Promoting inclusiveness in exoskeleton robotics: Addressing challenges for pediatric access

Fosch‐Villaronga, Eduard; Čartolovni, Anto; Pierce, Robin

doi:10.1515/pjbr-2020-0021

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In paediatric rehabilitation devices, operability is critical as children are in a continuous development phase during which their bodies, cognitive capabilities and physical abilities (e.g. skill levels) are changing, making them a “heterogeneous population” [ 52 , 70 ]. Consequently, the device must adapt to different children’s abilities and sizes [ 71 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although multiple devices for the robotic rehabilitation of upper and lower limbs have been developed, at least in a proof-of-concept phase [ 24 , 39 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 50 , 51 ], most presented robots were designed for adult users, impeding their use on the paediatric population. For example, commercial exoskeletons are made for a subject 150 cm tall onwards [ 52 ], while the average height for a 5-year-old child will be around 110 cm [ 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, a simple downscaling of the robots is not enough as the normalised joint torques on adults are greater than those of a child [ 54 , 55 ], making them potentially dangerous when used on small children. Additionally, in the case of children, as their cognitive abilities are still developing, it could be hard for them to fully understand how the technology works [ 52 , 56 ]. Hence, it is hard to adapt a robot made for adults to be used by children since the robots do not fulfil the children’s needs [ 26 , 57 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Robotic devices for paediatric rehabilitation: a review of design features

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Children with physical disabilities often have limited performance in daily activities, hindering their physical development, social development and mental health. Therefore, rehabilitation is essential to mitigate the adverse effects of the different causes of physical disabilities and improve independence and quality of life. In the last decade, robotic rehabilitation has shown the potential to augment traditional physical rehabilitation. However, to date, most robotic rehabilitation devices are designed for adult patients who differ in their needs compared to paediatric patients, limiting the devices’ potential because the paediatric patients’ needs are not adequately considered. With this in mind, the current work reviews the existing literature on robotic rehabilitation for children with physical disabilities, intending to summarise how the rehabilitation robots could fulfil children’s needs and inspire researchers to develop new devices. A literature search was conducted utilising the Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases. Based on the inclusion–exclusion criteria, 206 publications were included, and 58 robotic devices used by children with a physical disability were identified. Different design factors and the treated conditions using robotic technology were compared. Through the analyses, it was identified that weight, safety, operability and motivation were crucial factors to the successful design of devices for children. The majority of the current devices were used for lower limb rehabilitation. Neurological disorders, in particular cerebral palsy, were the most common conditions for which devices were designed. By far, the most common actuator was the electric motor. Usually, the devices present more than one training strategy being the assistive strategy the most used. The admittance/impedance method is the most popular to interface the robot with the children. Currently, there is a trend on developing exoskeletons, as they can assist children with daily life activities outside of the rehabilitation setting, propitiating a wider adoption of the technology. With this shift in focus, it appears likely that new technologies to actuate the system (e.g. serial elastic actuators) and to detect the intention (e.g. physiological signals) of children as they go about their daily activities will be required.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Robotic devices for paediatric rehabilitation: a review of design features

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An exoskeleton is a device that works as an external skeleton to support the user [32]. These devices generally consist of complex structures imitating the anatomy of the human skeleton to guarantee the alignment between the joint axis of the user and the device [33].…”

Section: Upper Limb Biomechanics and Diagnoses In Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Trends and Challenges in Pediatric Access to Sensorless and Sensor-Based Upper Limb Exoskeletons

Gaudet

Raison

Achiche

2021

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sensorless and sensor-based upper limb exoskeletons that enhance or support daily motor function are limited for children. This review presents the different needs in pediatrics and the latest trends when developing an upper limb exoskeleton and discusses future prospects to improve accessibility. First, the principal diagnoses in pediatrics and their respective challenge are presented. A total of 14 upper limb exoskeletons aimed for pediatric use were identified in the literature. The exoskeletons were then classified as sensorless or sensor-based, and categorized with respect to the application domain, the motorization solution, the targeted population(s), and the supported movement(s). The relative absence of upper limb exoskeleton in pediatrics is mainly due to the additional complexity required in order to adapt to children’s growth and answer their specific needs and usage. This review highlights that research should focus on sensor-based exoskeletons, which would benefit the majority of children by allowing easier adjustment to the children’s needs. Sensor-based exoskeletons are often the best solution for children to improve their participation in activities of daily living and limit cognitive, social, and motor impairments during their development.

show abstract

“…Although there has been significant development in adult exoskeletons, the pool of options that serve the pediatric population is comparatively smaller [16]. Of those that exist, most are not wholly suitable for assisting a patient suffering from gait impairment in functional mobility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Evaluation of a Pediatric Lower-Limb Exoskeleton Joint Actuator

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lower-limb exoskeletons have undergone significant developments for aiding in the ambulation of adults with gait impairment. However, advancements in exoskeletons for the pediatric population have comparatively been lacking. This paper presents a newly developed joint actuator designed to drive the hip and knee joints of a pediatric lower-limb exoskeleton. The performance requirements associated with the actuators were determined based on a target audience of children ages 6–11 years old. The developed actuators incorporate a hybrid belt-chain transmission driven by a frameless brushless DC motor. One actuator underwent benchtop testing to evaluate its performance with respect to their torque production, bandwidth properties, backdrivability in terms of inertia and friction characteristics, speed capabilities, and operational noise levels. As a preliminary validation, a set of actuators were placed in a prototype orthosis to move a pediatric test dummy in gait tracking via state-feedback control. The results showed that the newly developed actuators meet the design specifications and are suitable for use in the pediatric exoskeleton being developed.

show abstract

Promoting inclusiveness in exoskeleton robotics: Addressing challenges for pediatric access

Cited by 16 publications

References 61 publications

Robotic devices for paediatric rehabilitation: a review of design features

Robotic devices for paediatric rehabilitation: a review of design features

Current Trends and Challenges in Pediatric Access to Sensorless and Sensor-Based Upper Limb Exoskeletons

Design and Evaluation of a Pediatric Lower-Limb Exoskeleton Joint Actuator

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About