Most stroke patients who have lost the ability to use their fingers do not recover the functions of the fingers in their activity of daily living (ADL). This paper presents a novel approach in finger rehabilitation for acute paralysed stroke survivors. Based on repetitive exercise concept, the device is designed to provide support for fingers to do flexion and extension movements according to the patients range of motion. A conceptual design of the device is proposed after considering the current mechanism and control from similar current devices published and commercialised. A comparison between 4 existing main working mechanisms: (1)Pneumatic Cylinders, (2)Artificial Rubber Muscles, (3)Linkage Mechanism, (4)Cable-Driven Mechanismis also provided in this paper. The key for designing the device is home-based practice, easy to use and affordable. Further investigation and experiments on the proposed: Cable Actuated Finger Exoskeleton (CAFEx) are currently still in progress.
The development of a robotic exoskeleton to restore and rehab, hand and finger function is highly competitive nowadays. The robotic exoskeleton is an active actuated mechanism implemented in rehabilitation system, in which each finger attached to an instrumented lead screw mechanism allowing force and position control, according to the normal human setting. The robotic device is a direct driven actuated based on ergonomics measurements, capable to assist in flexion and extension motion. As an adaptation mechanism, it's also compatible with various sizes and shapes of anthropometric human‘s finger. The integration of DC servo motor and lead screw mechanism were the main features of the interface, which allows independent motion of the five fingers with small and lightweight actuators. The device is easily transportable, efficient safety performance, user friendly and offer multiple modes of training potentials. This paper presents the measurements implemented in the system to determine the requirements for finger and hand rehabilitation device, the design and characteristic of the whole system.
The ankle-foot of human body is a multi-joint structure that accommodates complex foot motion. Abnormality to the ankle-foot due to injury or disease can result in abnormal gait motion. In such cases, physiotherapist has to assist hemiplegic patients (ankle dorsiflexor muscles with lack of dorsiflexion assist moment) in rehabilitation therapy by using gait training in parallel bars. Physiotherapist has to support hemiplegic patient to position foot and also supports their stand balance. This prolongs multiple task puts extra burden to physiotherapist which gives side effect such as muscular strain or bone fracture while doing the task. Consequently, the motion of the foot patients did not follow the normal gait pattern. Therefore, there is a need to develop an effective ankle foot orthosis (AFO) to solve the long issue-problem. This research was undertake to embark on the modeling and designing of new ankle foot orthosis (AFO) using active control system which later could be used to help patients with ankle dorsiflexor muscles problem. The work was carried out in four stages involving modeling and simulation of DC motor, algorithm development, design and fabrication of the orthosis and finally, evalaution of the product and its functions. The orthosis was tested on healthy volunteer and the results show that the objective to develop and fabricate a new type of robust ankle foot orthosis which can control movement has been achieved successfully.
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