data analytics platform, aggregating and analyzing user data from multiple knee walkers to provide insights on rehabilitation trends and best practices.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The present inventive concept's integration of AI-powered navigation, IoT-enabled sensors, and blockchain-based tracking with a knee walker with four-wheel steering provides a novel and non-obvious solution for personalized rehabilitation and real-time navigation support. The combination of these distinct technologies creates a new and more powerful system that addresses the limitations of the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include integrating the AI-powered navigation module with other ambulatory devices, such as wheelchairs or prosthetic limbs. The system could also be adapted for use in different rehabilitation settings, such as physical therapy clinics or home care. Additionally, the blockchain-based tracking system could be replaced with other secure data storage solutions.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The AI-Integrated Knee Walker with Enhanced Navigation and Rehabilitation has significant commercial potential in the healthcare and rehabilitation industries. The system could be marketed to physical therapy clinics, hospitals, and home care providers, offering a comprehensive and supportive rehabilitation solution for patients with knee, lower leg, ankle, or foot injuries. The system's ability to provide personalized support and real-time feedback could also appeal to individuals seeking to accelerate their rehabilitation and recovery.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61H3/04
B B62 B62K5/003
B B62 B62K25/02
A A61 A61H2003/005
A A61 A61H2003/046
B B62 B62K2025/025

Field of Art

Ambulatory assistive devices, specifically knee walkers and mobility aids for rehabilitation, encompassing mechanical design, sensor integration, and assistive technology

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical device designer with expertise in mobility aids, mechanical engineering, sensor systems, and rehabilitation technology, possessing knowledge of mechanical design, electronic integration, and user-centered design principles

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that integrating AI navigation, sensor arrays, and data tracking into an existing knee walker design represents a predictable technological enhancement that leverages known techniques in assistive device development. The source patent's four-wheel steering mechanism provides a foundational platform for technological augmentation, and the proposed variations represent logical extensions of existing mobility aid design principles. The combination of mechanical mobility systems with digital tracking and AI represents an incremental and foreseeable innovation within the field of assistive medical technology.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Four-wheel steering knee walker frame with crossbar and steering column design
PTD Variation
Adding integrated sensor array to collect movement and balance data
Obviousness Reasoning
Augmenting mobility devices with sensor systems is a known technique for improving user safety and performance, representing a predictable application of sensor technology to existing mechanical designs
Source Patent Element
Knee walker mobility framework
PTD Variation
Implementing AI-powered navigation module for obstacle detection
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating computer vision and navigation systems into mobility aids is a well-established approach for enhancing user independence, representing an obvious technological progression
Source Patent Element
Ambulatory assistance device
PTD Variation
Blockchain-based tracking system for rehabilitation monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying secure digital tracking to medical rehabilitation represents a logical extension of existing data management techniques, utilizing known blockchain technologies to enhance patient care
Source Patent Element
Mechanical knee walker design
PTD Variation
Cloud-based data analytics platform for aggregating rehabilitation insights
Obviousness Reasoning
Collecting and analyzing user performance data through cloud platforms is a standard approach in medical technology, representing a predictable technological integration
Source Patent Element
Four-wheel steering mobility framework
PTD Variation
Wearable device integration for real-time user alerts and feedback
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending mobility devices with companion wearable technology is a foreseeable innovation that enhances user experience through known electronic communication techniques
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857485 and the disclosed technological variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed AI-integrated knee walker system with navigation, sensor, and tracking capabilities to be an obvious combination of prior art elements, rendering potential claims covering such technological integrations anticipated and non-patentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,485
TitleKnee walker with four-wheel steering
Assignee(s)ROVER MOBILITY, LLC