Design and Evaluation of a Lightweight Lumbar Exoskeleton for Reducing Lumbar Load

The lumbar spine is susceptible to stress, especially when bending, which increases the risk of injury and pain. Current exoskeletons are bulky, large, expensive, and lack individual adaptability. To overcome these problems, we developed a passive lumbar exoskeleton equipped with a self-designed gas spring-link lumbar joint system. The system provides a wide range of motion, high flexibility, and adjustable torque, connects the lumbar spine and leg support structure, and transmits lumbar pressure to the legs and chest when bending to protect the spine. The goal is to provide a lightweight, efficient, and personalized lumbar assistance solution to improve operational efficiency and comfort. We established a biomechanical model to illustrate its working principle and demonstrated its potential in reducing lumbar compression..