Now showing 1 - 10 of 18
  • Publication
    PowerGrasp: Development Aspects for Arm Support Systems
    ( 2022)
    Goppold, J.-P.
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    Kuschan, J.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
    Exoskeletons can support workers on physically demanding tasks, but in industry they lack of acceptance. This contribution gives an insight into design aspects for upper body exoskeletons, especially how active exoskeletons for industrial applications differ from military and medical use-cases. To overcome typical rigid exoskeleton problems, we suggest the use of modular soft-exosuit support systems and therefore checked different types of soft actuation principles for their eligibility for the use on upper body joints. Most promising approach is using two-layered actuators sting of robust fabric with embedded rubber tubes as pressure chambers. By inflating the tubes, it is possible to vary the stiffness of the chambers, which can be effectively used to generate assisting forces and moments at human joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger).
  • Publication
    Let's do this together: Bi-Manu-Interact, a novel device for studying human haptic interactive behavior
    ( 2017)
    Ivanova, E.
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    Krause, A.
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    Schälicke, M.
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    Schellhardt, F.
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    Jankowski, N.
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    Achner, J.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Joebges, M.
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    Krüger, J.
    Our area of interest is robotic-based rehabilitation after stroke, and our goal is to help patients achieve optimal motor learning during high-intensity repetitive movement training through the assistance of robots. It is important, that the robotic assistance is adapted to the patients' abilities, thereby ensuring that the device is only supporting the patient as necessary ('assist-as-needed'). We hypothesize that natural and learning-effective human-machine interaction can be achieved by programming the robot's control, so that it emulates how a physiotherapist adaptively supports the patients' limb movement during stroke rehabilitation. This paper introduces the design of a novel interactive device Bi-Manu-Interact. This device is suited to be used as an experimental setup for the investigation of haptic human-human interaction and for collecting data to model therapists' haptic behavior. In this paper, we present mechanical and sensory specifications as well as task s visualizations for future investigations. Results of a pilot clinical evaluation of the Bi-Manu-Interact with nine stroke patients are also presented in this work.
  • Publication
    Design of a pressure sensitive matrix for analyzing direct haptic patient-therapist interaction in motor rehabilitation after stroke
    ( 2017)
    Pust, M.
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    Ivanova, E.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
    Robot based therapy is one of the prevalent therapeutic approaches in motor stroke rehabilitation. It is often used in hospitals in combination with conventional therapy. In order to optimize human-robot interaction, we aim to investigate how a therapist physically supports patients during motor training of the upper extremities. This paper presents the design of a flexible textile sensor matrix, which measures the pressure exerted between therapist and patient during direct haptic interaction as well as the hand position and orientation in space. The matrix contains 144 sensors which enables measuring pressure intensity and localization of areas where the pressure is applied. The measurement matrix was evaluated with four healthy participants.
  • Publication
    User-centered design of a patient's work station for haptic robot-based telerehabilitation after stroke
    ( 2017)
    Ivanova, E.
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    Minge, M.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Thüring, M.
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    Krüger, J.
    Robotic therapy devices have been an important part of clinical neurological rehabilitation for several years. Until now such devices are only available for patients receiving therapy inside rehabilitation hospitals. Since patients should continue rehabilitation training after hospital discharge at home, intelligent robotic rehab devices could help to achieve this goal. This paper presents therapeutic requirements and early phases of the user-centered design process of the patient's work station as part of a novel robot-based system for motor telerehabilitation.
  • Publication
    Computerised mirror therapy with Augmented Reflection Technology for early stroke rehabilitation
    ( 2017)
    Hoermann, S.
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    Santos, L.F. dos
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    Morkisch, N.
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    Jettkowski, K.
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    Sillis, M.
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    Devan, H.
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    Kanagasabai, P.S.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
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    Dohle, C.
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    Regenbrecht, H.
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    Hale, L.
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    Cutfield, N.J.
    Purpose: New rehabilitation strategies for post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation employing visual stimulation show promising results, however, cost-efficient and clinically feasible ways to provide these interventions are still lacking. An integral step is to translate recent technological advances, such as in virtual and augmented reality, into therapeutic practice to improve outcomes for patients. This requires research on the adaptation of the technology for clinical use as well as on the appropriate guidelines and protocols for sustainable integration into therapeutic routines. Here, we present and evaluate a novel and affordable augmented reality system (Augmented Reflection Technology, ART) in combination with a validated mirror therapy protocol for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke. Method: We evaluated components of the therapeutic intervention, from the patients' and the therapists' points of view in a clinical feasibility study at a rehabilitation centre. We also assessed the integration of ART as an adjunct therapy for the clinical rehabilitation of subacute patients at two different hospitals. Results: The results showed that the combination and application of the Berlin Protocol for Mirror Therapy together with ART was feasible for clinical use. This combination was integrated into the therapeutic plan of subacute stroke patients at the two clinical locations where the second part of this research was conducted. Conclusions: Our findings pave the way for using technology to provide mirror therapy in clinical settings and show potential for the more effective use of inpatient time and enhanced recoveries for patients.
  • Publication
    Optimal torque adaptation in bimanual assisted rehabilitation
    ( 2012)
    Steingräber, R.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
  • Publication
    Structural analysis method for optimized design of complex kinematic structures using static and dynamic models and application to a robotic walking simulator
    ( 2010)
    Brüning, M.
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    Hussein, S.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
    This paper describes an approach for structural analysis for design improvements of complex, e.g. hybrid, kinematic structures utilizing static and dynamic models. It is suitable to locate improvement potentials in existing mechanisms, facilitate goal-oriented design of new mechanisms or for a simulation-based controller synthesis e.g. a compliance-controller. To receive a model close to reality, mechanical influences, which are commonly neglected in conventional robot models, are analyzed regarding their relevance and if suitable integrated into the model. Investigated effects are the mechanical compliances of links and gears, compliances of the actuators resulting from the control circuits as well as non-linear frictional influences of the actuators. The kinematic and dynamic model is realized as an iterative solution instead of a closed analytic solution with extensive symbolic expressions. This leads to an analysis with clearly arranged aspects, further more the model is suitable for usage in a real-time control. The mechanical influences are analyzed analytically. The derived dynamic modeling is based on the Newton-Euler formulation. The approach is applied to the robotic walking simulator HapticWalker, a device for robot assisted gait rehabilitation. It consists of two identical hybrid parallel-serial manipulators. The forces calculated by the use of the developed model are in a good congruence with measured values. An obviously improved correspondence between measured and calculated values is achieved by the non-linear friction model of the actuators.
  • Publication
    Richtlinien für die Gestaltung von visuellem Biofeedback in der neurologischen Gangrehabilitation nach Schlaganfall
    ( 2010)
    Brüning, M.
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    Hussein, S.
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    Bardeleben, A.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
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    Hesse, S.
  • Publication
    Visuelles Biofeedback für die gerätegestützte neurologische Gangrehabilitation nach Schlaganfall
    ( 2010)
    Brüning, M.
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    Hussein, S.
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    Bardeleben, A.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
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    Hesse, S.
  • Publication
    Adaptive control of an end-effector based electromechanical gait rehabilitation device
    ( 2009)
    Hussein, S.
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    Schmidt, H.
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    Krüger, J.
    In industrialized countries stroke is the major cause for physical disabilities in adults. In various clinical studies gait therapy with the help of the electromechanical Gait Trainer GT-I proved to enhance the rehabilitation outcome for subacute stroke patients. This paper presents control methods that were developed to enable variability during treatment in order to further improve gait therapy with this class of devices. The algorithms suitable for the Gait Trainer GT-I are analyzed in a simulation study. Therefore models which simulate the practicing subjects behaviour were developed. A purely mechanical mass-damper system models the passive subjects behaviour while motor learning models were adopted to simulate patient adaptation different types of footplate gui dance characteristics. Several adaptive approaches have been developed for other rehabilitation devices in the past. In this work two controllers were developed and evaluated. The first features a one dimensional control window along the footplate trajectory within which the patient is only slightly guided. Outside the window a force field draws the subject back to the window. The second algorithm extends the window controller with a human motor learning strategy for to adapt the window size and thereby the assistance provided to the subjects. They were tested in a simulation study with different human behaviour models, the results are presented in this paper.