I-Corps: Mechatronic Back Brace Commercial Development

本文所描述的活动将通过进一步发展和最终商业化的胸骨盆矫形器来促进脊柱矫形术领域的发展，该矫形器减少了维持躯干弯曲姿势所需的肌肉努力。该装置的核心是一种新型的胸盂矫形器，它包含一个闭环控制系统来驱动机电支撑结构，允许佩戴者在各种姿势下保持支撑。这种胸骨盆矫形器的持续发展将整合生物力学和机器人技术的知识，并将扩大动力外骨骼的研究和发展。“可穿戴机器人”)，包括精确跟踪脊柱运动（尤其是颈椎和腰椎）。矫形器最初将被开发为外科医生和其他训练有素的专业人员的人体工程学支持形式，可以减少这一人群的生产力损失和医疗费用。最终，这种矫形器的新功能可以通过创造一种新的矫形治疗模式来增强一般患者的护理，这种矫形治疗模式可以作为当前矫形治疗和物理治疗之间的“桥梁治疗”；随着患者的康复，远程临床医生可以通过无线方式重新编程矫形器的机械反应（运动范围、机械刚度/阻尼），在降低支撑的同时逐渐重新引入运动，从而使患者的脊柱活动水平更正常，减少了进一步物理治疗的需要。

The activities described in this proposal will serve to advance the field of spinal orthotics through the further development and eventual commercialization of a thoracopelvic orthosis that reduces the muscle effort required to maintain flexed postures of the trunk. The device at the heart of this proposal is a novel thoracopelvic orthosis which incorporates a closed-loop control system to drive an electromechanical support structure that allows for the wearer to remain supported in a variety of postures. The continued development of this thoracopelvic orthosis will integrate knowledge from both biomechanics and robotics, and will expand the research and development of powered exoskeletons (a.k.a. "wearable robots") to include accurate following of spinal motion (cervical and lumbar, especially). The orthosis will initially be developed as a form of ergonomic support for surgeons and other highly-trained professionals that could reduce lost productivity and medical costs of this population. Eventually, the novel functionality of this orthosis could enhance general patient care through the creation of a new mode of orthotic treatment that serves as a "bridge therapy" between current orthotic treatment physical therapy; as the patient heals, a remote clinician could wirelessly reprogram the orthosis mechanical response (range of motion, mechanical stiffness/damping) that gradually reintroduces motion while lowering support, thus leaving the patient with a more normal level of spinal mobility and reduced need for further physical therapy.