Rehab Archive

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Golfing Now Open to Disabled,Thanks to New Technology

The Paramobile from Parabasetec (Bodensee, Germany) is a new type of powered wheelchair specifically designed for golfers. The wheelchair is also suitable for hunting, archery, and any other activity that require standing but not necessarily walking. This machine seems to be an item that golf course operators should have on hand for disabled players.

Here's a promo video:

Product page: Parabasetec...

Brochure...

(hat tip: Coolest Gadgets)

(0)

Monday, June 29, 2009

Toyota Working on Thought Controlled Wheelchairs

Not to be outdone by Honda with their assisted walking device earlier this year, Toyota has announced that they are working on a wheelchair that can be navigated with brain waves. You think of the direction and the wheelchair goes in that direction.

Photo Credit: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP

The interface control works such that a computer analyzes brain waves through electroencephalography electrodes while an individual thinks of a direction to move. The system then translates those wave patterns into a movement direction of the chair. Toyota reports that the delay between thought and movement can be as small as 125 milliseconds with an accuracy rating of 95%.

This technology is in the very beginning stages of development, but the hope is that this type of interface can be used for rehabilitation and technology development for patients with limited mobility. Toyota has shown a video of this system in operation, but has not given it to the pubic and has no definitive time table for commercial development.

RIKEN Press Release : Real-time control of wheelchairs with brain waves

Daily Mail : Toyota develops wheelchair that can be steered using brain waves

Flashback : The Future of Legs Is Here, Well, in Detroit

(hat tip: Jalopnik)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

UK's Healthcare System Needs Better Crutches

Apparently, aluminum crutches issued by Britain's National Health Service (NHS) are frequently not returned, running up costs for the already struggling healthcare system. Alex Williams, a University of Sussex student, has designed a cheap crutch that can be thrown straight into the recycling bin.

From the University of Sussex Design Show 2009:

Through research and development, several key structural principles have been discovered and implemented into the design to ensure the strength needed to support a user's weight is provided by the minimal plastic design. Through varying levels of prototyping, key areas of weakness have been highlighted and strengthened to ensure the crutch inhibits similar strength and durability properties to it's predecessor, but at a lower cost. The returning of the crutch to the hospital has been eliminated by the single-use Nylon device, which is recycled back into the system when the user has recovered. The product has been designed with convenience in mind, with 2 part snap-fitting cuffs allowing the design to be quickly tailored to the user without the need for timely adjustments. Further ergonomic considerations have also been made as a result of in-depth user based research, including the foam angled handle for comfort during prolonged use.

Device info page: Disposable Crutch...

Press release: Student design puts an end to abandoned crutches...

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Smart Floor Hopes to Help Improve Walking Skills

IEEE just wrapped up its Presidents' Change the World Competition, designed to award engineering students for well developed ideas that may have real positive impact on the world. One of the winning entries, designed to help handicapped children practice walking skills, is from a team out of B.V.Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering & Technology in Hubli, India. The basic idea is an electronic tiled floor (think Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video) that can light up based on a predefined algorithm and the person's movement, that motivates the user to step on the next tile. By turning simple walking into a game, the team hopes this will prove to be a viable option as a therapy for all kinds of motor defects.

From the system description:

The system will come interfaced with a square grid of tiles (that can be setup on the floor of a room). The heart of the system is a microcontroller (AT89S52) into which code is written to perform the desired operation. The unit will come with an easy-tooperate interface enabling the instructor to change operating modes and speeds. Mode defines the pattern in which the tiles glow. Speed refers to the time duration between glowing of two consecutive tiles. The subject has to step onto the tile while it is still glowing, for the game to continue. The aim of the game is to step on all the glowing tiles within the prescribed time and complete all the levels. As the subject improves upon his performance, the operator can increase the mode and speed.

Link to contest entry @ IEEEE...

More about the design from Karthik Kullarni, a lead developer of the project...

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(1)

Eadie Wheelchair That Features Stand Up Function

Jake Eadie, an industrial design student at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, proposes the following concept for a wheel chair design. By unfolding, in a transformer-like style, from a sitting position to a standing one, the system would give people a more natural perspective to interact with others.

Link: Jake Eadie's wheelchair design gallery...

(hat tip: Core77)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(1)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

PK100 PowerKnee to Help Bad Legs Walk Again

Tibion Bionic Technologies out of Moffett Field, California has developed a powered knee orthosis to help people with all kinds of neuromuscular or joint disorders, such as status post lower extremity surgery, chronic weakness of leg muscles, osteoarthritis, or even strokes, to get off the crutches. The device is powered by an internal battery and controlled by an algorithm that aims to make the power assist automatic and unnoticeable to the patient. The Engineer Online is reporting that UCSF is currently testing the PK100 on a select group of patients:

The so-called Tibion PK100, or PowerKnee, is a robotic boot that inserts into the user's shoe and extends up to mid-thigh. It is equipped with multiple sensors and microprocessors that can detect the user's actions - such as making a transition from sitting to standing, or climbing stairs - and adjust its support accordingly.
Jean Nelson, vice-president of marketing of Tibion, the maker of the PowerKnee, based at NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, said: 'Basically, the device determines what the patient is trying to do and then assists in that action. The computer's learning algorithm allows it to adapt after the first few steps.'

And here are additional details about the device taken from Tibion's product page:

Utilizing sensors throughout the device and in a shoe insert, Tibion’s PK100 detects the user’s actions, such as sitting/standing, walking and ascending/descending stairs. Microprocessors on the device analyze this information and transparently apply the force needed to augment the user’s actions. The result is appropriately applied external forces that supplement muscle strength during critical daily activities.
Features of Tibion’s PK100:

• Non-invasive
• Portable
• Battery-operated
• Transparent activation
• Easily adjustable for multiple patients
• Customizable settings with stored profiles

Watch the PowerKnee in action:

Device brochure: Tibion PK100

Info page @ Tibion...

(hat tip: The Engineer Online)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Friday, June 5, 2009

Dean Kamen's Prosthetic Arm to Undergo Trials

We've been excitedly covering DARPA sponsored Luke Arm development by Deka Research and Development for a few years now. The device is without a doubt the most advanced prosthetic yet developed, and it may soon become available as a real product because the VA is beginning a large scale clinical trial to test its capabilities.

From the Department of Veterans Affairs:

In collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the study marks the first large-scale testing of the arm, which allows those who have lost a limb up to their shoulder joint to perform movements while reaching over their head, a previously impossible maneuver for people with a prosthetic arm.
The study is under the direction of Dr. Linda Resnik at the Providence, R.I., VA Medical Center. Veterans fitted with the arm will provide feedback to guide engineers in refining the prototype, before it is commercialized and also made available through the VA health care system.

A unique feature of the advanced arm is its control system, which works almost like a foot-operated joystick. An array of sensors embedded in a shoe allows users to maneuver the arm by putting pressure on different parts of the foot. The current version uses wires to relay the signals to the arm, but future versions will be wireless.

The arm can also be adapted to work with other control systems, including myoelectric switches, which are wired to residual nerves and muscles in the upper body and respond to movement impulses from the brain, shoulder joysticks or other conventional inputs.

Press release: New Mobility for Veterans, Service Members, Other Americans

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Boomer Mobility Aid Wins Prize in Design Contest

At this year's Australian International Design Awards, Daniel Molloy from Monash University won the "Highly Commended" accolade for the Boomer, a conceptual idea of a walker for the elderly. Featuring many design improvements over current models, the device is particularly interesting in its stair climbing assist feature.

Here's from Daniel Molloy explaining the various design details of the Boomer:

With a strong emphasis on safety, Boomer aims to reduce the risk of falls and stair-related falls, which has been identified as a major public health issue amoung the elderly. The design aims to move away from the utalitarian forms and hospital aesthetic of much of today's elderly products. The key innovation of the design is the stair-ready function, which allows the mobility aid to transform from a walker into a device that enables the user to maneuver up and down stairs safely.

The boomer mobility aid combines user friendly features in a new and modern form. It features easy height adjustment to accommodate varying users, an easy to use push button release which allows the walker to fold up for not only storage and transportation, but also to transorm the walker into a device which enables the user to manuever up and down stairs. It features a padded seat and backrest for the users comfort whilst resting, the padded backrest also contains a zipper and fold out nylon storage bag, ideal for both personal belongings and shopping. Unlike other walkers that have a metal basket under the seat, The boomer mobility aid utilizes the space in the backrest to neatly conseal the storage compartment.

One of the key innovations of this design is the stair ready function, which enables the elderly user to maneuver up and down stairs safely and help to reduce the risk of stair related falls. A push button release allows the mobility aid to fold up, It then uses an electric linear actuator which creates a stable support at the base of the rear wheels, this provides the user with stability and support whilst using stairs. The person can balance and use the mobility aid as a frame to support their weight, while taking one step at a time.

Another key feature of the boomer mobility aid is its sleek organic form, which is made possible through the use of manufactuing processes and techniques appropriate to the design. The structural components will use a manufacturing process called Gas-assisted injection molding. This process lends itself well to the complex forms of the main body and front legs of the mobility aid. A higher stiffness-to- weight ratio can be obtained with gas assisted molding than with other processes, resulting in a lightweight product, a key consideration in the design. The gas-assist process also enables large hollowed structures which has meant that the stair ready components, brake mechanisms and cables are all housed within the form, creating a more attractive aesthetic.

Link @ Australian International Design Awards: Boomer - mobility aid for the elderly

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(1)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

EEG Used to Analyze Brain Recovery in Post Stroke Patients

Properly focused brain training after a stroke or other neural damage can greatly help patients in recovery. The problem is quickly identifying which therapy works. An Israeli company called ElMindA is using sophisticated EEG analysis algorithms to detect patters of brain activity and compare between readings taken at different times. The company hopes that its technology can potentially offer a qualitative comparison of how a rehabilitative therapy is working.

More about the technology from MIT Tech Review:

The company has developed a novel system that calculates a number of different parameters from EEG data, such as the frequency and amplitude of electrical activity in particular brain areas, the origin of specific signals, and the synchronicity in activity in two different brain areas as patients perform specific tests on a computer. "We usually find patterns of activity which are very unique for the specific state of the patient," says Amir Geva, founder of the company and head of the biomedical laboratory at Ben-Gurion University.
The researchers are currently characterizing those patterns in the context of stroke therapy. Intensive rehabilitation after stroke can improve speech and motor problems by helping the brain to rewire, compensating for damaged circuits. At present, choosing the best therapy option for a patient is in part a trial-and-error process that can take weeks. But because healing capacity declines over time, it's imperative to find the most successful treatment as soon as possible after the stroke.

Scientists have also used ElMindA's system to characterize brain-activity patterns in patients with ADHD, identifying statistical parameters that differ between normal people and those with ADHD. Geva and collaborators aim to use the technology as a more objective way to diagnose the disorder.

A larger clinical trial is about to begin at Harvard Medical School to test the effectiveness of the ElMindA system in diagnosing patients with ADHD and predicting which treatments are most effective. "Many children are getting Ritalin without any objective diagnosis," says Geva. "And many adults don't get Ritalin, even though they might be helped by it."

Side image: Brain activity in a stroke patient before and after two weeks of rehabilitative therapy. The dots represent activity in a specific network within the brain.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

$100 Brain Wave Powered Game from Mattel

Mattel has announced that in October it will be releasing its novel MindFlex brain game, an EEG controlled obstacle board where the player uses pure brain waves to get the ball through all the hoops. The announced price will be a cool $100.

Product page at Amazon: Mattel MindFlex

(hat tip: Gizmodo)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

New Video Demonstrating i-Limb from Touch Bionics

The Telegraph interviewed a young gentleman who recently received the i-LIMB prosthetic arm from Scotland based Touch Bionics, a device that we've been covering over the last couple years.

Flashbacks: I-Limb Bionic Hand Gets Upgradable Bionic Arm; Video of i-LIMB Hand; World's First Bionic Hand Makes It to Market

(hat tip: Engadget)
Artículo Medgadget Original en Inglés

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Robotics Used to Provide Therapy for Kids With Cerebral Palsy

MIT's robotic engineers have probably spent decades developing robotic assist devices for people recovering from strokes. Recently there's been a push among the researchers to transfer a lot of this knowledge to help kids with cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders. Here's an MIT video demonstrating some of the devices and how kids use them to improve their walking and coordination.

From MIT news office:

The team's suite of robots for shoulder-and-elbow, wrist, hand and ankle has been in clinical trials for more than 15 years with more than 400 stroke patients. The Department of Veterans Affairs has just completed a large-scale, randomized, multi-site clinical study with these devices.
All the devices are based on the same principle: that it is possible to help rebuild brain connections using robotic devices that gently guide the limb as a patient tries to make a specific movement.

When the researchers first decided to apply their work to children with cerebral palsy, Krebs was optimistic that it would succeed, because children's developing brains are more plastic than adults', meaning they are more able to establish new connections.

The MIT team is focusing on improving cerebral palsy patients' ability to reach for and grasp objects. Patients handshake with the robot via a handle, which is connected to a computer monitor that displays tasks similar to those of simple video games.

In a typical task, the youngster attempts to move the robot handle toward a moving or stationary target shown on the computer monitor. If the child starts moving in the wrong direction or does not move, the robotic arm gently nudges the child's arm in the right direction.

Krebs began working in robotic therapy as a graduate student at MIT almost 20 years ago. In his early studies, he and his colleagues found that it's important for stroke patients to make a conscious effort during physical therapy. When signals from the brain are paired with assisted movement from the robot, it helps the brain form new connections that help it relearn to move the limb on its own.

Even though a stroke kills many neurons, "the remaining neurons can very quickly establish new synapses or reinforce dormant synapses," says Krebs.

For this type of therapy to be effective, many repetitions are required -- at least 400 in an hour-long session.

Results from three published pilot studies involving 36 children suggest that cerebral palsy patients can also benefit from robotic therapy. The studies indicate that robot-mediated therapy helped the children reduce impairment and improve the smoothness and speed of their reaching motions.

Press release: Robotic therapy holds promise for cerebral palsy

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Trilogy100: Smaller, Lighter, More Portable Ventilator from Philips

This March the FDA issued a 510(k) approval to Philips Respironics for the firm's new Trilogy100 portable at-home ventilator. Featuring a detachable on board battery, as well as an external option, an intuitive interface, and a relatively low overall weight, the unit promises ease of use for everyone involved. Additionally, the ventilator records patient data onto a memory card while at home for further analysis by the doctor back at the clinic.

Here's an interactive demo of the Trilogy100:

Product page: Trilogy100...

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Camera Phones to Interpret Visible World for Blind

iVisit, a company out of Santa Monica, California that specializes in video teleconferencing applications, has teamed up with the National Institutes of Health to turn a mobile phone's camera into an eye for the blind. Using advanced image recognition software to identify what is in front of the phone, the system reads off what it is seeing.

Here's a demo video of the software in action:

Press release: iVisit Rx Wins 1st Place in CTIA Wireless 2009(R) CTIA E-Tech Awards for Innovation in Enterprise & Vertical - Healthcare Solution...

System brochure: iVisit SeeStar / SeeScan

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(1)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Wheelchairs For Disabled That Refuse To Be Handicapped

Designer Jairo da Costa Junior is envisioning a set of wheelchairs for handicapped folks inspired by Mark Zupan, the captain of America's quad rugby team. Clearly these are not your granddaddy's wheelchairs, and if developed into a product, would be used by intense athletes that can not be slowed by any disability.

From Yanko Design:

The built of the HERO Zupan is such that it makes it easy to navigate the chair on beaches and indulge in games like Frisbee and beach volleyball.

The HERO Daredevil traverses over land and sand with ease and hence is apt for beach and parks and is built for hard sports like beach rugby. This model has been inspired by the fictional character Daredevil.

HERO Xavier takes inspiration from the Marvel Comics’ character Charles Francis Xavier (Professor X). This chair is ideal for land sports and can be used in games like basketball, tennis etc.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Runs on Thought

A couple years ago we mentioned that researchers at the University of Zaragoza in Spain have begun working on a wheelchair that would be operated by thought alone. Now that work has yielded a prototype model that essentially performs the basic task of getting a person from one place to another. By first providing options on a laptop screen for where to go, the system then reads EEG waves as the user focuses on the preferred choice and moves the chair accordingly.

Here's a video from the research team describing how the wheelchair system functions:

Project page: Mind-Controlled Wheelchair...

Flashback: A Wheelchair That Reads Your Mind...

(hat tip: Mail Online)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

$20 Artificial Knee to Help Thousands in Developing World

A student team at Stanford University, as part of a course called Biomedical Device Design and Evaluation, created an artificial knee that costs less than $20 to manufacture. Already implanted in dozens of people in India, the honorably named JaipurKnee may become as successful an invention as its earlier cousin, the JaipurFoot, after which it was named.

Old models of low-cost knee joints used a single-axis joint, which rotated like a door hinge. They were unstable and unsafe for India's varied terrain; the joint tended to buckle under weight, which could be physically as well as psychologically painful for a freshly fitted amputee.
To build a better model, Sadler and his team studied the mechanics of high-end titanium knee joints in the United States, which cost from $10,000 to $100,000, he said. The team also surveyed the materials used to build cheap prosthetics for developing countries. Armed with this information, the team designed a versatile knee joint made from an oil-filled nylon polymer. The self-lubricating joint has greater flexibility, demonstrating a much higher performance. The team has fitted 43 of these joints to date in India, where the team is conducting field tests to improve their model. With a preliminary goal to mass-produce and distribute 100,000 joints in the next three years, Sadler said he expects the $20 production cost can be driven down further.

Press release: $20 artificial knee for patients in the developing world ...

Flashback: Dr. Sethi and the Jaipur Foot

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Next Generation of Ossur Power Knee in Action

Ossur, a developer of prosthetic implants, announced that last week its second generation Power Knee bionic prosthesis was implanted in a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The Power Knee uses sensor and actuators, coupled with artificial intelligence to better mimic natural walking with less effort by the patient.

In 2006, working in partnership with Victhom Human Bionics, Ossur introduced the POWER KNEE, representing the most advanced technology of its kind with the ability to replace lost muscle function and provide increased safety. Used mostly within the Department of Defense and the Veterans Healthcare Administration, the POWER KNEE marked a new milestone in amputee mobility, safety and advancing natural motion through a powered gait process.
Just three years later, working closely with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and in collaboration with partner Victhom Human Bionics, the next generation of the POWER KNEE has been developed. "The second generation is smaller, sleeker, quieter, lighter and is expected to become widely used by both unilateral and dual amputees," stated Lt. Col. (Dr.) Paul F. Pasquina, chief, Integrated Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center, according to Inside Nova.

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson is the first in the world to receive the commercially-ready prosthetic knees and will soon be followed by other patients at WRAMC. LTC Gadson was serving in Baghdad in May of 2007 when the truck he was riding was struck by a bomb, leaving him on the side of the road bleeding and in and out of consciousness. Ten days later, he was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with first his left leg amputated, then his right. His undoubting spirit and triumph over tragedy has made him a role model and leader among champions. Notwithstanding the 2008 Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants, who credit Gadson with giving them the motivation they needed in what became a legendary season. "LTC Gadson was a leader on the football field at West Point. He was a leader to his battalion in combat. And he's been a leader in our rehabilitation environment," added Pasquina.

"It's sort of like driving a school bus and then someone puts you in a sports car," Gadson explained. "You still know how to drive, but it’s quite a different feeling. I just hope this is a path for people to really expand their lives," Gadson said.

According to Ossur, a full commercial release of the Power Knee is expected by 2010.

Press Release : Next Generation of the POWER KNEE(TM) in Early Release at Walter Reed Army Medical Center...

Product page: Ossur Power Knee...

Flashback : The Power Knee

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wearable Wheelchair of the Future?

Exmovere Holdings, a McLean, VA firm, has recently demonstrated a very unique type of mobility device, the Chariot, that has the potential to revolutionize the powered scooter and wheelchair market. Exmovere has talked about developing this device for a while and many have dismissed it as a whimsical idea, or even a joke, but with the demonstration, it is clear that this is more than just a paper idea.

As you can see in the clip, movement of the device is controlled through subtle movements of the hips and lower torso by sensing pressure changes and weight balance shifting. This is battery operated with a reported top speed of 12 MPH.

Exmovere chief executive David Bychkov stated: "The Chariot represents an exciting path for our company. Whereas our team was originally focused on designing sensor products that monitored signs of life, the Chariot's sensors are designed to make life more livable."

The technical details, cost, and timeframe of development of the Chariot have not been clearly laid, out, but we look forward to seeing where this unique project goes.

Cyborg rolls a little closer: The chariot which lets amputees 'stand tall and walk'...

More from UPI : Wearable 'chariot' provides Mobility...

Company Profile : Exmovere Holdings

(hat tip: Ubergizmo)

Add this article to: digg del.icio.us Facebook

(0)

archives

ADVERTISEMENT

Syndication

Medgadget by Email

Mailing List

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Golfing Now Open to Disabled,Thanks to New Technology

Monday, June 29, 2009

Toyota Working on Thought Controlled Wheelchairs

UK's Healthcare System Needs Better Crutches

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Smart Floor Hopes to Help Improve Walking Skills

Eadie Wheelchair That Features Stand Up Function

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

PK100 PowerKnee to Help Bad Legs Walk Again

Friday, June 5, 2009

Dean Kamen's Prosthetic Arm to Undergo Trials

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Boomer Mobility Aid Wins Prize in Design Contest

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

EEG Used to Analyze Brain Recovery in Post Stroke Patients

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

$100 Brain Wave Powered Game from Mattel

New Video Demonstrating i-Limb from Touch Bionics

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Robotics Used to Provide Therapy for Kids With Cerebral Palsy

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Trilogy100: Smaller, Lighter, More Portable Ventilator from Philips

Monday, May 18, 2009

Camera Phones to Interpret Visible World for Blind

Friday, May 8, 2009

Wheelchairs For Disabled That Refuse To Be Handicapped

Friday, May 1, 2009

Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Runs on Thought

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

$20 Artificial Knee to Help Thousands in Developing World

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Next Generation of Ossur Power Knee in Action

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wearable Wheelchair of the Future?