This study aims to present the design, selection and testing of commercial ropes (artificial tendons) used on robotic orthosis to perform the hand movements for stroke individuals over upper limb rehabilitation. It was determined the load applied in the rope would through direct measurements performed on four individuals after stroke using a bulb dynamometer. A tensile strength test was performed using eight commercial ropes in order to evaluate the maximum breaking force and select the most suitable to be used in this application. Finally, a pilot test was performed with a user of the device to ratify the effectiveness of the rope. The load on the cable was 12.38 kgf (121.4 N) in the stroke-affected hand, which is the maximum tensile force that the rope must to supports. Paragliding rope (DuPont™ Kevlar ® ) supporting a load of 250 N at a strain of 37 mm was selected. The clinical test proved the effectiveness of the rope, supporting the requested efforts, without presenting permanent deformation, effectively performing the participant’s finger opening.
Stroke has a considerable incidence in the world population and would cause sequelae in the upper limbs. One way to increase the efficiency in the rehabilitation process of patients with these sequelae is through robot-assisted therapy. The present study developed a portable robotic orthosis called Pinotti Portable Robotic Exoskeleton (PPRE) and validated its functioning in clinical tests. The static and dynamic parts of the device modules are described. Design issues, such as heavyweight and engine positioning, have been optimized. The implementation of control was through a smartphone application that communicates with a microcontroller to perform desired movements. Four individuals with motor impairment of the upper limbs due to stroke performed clinical tests to validate the device. Participants did not mention pain, discomfort, tingling, and paresthesia. The robotic device showed the ability to perform the flexion and extension movements of the fingers and elbow. The PPRE was confirmed to be adequate and functional at different levels of motor impairment assessed. The orthosis presented advantages over the currently existing devices, concerning its biomechanical functioning, portability, comfort, and versatility. Thus, the apparatus has the great innovative potential to become a device for home use, serving as an aid to the therapist and facilitating the rehabilitation of patients after an injury. In a larger sample, future studies are needed to assess the effect of a robotic orthosis on the level of rehabilitation in individuals with upper limb impairment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.