ROBOT-ASSISTED MOBILITY FOR INFANTS WITH SEVERE SPINA SPINA

摘要 对于典型的孩子来说，通过爬行来实现独立的移动能力， 行走是婴儿时期的标志， 认知、知觉和运动发展。对于患有严重 活动障碍，如严重脊柱裂， 轮椅提供了移动性和独立性，也可能导致 在他们的发展中爆炸。目前，没有电力 轮椅和没有培训协议的特殊需要的婴儿少于 2岁;因此，在他们的生活中引入权力流动的影响是 未知 这项研究将是第一个量化密集电力的影响 对任何诊断的特殊需要婴儿进行轮椅培训。 具体来说，我们将量化训练对脊髓脊膜膨出婴儿驾驶和发育的影响， 最常见也是最严重的脊柱裂我们将跟踪两组7个月至12岁的婴儿 月龄。训练婴儿将接受标准化训练方案，每周3次。对照组婴儿将接受 在设备中熟悉的时间1x/周。训练组和对照组将在整个研究期间进行测试， 他们的定向驾驶能力;他们在开放式勘探驾驶期间的驾驶长度、持续时间和路径;以及他们的 运动、知觉、认知和社会发展。 这个修订的R21是一个创新的，可行的应用正在进行的工程婴儿康复 合作，并将为第一个长期动力流动性的随机对照试验提供基础 对有严重行动障碍的婴儿进行培训。

Abstract For the typical child, achieving independent mobility by crawling and walking is a hallmark of their infancy and results in an explosion of cognitive, perceptual and motor development. For children with significant mobility impairments, such as those with severe spina bifida, power wheelchairs provide mobility and independence, and potentially also lead to an explosion in their development. Currently, there are no power wheelchairs and no training protocols for special needs infants less than 2 yrs of age; thus the effect of introducing power mobility into their lives is unknown. This study will be the first to quantify the effect of intensive power wheelchair training on special needs infants with any diagnosis. Specifically, we will quantify the effect of training on the driving and development of infants with myelomeningocele, the most common, yet most severe form of spina bifida. We will follow two groups of infants from 7 months to 12 months of age. Training infants will receive a standardized training protocol 3x/week. Control infants will receive time in the device for familiarization 1x/week. Both training and control groups will be tested throughout the study on their directional driving ability; their driving length, duration and path during open exploratory driving; and their motor, perceptual, cognitive and social development. This revised R21 is an innovative, feasible application of ongoing engineering-infant rehabilitation collaboration, and will provide the foundation for the first randomized controlled trial of long term power mobility training of infants with significant mobility impairments.