Lara Thompson

1 Introduction Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) brace developed in the US Army research centers, is a custom, energy-storing carbon fiber orthosis designed to improve gait, stability and function (1). The device includes a patellar tension-bearing knee cuff and a supramalleolar ankle foot orthosis insole, connected by a carbon fiber energy storing strut in between as shown in Figure 1 (1).