Toward Ubiquitous Lower Limb Exoskeleton Use in Children and Young Adults: Exploratory Observational Analysis of Novel Robotic Control Strategies
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Summary
People with cerebral palsy (CP), muscular dystrophy (MD), spina bifida, or spinal cord injury often have muscle weakness, and problems moving their arms and legs. The NIH designed a new brace device, called an exoskeleton, that is worn on the legs and helps people walk. This study is investigating new ways the exoskeleton can be used in multiple settings while performing different walking or movement tasks, which we call ubiquitous use. For example, we will ask you to walk on a treadmill at different speeds, walk up and down a ramp, or walk through an obstacle course. Optionally, the exoskeletons may also use functional electrical stimulation (FES), a system that sends electrical pulses to the muscle to help it move the limb.
Description
STUDY DESCRIPTION: The following exploratory observational study is designed to create a framework that permits rapid development, piloting, and acute evaluation of pediatric exoskeleton control paradigms for daily, ubiquitous use across multiple settings. Most existing evaluations of pediatric exoskeleton control modes are limited to a flat walking task.The novelty of this study design is the translation of control modes to different functional tasks and comparisons between fixed and adaptive parameters across the tasks. Across all participants, three main control modes will be tested: assis…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 5–25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: * Provision of signed and dated separate informed consent and assent forms for screening purposes. Upon inclusion in the protocol, provision of signed and dated informed consent and assent forms to begin participation in the study will be necessary. * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study, or alternatively, ability to do so based on parent report and physician observation during history and physical…
Interventions
- DeviceExtension assist knee ankle foot orthosis (EA-KAFO)
A lower limb exoskeleton that has one actuated degree of freedom at the knee (flexion/extension) and a passive degree of freedom at the ankle (plantar/dorsiflexion).
Location
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland