STTR Phase I: In-Home Rehabilitation System for Post Stroke Patients

这项小型企业技术转移（STTR）的第一阶段研究开发了一种家庭训练设备，使中风后患者能够在很少或没有帮助的情况下进行康复。每年大约有50万美国人从中风中幸存下来。不可思议的是，大多数中风幸存者都能重新学习一些技能，比如走路，这些技能是由于大脑部分受损而丧失的。如果他们在机器或物理治疗师的帮助下做出正确的动作，同时支撑他们的部分体重，他们可以最有效地重新学习走路。这种训练很昂贵，而且需要病人定期去中风中心。利用最近在“人类外骨骼”设计上的突破，这项研究将创造一种轻量级的机器人外骨骼，它可以支撑病人的下肢和躯干，并为他们操纵瘫痪的肢体。使用这种完全便携的设备，患者将不必每天去康复机构接受治疗。在配偶、孩子或朋友的帮助下，患者可以在家中重新学习行走。这个装置将使病人能够行走、活动，并有一个更愉快、更持久的康复体验。最终，创造这样的设备也将为临床医生提供一个替代轮椅的选择，为那些有更永久性问题的患者，但将从直立功能和骨骼结构的重大负荷中受益匪浅。该项目的更广泛影响将是解决数百万中风、肌肉萎缩症、创伤、神经紊乱甚至慢性关节炎患者的需求，以及改善他们的生活质量和健康的医学和社会学影响。

This Small Business Technolongy Transfer (STTR) Phase I research develops an in-home training device that allows a post-stroke patient to undergo rehabilitation with little or no assistance. Approximately 500,000 Americans survive a stroke each year. Miraculously, most stroke survivors can relearn skills such as walking that are lost when part of the brain is damaged. They can relearn walking most effectively if they are aided in making the correct motions by a machine or a physical therapist while part of their body weight is supported. This training is expensive and requires the patient to go for regular visits to a stroke center. Utilizing recent breakthroughs in the design of "human exoskeletons", this research will create a lightweight robotic exoskeleton which cradles a patient''s lower extremities and torso, and maneuvers their paralyzed limbs for them. Using this completely portable device, the patient will not have to go to a rehabilitation facility for daily therapy sessions. The patient can relearn ambulation in the privacy of his/her home with some help from his/her spouse, children, or friends. This device would allow the patient to walk, maneuver and have a more enjoyable, longer duration rehabilitation experience. Ultimately, creating such a device will also give clinicians an alternative to the wheel chair for patients who have more permanent problems, but would benefit enormously from functioning upright and with significant load on their bone structure. The broader impact of this project will be to adddress the needs of millions of people affected by stroke, muscular dystrophy, trauma, neurological disorders or even chronic arthritis, the medical and sociological implications to improve their quality of life and health.