NSF Convergence Accelerator: Track H: Restoring Arm Function with Connected Assistance and Rehabilitation Systems

NSF 融合加速器：轨道 H：通过连接的辅助和康复系统恢复手臂功能

• 批准号: 2345107
• 负责人: Conor Walsh
• 金额: $ 500万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-12-15 至 2026-11-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2345107&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Convergence; Accelerator; Track; Restoring

This project focuses on developing and translating an at-home, connected wearable rehabilitation solution to restore arm function and independence for those with upper limb disability. Upper limb disability impacts over 10 million people in the United States; stroke is a leading cause. Of the almost one million people in the US who experience stroke annually, an estimated 75% have long-term challenges using their affected arm. The current standard of care for upper extremity rehabilitation is largely ineffective, due to limited duration and intensity of in-clinic therapy. Data suggest that stroke survivors require hundreds of repetitions per day to support upper limb recovery, but often lack the capacity and motivation to meet this standard. Without rehabilitation, a negative cycle of upper limb disuse occurs, resulting in further degradation of ability and gross impacts to independence, ability to work and life quality. This research enables a paradigm shift from the current 'in clinic' model of rehabilitation to one of remote physical rehabilitation for those with upper limb disability, where everyday activities are transformed into therapy. The results will open avenues for independence, societal participation, and return-to-work for millions of stroke survivors while reducing associated healthcare costs. The project broadening impacts aim is to attract, train, mentor the next generation of diverse rehabilitation technology innovators while providing continual telerehabilitation-focused education for therapists and reducing bias towards PWDs.This project will develop technology to enable higher repetitions and intensity of purposeful therapeutic movement by: (i) increasing capacity for upper limb movement through support from a soft wearable robot, and (ii) encouraging behavioral change with a digital therapeutic that provides thorough quantitative tracking and goal setting of upper extremity activity. The aims are to: (1) quantify upper extremity biomechanics and arm use after stroke, (2) optimize technology for at-home rehabilitation, and (3) evaluate and pilot technologies with stroke survivors and therapists. Building on low-fidelity prototypes co-created with end users, this project will optimize the technology-its mechanical design, estimation and control algorithms, and hardware, apparel, and software system parameters, and co-create advanced prototypes that will be evaluated in both lab and home-based settings. Stroke survivors of different functional levels and racial/ethnic backgrounds across multiple states will be involved through focus groups and a large-scale survey that will inform technical development.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目着重于开发和翻译一个家庭连接的可穿戴康复解决方案，以恢复上肢残疾者的手臂功能和独立性。在美国，上肢残疾影响超过1000万人；中风是主要原因。在美国每年经历中风的近一百万人中，估计有75％的人使用其受影响的部门面临长期挑战。由于持续时间有限和临床治疗强度，当前对上肢康复的护理标准在很大程度上是无效的。数据表明，中风幸存者每天需要数百次重复以支持上肢恢复，但通常缺乏满足此标准的能力和动力。如果没有康复，上肢废弃的负面周期就会发生，从而进一步降低能力和对独立性，工作能力和生活质量的影响。这项研究使从当前的“诊所”康复模型转变为上肢残疾的人的远程身体康复之一，其中日常活动被转变为治疗。结果将为数百万中风幸存者提供独立，社会参与以及返回工作的途径，同时降低相关的医疗费用。项目扩大影响的目的是吸引，训练，指导下一代多样化的康复技术创新者，同时为治疗师提供持续以远程访问型教育的方式，并减少对PWDS的偏见。该项目将开发技术，以促进更高的重复和强度的能力来通过以下方面的范围来促进较高的重复和强度，从而使II越来越多地通过：（I）提高II（i）II（i）II（i）II（i）II（i）II（I）提供彻底的定量跟踪和上肢活动的目标设定的治疗性。目的是：（1）量化中风后的上肢生物力学和手臂使用，（2）优化用于家庭康复的技术，以及（3）用中风幸存者和治疗师评估和试验技术。该项目以与最终用户共同创建的低保真原型为基础，将优化技术设计，估计和控制算法，硬件，服装和软件系统参数，以及共同创建的高级原型，这些原型将在实验室和家庭设置中进行评估。通过焦点小组和一项大规模调查，将涉及各种职能水平和种族/种族背景的中风幸存者，并进行大规模调查，该调查将为技术发展提供依据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准通过评估来进行评估。