Assessment of upper-limb task and joint-based exoskeletons for rehabilitation
Date
2022-04-15Author
Rincon, Clarissa
Delgado, Pablo
Advisor
Yihun, Yimesker S.Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Rincon, Clarissa; Delgado, Pablo. 2022.
Assessment of upper-limb task and joint-based exoskeletons for rehabilitation -- In Proceedings: 21st Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 18
Abstract
Exoskeletons and other robotics devices have been used as a common practice
to assist and automate rehabilitation exercises. As new exoskeleton designs arise, so does
the requirement to assess these devices to ensure efficiency, patient safety, and avoid
further injury development. A common challenge in the exoskeleton development
process is acquiring proper alignment and fitting of the robotic devices to the human
body. This challenge is prevalent due to certain factors such as subject variability and the
complexity of the human body and its range of motion. These challenges often dictate the
exoskeleton design approaches. Some design approaches have a focus on simplifying and
mimicking the human body and joints (joint-based), while others have a focus on
generating a specific task without having to align the exoskeleton to the corresponding
limb joints to perform a desired anatomical motion (task-based). In this study, both
mechanisms are assessed and compared on their alignment and fitting through prototype
testing and musculoskeletal modeling and simulation using OpenSim. The assessment
will examine and quantify the muscle forces and tendon lengths of specific muscle
groups of the users while wearing the exoskeletons and performing the desired
rehabilitation tasks. These assessment methods will provide an insight on each
mechanism’s alignment to the human body, guide other exoskeleton researchers and
developers to the most efficient and safest exoskeleton design, and encourage further
exoskeleton design evolvement.
Description
Presented to the 21st Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 15, 2022.