No abstract

No abstract

This paper reports on the development of a low-profile exoskeleton module to enable training of the fingers and thumb in grasp and release tasks. The design has been made as an add-on module for use with the ArmAssist arm rehabilitation system (Tecnalia, Spain). Variable-position springs and adjustable link lengths provide adaptability to fit a variety of users. Additive manufacturing has been utilized for the majority of components allowing easy modifications. A few structural components were machined from aluminum or steel to produce a functional prototype with sufficient strength for direct evaluation. The design includes independent and adjustable assistance in finger and thumb extension using various width elastic bands, and measurement of user grasp/release forces in finger flexion/extension, thumb flexion/extension, and thumb adduction/abduction using low-profile force sensitive resistors.

Research shows that better results in post-stroke rehabilitation are obtained when patients receive more intensive therapy. However, the increasing affected population and the limited healthcare resources prevent the provision of intense rehabilitation care. Thus, there is a need for a more autonomous and scalable care provision methods that can be transferred out of the clinic and into home environments. Serious games in combination with robotic rehabilitation can provide an affordable, engaging, and effective way to intensify treatment, both at the clinic and at home. Furthermore, they can offer quantitative assessment of motor performance, allowing individualized treatments and to keep the patient and their therapists informed about therapy progress. Towards this end, a set of games for assessment and training of upper-limb motor impairment after stroke with the ArmAssist is presented. A special effort has been made to design the assessment games in order to be able, not only to measure the effectiveness of the training, but also to compare the assessment results with the standard assessment scales used in the clinic. Feedback from usability testing of previous versions of the system has also been crucial for the final design. Preliminary results of an ongoing clinical testing are presented.

No abstract