Vision-Assisted Interactive Human-in-the-Loop Distal Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robot and its Clinical Usability Test

• DOI: 10.3390/app9153106
• Publication Date: 2019-08-01T15:39:37Z
• Authors: Hyung Seok Nam; Nhayoung Hong; Minwoo Cho; Chiwon Lee; Han Gil Seo; Sungwan Kim
• Keywords: Stroke

In the context of stroke rehabilitation, simple structures and user-intent driven actuation are relevant features to facilitate neuroplasticity as well deliver a sufficient number repetitions during single therapy session. A novel robotic treatment device for distal upper limb rehabilitation in patients was developed, usability test performed assess its clinical feasibility. The robot designed two-axis exoskeleton actuated by electric motors, consisting forearm supination/pronation hand grasp/release, which were selected based on kinematic analysis essential daily activities. vision-assisted algorithm utilized extraction human-in-the-loop concept. six physiatrists, five biomedical engineers, therapists, two chronic patients, caregivers patients. After instruction, all subjects tested minimum 10 min completed evaluation form using 7-point Likert scale. participants found interesting (5.7 ± 1.2), motivating (5.8 0.9), having less possibility causing injury or safety issues (6.1 1.1); however, appropriateness difficulty (4.8 1.9) comfort level (4.9 1.3) be relatively low. Further development current would provide good option simple, low-cost, clinically feasible stroke.