The Problem:
Most patients with torso impairments due to injury cannot perform many daily activities, such as sitting upright and walking. Torso rehabilitation training has become essential for patients to regain their functional ability to perform these daily activities. Most trunk support devices used for rehabilitation training are worn directly by the patients; this makes it challenging to align the exoskeletal frame with flexible human joint movements. Poorly fitted or improperly designed devices, along with repeated joint misalignment between the trunk support device and the patient's trunk, can introduce extra and undesired interaction forces onto the patient's trunk, causing pain or musculoskeletal injury.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Alabama have developed the Robotic Upper Trunk Support (ROBUTS), an assistive torso support device that provides custom and compliant assistance for patients with torso impairments. The device can provide seated posture control training and external support to drive the trunk back to the initial state slowly and continuously. The device can position and stabilize the trunk at desired postures. The special design of the ROBUTS reduces joint misalignment and interference between the patient and the torso support unit.
Benefits:
·Has a lightweight multi-linkage structure compared to similar devices on the market
·Portable and can be fixed on movable platforms such as wheelchairs or treadmills.
·Provides personalized support via a customizable power module to accommodate the user's recovery stage.
