Rehabilitative Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/21640
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Browsing Rehabilitative Sciences by Author "Baset, Neshat"
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Item Hand Force Measurement Using A Human-Powered Linear Movement(2019-03-05) Baset, Neshat; Haghshenas-Jaryani PhD, Mahdi; Wijesundara PhD, Muthu; Patterson PhD, Rita; Schnell, BrittanyAbstract Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that affects many motor functions, such as muscle tone. 60-80% of children born with CP neurological movement disorders have functional limitations in the upper extremity, depriving them of the opportunity of experiential learning through repeated reaching, grasping and manipulating objects. To help give the necessary mobility of hand function to those with CP, a therapist must be able to see if the current therapy methods are improving the range of motion. Currently, there are plenty of devices that test the amount of isometric hand strength but, not how much resistance to hand opening there is due to spasticity. Objective: Determine the amount of force it takes to open a subject’s hand, who has Cerebral Palsy. Starting from a closed fist position (0 degrees) to a fully extended position using a human powered mechanism. To test this force measurement device on all grade levels of CP hand function. Hypothesis: The load applied across a cylindrical handle, as it is being pulled away from the subject, will give an accurate readout of how much force it takes to open the hand of a subject with Cerebral Palsy. Method: The amount of force will be measured using a cylindrical handle with a load cell attached at either end. As the study conductor pulls the device away from the subject, via a handle on the opposite end and attached wheels, the hand is forced open causing a load to output. Results: A manual powered car will be pulled by a handle attached to the front of the car. On the opposite end of the car, a handle with an internal load cell at each end will read the amount of force it takes to open the hand. The subject will rest their arm on a 3D designed wrist stabilizer to prevent noise in the output. Conclusions: The current design will be able to provide an objective measure of hand stiffness that can be used to track rehabilitation progress. Future studies on the device’s ability to measures stiffness in other hand impairments are planned.Item Soft Robotic Exoskeleton for Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation(2019-03-05) Haghshenas-Jaryani, Mahdi; Patterson, Rita; Schnell, Brittany; Antony, Dona; Carrigan, Katie; Cruz-Lugo, Maria; Wijesundara, Muthu; Baset, NeshatPurpose: This work presents development of a soft robotic exoskeleton to provide active and passive therapeutic-assistive hand motion for children between the ages of 5-12 suffering from Cerebral Palsy (CP) while recording and adapting to the current state of the hand. Cerebral Palsy is a birth related brain injury; studies have shown that 60-83% of children with CP have some form of upper extremity limitations that lead to reduced hand functions and quality of life. Soft robotic devices show promise as a therapy extender needed for motor learning while reducing the safety issues involved in conventional robotic systems. The developed soft exoskeleton is integrated with sensors that measure finger trajectory (inertial measurement units) and force (in-line pressure) associated with finger extension and flexion. Finger trajectory and associated forces will provide a quantifiable means for tracking therapy progression. Methods: The robotic exoskeleton includes five hybrid soft-and-rigid robotic digits attached on top of a wearable attachment. The soft robotic digits was designed based on the measurements from 16 children’s hands (7 girls and 9 boys in the range of 5-12 years old) to fit the children's range of hand sizes while it satisfies the kinematic compatibility with finger joint range-of-motion and center-of-rotation. The robotic digit is comprised of three inflatable bellow-shaped structure sections and four semi-rigid sections in an alternating order which correspond to the anatomy of a human finger. Fabricated with 3D printed injection molds and over molding techniques, the soft robotic digits were made using silicone rubber material. The robot is actuated using pressurized air, where it was successfully tested so that it can provide full range of motion with inflation pressure of 200 kPa. Results: Soft robotic exoskeletons in a small, medium and large size has been developed by assembling the robotic digits into the wearable attachment. Initial feasibility testing have been carried out on one healthy child (a 6 years old boy with medium hand size) to evaluate the operation, ease-of-use, and level of comfort provided by the robot. Results from the preliminary test and the feedback from the subject through the questionnaire indicated the ease-of-use, safety, and effective operation of the robot. Conclusions: We plan to extend this pilot study to CP patients to evaluate the effectiveness of the soft robotic exoskeleton on this population.