Development of Finger ContracturePrevention System For Early Post StrokeRehabilitation

芝浦尾工業大学2016年

Computer modelling and experimental design of a gait orthosis for early rehabilitation of walking

Walking is a fundamental human activity [1]. Rehabilitation of walking is one of the essential goals for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) or other neurological impairments [2, 3]. Early rehabilitation is desirable to maximise the beneficial effects, so training programmes should be initiated even when patients are still on bed rest. In order to promote early rehabilitation of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury who cannot maintain an upright posture, a Gait Orthosis for Early Rehabilitation (GOER) of walking was designed [2] and evaluated in this PhD work. This research started with a gait analysis experiment, through which the kinematics and kinetics of overground walking were investigated. Based on experimental walking data from able-bodied subjects, a least squares algorithm was developed to approximate the foot trajectories with circles. The determination of the best-fit circle for the toe trajectory over the whole gait cycle provided the basis for inducing toe movement by a rigid bar. Therefore a model of a two-bar mechanism was developed in Matlab/SimMechanics to simulate supine stepping. The simulated kinematics, including the angles of the hip, knee and ankle joints, showed comparable ranges of motion (ROMs) to the experimental walking performance in able-bodied subjects. This two-bar model provided the basis for the development of the GOER system. The intersegmental kinetics of the lower limb motion during supine stepping were investigated through computer simulation. A model of a leg linkage was firstly developed to simulate upright walking. After the model was validated by successful simulation of dynamic performance similar to experimental overground walking, the model was rotated by 90o to simulate stepping movement in a supine posture. It was found that the dynamics of the hip joint were significantly influenced by the position change from upright to supine, which highlighted the importance of a leg-weight support during supine stepping. In contrast, the kinetics of the ankle joint were much influenced by the forces applied on the foot sole which mimicked the ground reaction occurring during overground walking. Therefore a suitable force pattern was required on the foot sole in order to train the ankle joint during supine stepping. The simulated kinematic and kinetic results provided the basis for the design process of the GOER system. A GOER prototype with mechanisms for one leg was manufactured, which included a bar linkage to move the leg frame upwards and downwards and a cam-roller mechanism to rotate the shoe platform. The bar-cam GOER prototype achieved coordinated movements in the leg frame through constant rotation of an electric motor. Preliminary tests were carried out in three able-bodied subjects who followed the movements produced by the GOER prototype. The subjects felt walking-like stepping movement in the lower limb. Synchronised motion in the hip, knee and ankle joints was obtained, with the ROMs in the physiological ranges of motion during overground walking. The experimentally obtained joint profiles during supine stepping matched the simulated supine stepping and were close to the profiles during overground walking. Apart from inducing proprioceptive feedback from the lower limb joints, the GOER system required dynamic stimulation from the shoe platform to mimic load occurring during the stance phase of overground walking. Activated by pneumatic components, the shoe platform managed to apply forces on the foot sole with adjustable amplitudes. The pneumatic shoe platform was evaluated in ten able-bodied subjects and managed to induce walking-like pressure sensation on the foot sole with physiological responses from the leg muscles. In summary, this thesis developed and evaluated a new gait training robotic system targeting supine stepping for patients who are still restricted to a lying position. The conceptual design process was developed through computer modelling and it was implemented as a prototype. Evaluation tests on able-bodied subjects proved the technical feasibility of the robotic system for supine stepping and led to recommendations for further development

