Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik IPK

Filters
3
3
Reset filters

Settings
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Gait rehabilitation machines based on programmable footplates
    ( 2007)
    Schmidt, H.
    ;
    Werner, C.
    ;
    Bernhardt, R.
    ;
    Hesse, S.
    ;
    Krüger, J.
    Background: Gait restoration is an integral part of rehabilitation of brain lesioned patients. Modern concepts favour a task-specific repetitive approach, i.e. who wants to regain walking has to walk, while tone-inhibiting and gait preparatory manoeuvres had dominated therapy before. Following the first mobilization out of the bed, the wheelchair-bound patient should have the possibility to practise complex gait cycles as soon as possible. Steps in this direction were treadmill training with partial body weight support and most recently gait machines enabling the repetitive training of even surface gait and even of stair climbing. Results: With treadmill training harness-secured and partially relieved wheelchair-mobilised patients could practise up to 1000 steps per session for the first time. Controlled trials in stroke and SCI patients, however, failed to show a superior result when compared to walking exercise on the floor. Most likely explanation was the effort for the therapists, e. g. manually setting the paretic limbs during the swing phase resulting in a too little gait intensity. The next steps were gait machines, either consisting of a powered exoskeleton and a treadmill (Lokomat, AutoAmbulator) or an electromechanical solution with the harness secured patient placed on movable foot plates (Gait Trainer GT I). For the latter, a large multi-centre trial with 155 non-ambulatory stroke patients (DEGAS) revealed a superior gait ability and competence in basic activities of living in the experimental group. The HapticWalker continued the end effector concept of movable foot plates, now fully programmable and equipped with 6 DOF force sensors. This device for the first time enables training of arbitrary walking situations, hence not only the simulation of floor walking but also for example of stair climbing and perturbations. Conclusion: Locomotor therapy is a fascinating new tool in rehabilitation, which is in line with modern principles of motor relearning promoting a task-specific repetitive approach. Sophisticated technical developments and positive randomized controlled trials form the basis of a growing acceptance worldwide to the benefits or our patients.
  • Publication
    A new mechanical arm trainer to intensify the upper limb rehabilitation of severely affected patients after stroke: Design, concept and first case series
    ( 2007)
    Hesse, S.
    ;
    Schmidt, H.
    ;
    Werner, C.
    ;
    Rybski, C.
    ;
    Puzich, U.
    ;
    Bardeleben, A.
    Description and case series on a new mechanical arm trainer with three degrees of freedom (DoF), the REHASLIDE (RS), for stroke rehabilitation are presented. Similar to a rolling pin, it consists of two handles at either side of a connecting rod, the handles are bilaterally moved forward and backward, sideways, and rotated, the base plate is inclinable. A computer mouse attached to the rod enables playing games offering computer-biofeedback. Two patients, 6 and 5 weeks after a first-time supratentorial stroke, suffering from a flaccid non-functional upper extremity have been studied. Interventions performed were additional 30 min of RS-training every workday for 6 weeks; one session included 400 repetitions evenly distributed between the forward backward movement and drawing a circle clock- and counter clockwise. Afterwards the patients could play games. Upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Score (FM, 0-66), and muscle strength by a Medical Researc h Council (MRC) sum score (0-45), the FM assessment was blinded. In the 2 patients, the FM (0-66) improved from 7 to 37, and from 17 to 43, their initial (terminal) MRC sum scores were 6 (36) and 13 (31). With the REHA-Slide (RS), severely affected patients practiced a bilateral 3 DoF movement No conclusions can be drawn so far and a controlled clinical study must be the next step.
  • Publication
    Automatisierte motorische Rehabilitation nach Schlaganfall
    ( 2003)
    Werner, C.
    ;
    Schmidt, H.
    ;
    Sorowka, D.
    ;
    Bardeleben, A.
    ;
    Hesse, S.
    Der Artikel bietet einen Überblick über die junge Forschungsrichtung der automatisierten motorischen Rehabilitation nach Schlaganfall. Der Einsatz intelligenter Maschinen zielt auf eine Steigerung der Therapieintensität, eine Entlastung der Therapeuten und die Gewährung einer nachvollziehbaren und auf die individuellen Bedürfnisse abgestimmten Therapie. Beispiele im Bereich der oberen Extremität sind der "MIT-Manus" und der "MIME"-Roboter für eine ungehinderte Schulter-Ellenbogen-Bewegung in der Horizontalen sowie der "Bi-Manu-Track" für das bilaterale, passive und aktive Üben einer Unterarmdreh- und Handgelenkscharnierbewegung. In der Gangrehabilitation werden der "Lokomat®" als angetriebenes Exoskeleton in Verbindung mit dem Laufband sowie der elektromechanische Gangtrainer "GT I" als Modell mit angetriebenen Fußplatten verwandt. Klinische Studien zu den einzelnen Geräten werden aufgeführt.