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

这项小型企业技术转移（STTR）第一阶段研究开发了一种家庭训练设备，可以让中风后患者在很少或没有帮助的情况下进行康复。 每年大约有50万美国人在中风中幸存下来。奇迹般的是，大多数中风幸存者可以重新学习一些技能，比如当大脑部分受损时失去的行走技能。如果他们在机器或物理治疗师的帮助下做出正确的动作，同时支撑他们身体的一部分重量，他们可以最有效地重新学习走路。这种训练是昂贵的，需要病人去中风中心定期访问。利用最近在“人类外骨骼”设计方面的突破，这项研究将创造一种轻型机器人外骨骼，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，患者将不必去康复机构进行日常治疗。病人可以在他/她的配偶、孩子或朋友的帮助下，在他/她的家中重新学习Ambassador。该装置将允许患者行走、操纵并具有更愉快、持续时间更长的康复体验。最终，创造这样一种设备也将为临床医生提供一种替代轮椅的方法，用于那些有更多永久性问题的患者，但将从直立功能和骨骼结构的显著负荷中受益匪浅。该项目的更广泛影响将是满足数百万受中风、肌肉萎缩症、创伤、神经系统疾病甚至慢性关节炎影响的人的需求，以及改善他们生活质量和健康的医学和社会学意义。

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.