Design of a wearable active ankle-foot orthosis for both sides

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (área de especialização em Biomateriais, Reabilitação e Biomecânica)Portugal is the west European country with the highest rate of stroke-related mortality, being that, of those who suffer cerebrovascular accidents, 40% feature an impairment which can manifest itself through motor sequelae, namely drop foot. An ankle-foot orthosis is often recommended to passively accommodate these motor problems; however, active/powered exoskeletons are also a suitable solution for post-stroke patients. Due to the high complexity of the human ankle joint, one of the problems regarding these active devices is the misalignment occurring between the rehabilitation device and the human joint, which is a cause of parasitic forces, discomfort, and pain. The present master dissertation proposes the development of an adjustable wearable active ankle-foot orthosis that is able to tackle this misalignment issue concerning commercially available lower limb orthotic devices. This work is integrated on the SmartOs – Smart, Stand-alone Active Orthotic System – project that proposes an innovative robotic technology (a wearable mobile lab) oriented to gait rehabilitation. The conceptual design of a standard version of the SmartOs wearable active orthosis was initiated with the analysis of another ankle-foot orthosis – Exo-H2 (Technaid) – from which the necessary design changes were implemented, aiming at the improvement of the established device. In order to achieve a conceptual solution, both the practical knowledge of the Orthos XXI design team and several design methods were used to ensure the accomplishment of the defined requirements. The detailed design process of the standard SmartOs wearable active orthosis prototype is disclosed. With the purpose of validating the design, the critical components were simulated with the resources available in SolidWorks®, and the necessary CAD model’s adaptations were implemented to guarantee a reliable and safe design. The presented design is currently set for further production in Orthos XXI, followed by the mandatory mechanical tests.Portugal é o país da Europa ocidental com maior taxa de mortalidade por acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), sendo que, dos que sofrem acidentes vasculares cerebrais, 40% apresentam uma deficiência que pode manifestar-se por sequelas motoras, nomeadamente o pé pendente. Uma ortótese do tornozelo é recomendada frequentemente para acomodar passivamente esses problemas motores; no entanto, exoesqueletos ativos são também uma solução adequada para pacientes pós-AVC. Devido à alta complexidade da articulação do tornozelo humano, um dos problemas associados a esses dispositivos ativos é o desalinhamento que ocorre entre o dispositivo de reabilitação e a articulação humana, que é uma causa de forças parasitas, desconforto e dor. A presente dissertação de mestrado propõe o desenvolvimento de uma ortótese ativa do tornozelo ajustável e vestível, que seja capaz de resolver esse problema de desalinhamento relativo aos dispositivos ortóticos de membros inferiores disponíveis comercialmente. Este trabalho está integrado no projeto SmartOs - Smart, Stand-alone Active Orthotic System - projeto que propõe uma tecnologia robótica inovadora (wearable mobile lab) direcionada para a reabilitação da marcha. O projeto conceptual de uma versão padrão da ortótese ativa vestível do projeto SmartOs foi iniciado com a análise de outra ortótese do tornozelo – Exo-H2 (Technaid) - a partir da qual foram implementadas as alterações de projeto necessárias, visando o aprimoramento do dispositivo estabelecido. Para se chegar a uma solução conceptual, tanto o conhecimento prático da equipa de projeto da Orthos XXI como os diversos métodos de projeto foram utilizados para garantir o cumprimento dos requisitos definidos. O processo do desenho detalhado da versão padrão da ortótese ativa SmartOs será também divulgado. Com o objetivo de validar o projeto, os componentes críticos foram simulados com os recursos disponíveis no SolidWorks® e as adaptações necessárias do modelo CAD foram implementadas para garantir um projeto fidedigno e seguro. O projeto apresentado está atualmente em preparação para produção na empresa Orthos XXI, depois do qual se seguem os ensaios mecânicos obrigatórios

Biomechatronics: Harmonizing Mechatronic Systems with Human Beings

This eBook provides a comprehensive treatise on modern biomechatronic systems centred around human applications. A particular emphasis is given to exoskeleton designs for assistance and training with advanced interfaces in human-machine interaction. Some of these designs are validated with experimental results which the reader will find very informative as building-blocks for designing such systems. This eBook will be ideally suited to those researching in biomechatronic area with bio-feedback applications or those who are involved in high-end research on manmachine interfaces. This may also serve as a textbook for biomechatronic design at post-graduate level