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Construction of a robotic device for the assessment and therapy of hand sensorimotor functions after stroke
A portable robotic device for the rehabilitation of hand sensorimotor functions has been developed at the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, and has undergone pilot studies with healthy subjects and patients after stroke. The aim of the project is to construct a next generation of the robot.
Every year, ten million people survive a stroke worldwide (WHO 2002). Stroke survivors often suffer from impaired motor and/or sensory abilities of the upper limb, affecting their independence and quality of life. There is evidence in literature that an increase in therapy dose might promote recovery. Unfortunately, it is challenging to increase the therapy doses offered to the patients in clinical settings, due to economical and organizational limitations. We are proposing a portable robotic solution that allows minimally-supervised robot-assisted therapy of hand function, which would allow to increase the therapy doses offered to the patients either in clinical or home settings.
A preliminary version of this robot already exists but has been redesigned after preliminary usability evaluations. The robot is a 2 degrees of freedom haptic device (training hand opening-closing and forearm pronosupination) with a virtual reality interface on a computer/laptop screen, which displays the objects that are haptically rendered during therapy exercises.
Every year, ten million people survive a stroke worldwide (WHO 2002). Stroke survivors often suffer from impaired motor and/or sensory abilities of the upper limb, affecting their independence and quality of life. There is evidence in literature that an increase in therapy dose might promote recovery. Unfortunately, it is challenging to increase the therapy doses offered to the patients in clinical settings, due to economical and organizational limitations. We are proposing a portable robotic solution that allows minimally-supervised robot-assisted therapy of hand function, which would allow to increase the therapy doses offered to the patients either in clinical or home settings. A preliminary version of this robot already exists but has been redesigned after preliminary usability evaluations. The robot is a 2 degrees of freedom haptic device (training hand opening-closing and forearm pronosupination) with a virtual reality interface on a computer/laptop screen, which displays the objects that are haptically rendered during therapy exercises.
The first part of the project will involve assembling of the electrical components of the new prototype. The specific parts are mostly already chosen and/or manufactured, the task is now construct and test the whole system.
The second part will include implementation of the appropriate control schemes using Labview and the execution of appropriate performance tests of the implemented control algorithms.
The first part of the project will involve assembling of the electrical components of the new prototype. The specific parts are mostly already chosen and/or manufactured, the task is now construct and test the whole system. The second part will include implementation of the appropriate control schemes using Labview and the execution of appropriate performance tests of the implemented control algorithms.
- 50% Electronics (soldering, wiring), assembly of the whole system, testing
- 30% Implementation of control algorithms (LABVIEW)
- 20% Control performance tests
- 50% Electronics (soldering, wiring), assembly of the whole system, testing - 30% Implementation of control algorithms (LABVIEW) - 20% Control performance tests
- Interest in mechatronics
- Experience in electronics assembly (reading schematics, soldering, wiring)
- Experience in LABVIEW programming
- Enthusiasm for clinical applications of robotics
- Experience with CAD softwares (e.g. Solidworks) is a plus
- Interest in mechatronics - Experience in electronics assembly (reading schematics, soldering, wiring) - Experience in LABVIEW programming - Enthusiasm for clinical applications of robotics - Experience with CAD softwares (e.g. Solidworks) is a plus
Raffaele Ranzani, MSc. Robotics Systems and Control ETH Zurich,
Doctoral Candidate ETH Zurich,
Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory,
**raffaele.ranzani@hest.ethz.ch
**
Raffaele Ranzani, MSc. Robotics Systems and Control ETH Zurich, Doctoral Candidate ETH Zurich, Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, **raffaele.ranzani@hest.ethz.ch **