AAPLE-Walk: A novel gait-mimicking exercise machine for cardiovascular fitness and rehabilitation - Market Assessment application

我们提出的发明基于主动臂被动腿运动（AAPLE）机器（即，其中臂运动驱动瘫痪腿运动的机器），这是一种改善患有脊髓损伤的人的心血管（CV）健康的运动形式。我们的原型AAPLE-Walk扩展了这一概念，允许下肢完全瘫痪的人在站立时进行手臂驱动的步行运动。使用AAPLE-Walk，用户站立在改进的椭圆型锻炼器械上。用户的手臂运动可以用于以适合CV健身的可变强度驱动他们的腿以步行模式。AAPLE-Walk在负重时驱动同步步态运动的能力开辟了康复运动疗法的可能性，类似于昂贵的步态训练器或外骨骼所提供的康复运动疗法。我们的设备还可以在身体可能的情况下与主动腿部运动以及左/右臂/腿部输入的任何组合一起使用，从而使其有可能使具有各种移动限制的人受益（例如中风，神经系统疾病，衰老）。我们最近有一个完全脊髓损伤的人展示了一个功能齐全的AAPLE步行原型的独立使用。我们认为，一种能够在廉价包装中提供CV锻炼、负重和步态训练益处的组合的设备具有显著的市场潜力。但是，虽然我们的发明取得了重大进展，但还需要进行额外的工程研究，以进一步提高设备的可用性、性能和功能。在推进这项工作之前，需要对整个市场有更深入的了解。通过此次市场评估获得的知识将用于确认市场规模，并为进一步投入研发资源提供信心，以及将我们的开发工作集中在针对特定市场需求和/或增加器械功能，以实现更广泛的用户群体。我们还将确定潜在的公司合作伙伴，并考虑推出适应性健身器材产品的具体特点，确定进入市场计划的范围。

Our proposed invention is based on Active Arm Passive Leg Exercise (AAPLE) machines (i.e. machines where arm motion drives paralyzed leg motion), a form of exercise that improves cardiovascular (CV) health in people with spinal cord injury. Our prototype, the AAPLE-Walk, extends this concept to allow for arm driven walking motion while standing for people with complete lower limb paralysis. With AAPLE-Walk, a user is stand-supported on a modified elliptical-type exercise machine. The user's arm movements can be used to drive their legs in walking patterns at variable intensities appropriate for CV fitness. The ability of AAPLE-Walk to drive synchronized gait-like movements while weight bearing opens up the possibility of rehabilitation locomotor therapy similar to that provided by expensive gait trainers or exoskeletons. Our device can also be used with active leg movements when physically possible, and any combination of left/right arm/leg inputs, opening up the possibility of it benefitting people with a wide range of mobility limitations (e.g. stroke, neurological conditions, aging). We have recently had a person with a complete spinal cord injury demonstrate independent use of a fully-functioning AAPLE-Walk prototype. We believe that a device that can provide the combination of benefits of CV exercise, weight bearing, and gait training in an inexpensive package has significant market potential. But while we have made significant progress with our invention, additional engineering research is needed to further the usability, performance, and functionality of the device. Before moving forward with this work, a greater understanding of the overall market is needed. The knowledge gained through this market assessment will be used to confirm market size and provide confidence to invest further R & D resources as well as focus our development efforts to target specific market need and/or add device features that enable a wider population of users. We will also identify potential company partners and scope a go-to-market plan that considers the specific characteristics of launching an adapted exercise machine product.