Clinical Trial: Powered Hip & Ankle Exoskeletons for Stroke Survivors With Gait Impairment
Georgia Institute of Technology
Summary
An exoskeleton device is a robotic system designed to improve an individual's ability to move and perform tasks encountered in everyday situations. These devices consist of external rigid limb segments that assists humans through different body movements with the use of actuators. These devices are controlled by an onboard computer that determines the timing and magnitude of assistance deployed to the user. Exoskeleton controller performance is key to providing beneficial assistance that does not inhibit the user's movement. Preceding work will compare the benefit of personalized hip versus ankle joint exoskeleton assistance for improvement of post-stroke gait. It will combine exoskeleton technology with the user's movement feedback to improve wearable robotic assistance to an individual stroke survivor's gait pattern. For the clinical trial research covered under this protocol, the investigator will test various exoskeleton technologies with stroke survivors in real-world contexts, indoors and outdoors, and measure clinically meaningful outcomes and user perceptions regarding technology usability and adoption. The long-term goal is to deploy self-adaptive, adoptable exoskeletons for personalized assistance during community ambulation.
Description
Participants will serve as their own control in this study. This study will be divided into 2 sessions that will occur on 2 separate days: 1) Hip Exoskeleton session and 2) Ankle Exoskeleton session. In each session, subjects will undergo two conditions in which they complete the outcomes measures 1) while wearing the exoskeleton and 2) in a baseline condition without the exoskeleton. Order of condition and session will be randomized. Prior to the exoskeleton condition, subjects will be allowed time to acclimate to the device during a walking session on the treadmill. Subjects will proceed to…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Between 18-85 years of age * Stroke at least 6 months prior to study involvement * Community dwelling (participant does not live in an assisted living facility) * Able to provide informed consent to participate in the study activities * Can safely participate in the study activities (per self-report) * Must have a Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score of 3 or above (the participant can walk without the assistance of another person) Exclusion Criteria: * Requires a walker to walk independently * Has a shuffling gait pattern overground * Has a Functional Ambulation…
Interventions
- OtherControl
The stroke survivors will serve as their own control group. The participants will complete the required tasks without an exoskeleton device.
- DeviceHip Exoskeleton
The Georgia Tech Hip Exo is a wearable robotic device for hip extension/flexion assistance. This device will be used to study the lower limb movement and how to effectively assist users. It makes use of a responsive controller that considers information such as joint angles to understand the user's state and assists with the appropriate level of power accordingly.
- DeviceAnkle Exoskeleton
The Dephy Exoboot is a lower limb exoskeleton which attaches to the user below the knee through a cuff at the proximal calf and a provided shoe. This investigational device is used to make it easier for able-bodied and impaired individuals to walk and run under a variety of conditions. The exoskeleton provides assistance at the ankle joint during movement. The purpose is to assist the user in lower limb movements such as ground level walking, climbing stairs/ramps, and sit-to-stand.
Location
- Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls LabAtlanta, Georgia