Robot-aided neurorehabilitation: a robot for wrist rehabilitation

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2007 Sep;15(3):327-35. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2007.903899.

Abstract

In 1991, a novel robot, MIT-MANUS, was introduced to study the potential that robots might assist in and quantify the neuro-rehabilitation of motor function. MIT-MANUS proved an excellent tool for shoulder and elbow rehabilitation in stroke patients, showing in clinical trials a reduction of impairment in movements confined to the exercised joints. This successful proof of principle as to additional targeted and intensive movement treatment prompted a test of robot training examining other limb segments. This paper focuses on a robot for wrist rehabilitation designed to provide three rotational degrees-of-freedom. The first clinical trial of the device will enroll 200 stroke survivors. Ultimately 160 stroke survivors will train with both the proximal shoulder and elbow MIT-MANUS robot, as well as with the novel distal wrist robot, in addition to 40 stroke survivor controls. So far 52 stroke patients have completed the robot training (ongoing protocol). Here, we report on the initial results on 36 of these volunteers. These results demonstrate that further improvement should be expected by adding additional training to other limb segments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / trends
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Exercise Movement Techniques / instrumentation
  • Exercise Movement Techniques / methods
  • Exercise Movement Techniques / trends
  • Exercise Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Exercise Therapy / methods
  • Exercise Therapy / trends
  • Humans
  • Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / instrumentation*
  • Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / methods
  • Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / trends
  • Movement Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Neurology / instrumentation
  • Neurology / methods
  • Neurology / trends
  • Rehabilitation / instrumentation
  • Rehabilitation / methods
  • Rehabilitation / trends
  • Robotics / instrumentation*
  • Robotics / methods
  • Robotics / trends
  • Stroke Rehabilitation*
  • Technology Assessment, Biomedical
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / trends
  • Wrist Joint*