Upper Limb Rehabilitation with Virtual Environments

Processing and control systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) have progressively improved mobile robotic exoskeletons used in upper-limb motor rehabilitation. This systematic review presents the advances and trends of those technologies. A literature search was performed in Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and PubMed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology with three main inclusion criteria: (a) motor or neuromotor rehabilitation for upper limbs, (b) mobile robotic exoskeletons, and (c) AI. The period under investigation spanned from 2016 to 2020, resulting in 30 articles that met the criteria. The literature showed the use of artificial neural networks (40%), adaptive algorithms (20%), and other mixed AI techniques (40%). Additionally, it was found that in only 16% of the articles, developments focused on neuromotor rehabilitation. The main trend in the research is the development of wearable robotic exoskeletons (53%) and the fusion of data collected from multiple sensors that enrich the training of intelligent algorithms. There is a latent need to develop more reliable systems through clinical validation and improvement of technical characteristics, such as weight/dimensions of devices, in order to have positive impacts on the rehabilitation process and improve the interactions among patients, teams of health professionals, and technology.

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A scoping review of design requirements for a home-based upper limb rehabilitation robot for stroke

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation ◽

10.1080/10749357.2021.1943797 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Lutong Li ◽

Qiang Fu ◽

Sarah Tyson ◽

Nick Preston ◽

Andrew Weightman

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Rehabilitation Robot ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

Home Based ◽

Design Requirements ◽

Limb Rehabilitation

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Mechatronic Design of a Robot for Upper Limb Rehabilitation at Home

Journal of Bionic Engineering ◽

10.1007/s42235-021-0066-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 857-871

Author(s):

Elio Matteo Curcio ◽

Giuseppe Carbone

Keyword(s):

Design Process ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Design Solution ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Significant Cost Reduction ◽

Dynamics Models ◽

Limb Rehabilitation ◽

At Home

AbstractThis paper addresses the design of a novel bionic robotic device for upper limb rehabilitation tasks at home. The main goal of the design process has been to obtain a rehabilitation device, which can be easily portable and can be managed remotely by a professional therapist. This allows to treat people also in regions that are not easily reachable with a significant cost reduction. Other potential benefits can be envisaged, for instance, in the possibility to keep social distancing while allowing rehabilitation treatments even during a pandemic spread. Specific attention has been devoted to design the main mechatronic components by developing specific kinematics and dynamics models. The design process includes the implementation of a specific control hardware and software. Preliminary experimental tests are reported to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed design solution.

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Design and Development of an Upper Limb Rehabilitative Robot with Dual Functionality

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12080870 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 870

Author(s):

Md Rasedul Islam ◽

Md Assad-Uz-Zaman ◽

Brahim Brahmi ◽

Yassine Bouteraa ◽

Inga Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Research Work ◽

Human Robot Interaction ◽

Control Technique ◽

Upper Arm ◽

Interaction Forces ◽

End Effector ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

End Point ◽

Limb Rehabilitation

The design of an upper limb rehabilitation robot for post-stroke patients is considered a benchmark problem regarding improving functionality and ensuring better human–robot interaction (HRI). Existing upper limb robots perform either joint-based exercises (exoskeleton-type functionality) or end-point exercises (end-effector-type functionality). Patients may need both kinds of exercises, depending on the type, level, and degree of impairments. This work focused on designing and developing a seven-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton called ‘u-Rob’ that functions as both exoskeleton and end-effector types device. Furthermore, HRI can be improved by monitoring the interaction forces between the robot and the wearer. Existing upper limb robots lack the ability to monitor interaction forces during passive rehabilitation exercises; measuring upper arm forces is also absent in the existing devices. This research work aimed to develop an innovative sensorized upper arm cuff to measure the wearer’s interaction forces in the upper arm. A PID control technique was implemented for both joint-based and end-point exercises. The experimental results validated both types of functionality of the developed robot.

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