Cable Driven Robot Assists Patients With Neurological Disorders

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Cable Driven Robot Assists Patients With Neurological Disorders

http://medicalnewscenter.com/out/out.cgi?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505223023.htm

Florida Atlantic University has filed a provisional patent for a

unique robotic device to assist with the physical rehabilitation

process of patients suffering from neurological damages to their

upper extremities such as those due to stroke or Parkinson's disease.

Inventors, Dr. Oren Masory, chair and professor of mechanical

engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and

, FAU engineering graduate student, designed and built

the device to aid physical therapists and their patients to retrain

injured muscles.

The invention is composed of moving parts, including motors, cables

and spools, enclosed within an acrylic case with a handle [joystick]

that is indirectly connected to the system through magnetic

attraction. This device is the first-known cable driven robot to

utilize a barrier between the operator and the moving mechanisms of

the system. The system does not contain any rigid parts that could

suddenly harm or injure the user, and the device can be used in a

physical therapy office or at home without supervision. In addition,

the system has a safety button embedded in the handle and if released

during operation, a signal is sent to the controller that the patient

has lost contact with the handle and the system immediately shuts

down.

The device is designed to operate in various modes which guide the

patient through a series of routine exercises. One mode enables the

patient to begin his/her training by following a preprogrammed path

which corresponds to " repetitions " done in traditional physical

therapy. Another mode assists the patient as he/she attempts to

follow the path, and the robot corrects them if they move outside of

the path in much the same way a therapist would do by providing

gentle resistance.

It also offers varying resistance at all points within the platform

to simulate contact with objects and increase muscle strength. An

additional mode offers a significant advantage over traditional

physical therapy by providing absolutely no resistance to the

patient, allowing movement anywhere within the platform for the

purpose of diagnostic measurements. Furthermore, this device allows

the physical therapist to make changes or modify the program to

create new paths or change the level of resistance. The device also

assists physical therapists by taking over the tedious work of

repeated training.

The system is capable of supporting quantitative measurements of the

user's progress and performance as well as feedback. The robot tracks

the patient's progress and records data such as position and speed.

This data can later be analyzed by the physical therapist so that

adjustments in the treatment can be made as needed to help the

patient progress in their treatment.

" Right now, physical therapists have no way of collecting empirical

data that can measure the path, force or progress of any patient, "

said . " This device can help alleviate that problem. "

As medical science progresses, more individuals survive previously

catastrophic conditions which leave them with some type of physical

impairment. As a result, patients who have had a stroke or have

Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis require physical therapy or

rehabilitation programs to assist them to recover some, if not all,

use of the affected limbs.

" Unfortunately, rehabilitation is not covered by insurance programs

for long periods of time, " said Masory. " Because this device is much

lower in cost and less intimidating than existing systems, therapists

will be able to track and manage the progress of multiple patients

remotely with fewer office visits. The reduction in costs will enable

patients to receive longer sessions of therapy which are still

covered by insurance. "

The robot will utilize communication technologies, such as phone

lines, to send and receive data from a therapist's computer.