Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With Modular Powered Orthoses
University of Michigan
Summary
The overall goal of this project is to develop modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. This project aims to establish feasibility of assisting different populations with these modular powered orthoses. The investigators hypothesize that assisting lower-limb musculature with modular powered orthoses will improve 1) lifting/lowering posture in able-bodied subjects and 2) functional outcomes in elderly subjects.
Description
The overall goal of this project is to develop modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. Conventional orthoses tend to immobilize joints, and emerging powered orthoses constrain voluntary motion by using highly geared electric motors and/or control methods that force the user to follow a specific gait pattern. Consequently, these devices have not seen widespread success across populations with weakened voluntary control due to advanced age, musculoskeletal dis…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion criteria for able-bodied, young participants will be: * Aged between 18 to 65 years * Weigh less than 250 lbs due to limitations in the design of the orthoses * Ability to lift and lower a 10 kg weight using the neutral-spine squat technique for 10 repetitions Exclusion criteria for able-bodied, young adult participants will be: * Pregnant (self-report) * Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study * Prior history of chronic lower-back pain * Unable to walk for 20 minutes * History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual disea…
Interventions
- DeviceModular powered orthosis
This study will investigate modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. The central hypothesis is that high-torque, low-inertia motor systems controlled with energetic objectives will enable modular powered orthoses to partially assist the joints. High-torque electric motors combined with minimal transmissions can be freely rotated (i.e., backdriven) by human joints, allowing the use of an emerging torque control method called energy shaping to reduce the perceived weight/inertia of the body during any motion. By mounting these modular actuators to commercial orthoses, this technology will be easily prescribed/configured by clinicians.
Location
- Rehab Lab, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan