Smart wearable mechatronic devices for rehabilitation

用于康复的智能可穿戴机电一体化设备

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-03815
• 负责人: Trejos, AnaLuisa
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=683631
• 关键词: Smart; wearable; mechatronic; devices; rehabilitation

Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer from musculoskeletal disorders and many struggle to find a therapy that works for them. To address this problem, the proposed research program focuses on solving the engineering challenges associated with the development and integration of nonintrusive smart wearable mechatronic braces for upper-body rehabilitation. This research program builds on the applicant's previous experience with the design, development and testing of medical mechatronic devices and is aimed at developing wearable mechatronic braces that can constantly measure musculoskeletal performance and adjust brace motion to automatically provide support and implement therapeutic treatment.*Mechatronic devices have already been shown to be beneficial as a complement to existing rehabilitation programs. Further benefit can be obtained from devices that are worn by patients during daily living in order to constantly track musculoskeletal performance. For this purpose, novel design solutions are needed that minimize weight and size, improve sensing ability, implement appropriate decision-making control systems and enhance human-device communication. Advances in related technologies, such as sensors, actuators, materials and embedded systems make it feasible to find a solution. The short-term objectives of the proposed research are as follows:*1- Develop mechatronic braces formed by specialized modular mechanisms and actuators that provide appropriate forces and range of motion to match that of the human body. Research will be directed towards the integration of various actuation systems, the design of sensing and actuation modules, and the formulation of a module selection strategy.*2- Evaluate sensor placement and integration within a brace, as well as optimize the sensor signal-to-noise ratio. The use and integration of various types of sensors will be investigated, including position, muscle activity, applied force and temperature. Research projects will be related to improving sensing ability and developing methods for fusing the signals from different types of sensors. *3- Evaluate methods for improving the transfer of information between mechatronic devices and humans. Research directed at the human-device interface includes determining how the user can interact with a mechatronic brace via a mobile device or computer or through gesture recognition.*4- Design novel control systems that respond to monitoring sensors and adapt the movement of a brace to provide therapeutic treatment. These control systems need to integrate the sensor data, a decision making process that considers the treatment plan, and the execution of the plan through the control of actuator motion. The decision making process is based on a database of biofeedback that correlates what the brace sensors detect and the actions performed by the body.*The results of the proposed research will create an opportunity to advance the field of mechatronic devices that work in close proximity to humans. Patients will benefit through the creation of novel rehabilitation mechatronic systems that are cost effective, reliable, safe, user friendly and can provide better therapies and faster recovery. Therapists will benefit from improved communication with patients and from the availability of data that can lead to the development of better therapies. These devices will be of particular significance to the Canadian health care and rehabilitation device industries, through the creation of advanced technologies with huge market potential. The long-term goal of this program is to revolutionize the field of rehabilitation by enhancing quality of life, untethering patients from therapy centres and reducing the burden on Canada's overtaxed health care system.

世界各地数亿人患有肌肉骨骼疾病，许多人都难以找到适合他们的疗法。为了解决这个问题，拟议的研究计划着重于解决与非智能可穿戴机器人锻炼的开发和整合进行上交康复的工程挑战。该研究计划的基础是申请人以前在医疗机电设备的设计，开发和测试方面的经验，旨在开发可穿戴的机电牙括号，这些机电疗中心可以不断地测量肌肉骨骼性能，并调整支架运动以自动提供支持和实施治疗治疗。可以从日常生活中患者佩戴的设备中获得进一步的好处，以不断跟踪肌肉骨骼表现。为此，需要新颖的设计解决方案，以最大程度地减少体重和尺寸，提高感应能力，实施适当的决策控制系统并增强人类设备的沟通。相关技术（例如传感器，执行器，材料和嵌入式系统）的进​​步使得找到解决方案。拟议的研究的短期目标如下：*1-发展由专门的模块化机制和执行器形成的机甲牙套，这些机制和执行器提供了适当的力和运动范围以匹配人体的运动。研究将针对各种致动系统的整合，传感和致动模块的设计以及模块选择策略的制定。将研究各种传感器的使用和整合，包括位置，肌肉活动，施加力和温度。研究项目将与提高传感能力和开发方法融合来自不同类型的传感器的信号有关。 *3-评估改善机电设备和人类之间信息传递的方法。针对人类设备界面的研究包括确定用户如何通过移动设备或计算机或通过手势识别来与新生型支架进行交互。这些控制系统需要整合传感器数据，一个考虑治疗计划的决策过程以及通过控制执行器运动来执行计划。决策过程基于一个生物反馈数据库，该数据库将支架传感器检测到的内容和身体所执行的动作相关联。*拟议的研究结果将为促进与人类密切相邻的机电设备领域创造机会。患者将通过创建新颖的康复机电系统系统而受益，这些系统具有成本效益，可靠，安全，用户友好，并且可以提供更好的疗法和更快的康复速度。治疗师将受益于改善与患者的沟通以及可以导致更好疗法发展的数据的可用性。通过创造具有巨大市场潜力的先进技术，这些设备对加拿大的医疗保健和康复设备行业特别重要。该计划的长期目标是通过提高生活质量，使患者从治疗中心缠身并减轻加拿大负担过大的医疗保健系统的负担来彻底改变康复领域。