Vanderbilt exoskeleton

Last updated

Indego
Manufacturer Vanderbilt University
Parker Hannifin
CountryUnited States
Year of creation2010 (prototype)
Type Powered exoskeleton
PurposeMedical

The Vanderbilt exoskeleton, marketed as Indego, [1] [2] is a powered exoskeleton designed by the Center for Intelligent Mechatronics at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. state of Tennessee. [3] [4] It is intended to assist paraplegics, stroke victims and other paralyzed or semi-paralyzed people to walk independently. [5] Motion and control technologies manufacturer Parker Hannifin is funding further development, and plans to release the first commercial version of the exoskeleton in 2015. [6] [7]

Powered exoskeleton

Powered exoskeleton is a wearable mobile machine that is powered by a system of electric motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics, or a combination of technologies that allow for limb movement with increased strength and endurance.

Vanderbilt University Private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of New York shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million endowment despite having never been to the South. Vanderbilt hoped that his gift and the greater work of the university would help to heal the sectional wounds inflicted by the Civil War.

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders. Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names.

Contents

Rationale

In 2012, there were estimated to be over 270,000 Americans with long-term spinal cord injuries, of whom around 21 percent suffer from complete paraplegia. [8] The lifetime cost of care and lost productivity for each paraplegic ranges from US$1.4 million to $2.2 million. [8] However, since the late 2000s, robotics and battery technology have become sufficiently advanced to make wearable walking assistance devices viable. [9] [10]

Spinal cord long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, that extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It encloses the central canal of the spinal cord that contains cerebrospinal fluid. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS). In humans, the spinal cord begins at the occipital bone where it passes through the foramen magnum, and meets and enters the spinal canal at the beginning of the cervical vertebrae. The spinal cord extends down to between the first and second lumbar vertebrae where it ends. The enclosing bony vertebral column protects the relatively shorter spinal cord. It is around 45 cm (18 in) in men and around 43 cm (17 in) long in women. Also, the spinal cord has a varying width, ranging from 13 mm thick in the cervical and lumbar regions to 6.4 mm thick in the thoracic area.

Robotics design, construction, operation, and application of robots

Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

Design

The Vanderbilt exoskeleton weighs 27 pounds (12 kg) and can support users weighing up to 200 pounds (91 kg). [3] [4] It is strapped to the user's legs, and uses an onboard computer to detect the user's movements, which are then supported and amplified by battery-powered motors in the exoskeleton's hip and knee joints. [5] It also uses functional electrical stimulation to enervate the muscles of paralyzed patients, improving their strength and circulation, [11] and can be quickly disassembled for removal. [12] It can be used interchangeably with a wheelchair, and can be donned without assistance, allowing disabled individuals significantly greater independence. [5] It is compact enough for a person to sit in a normal chair without needing to remove the exoskeleton. [12]

Functional electrical stimulation

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a technique that uses low energy electrical pulses to artificially generate body movements in individuals who have been paralyzed due to injury to the central nervous system. More specifically, FES can be used to generate muscle contraction in otherwise paralyzed limbs to produce functions such as grasping, walking, bladder voiding and standing. This technology was originally used to develop neuroprostheses that were implemented to permanently substitute impaired functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), head injury, stroke and other neurological disorders. In other words, a consumer would use the device each time he/she wanted to generate a desired function. FES is sometimes also referred to as neuromuscular electrical stimulation ^(NMES).

Circulatory system Organ system for circulating blood in animals

The circulatory system, also called the cardiovascular system or the vascular system, is an organ system that permits blood to circulate and transport nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, and blood cells to and from the cells in the body to provide nourishment and help in fighting diseases, stabilize temperature and pH, and maintain homeostasis.

Wheelchair chair with wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of formats to meet the specific needs of their users. They may include specialized seating adaptions, individualized controls, and may be specific to particular activities, as seen with sports wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs. The most widely recognised distinction is between powered wheelchairs ("powerchairs"), where propulsion is provided by batteries and electric motors, and manually propelled wheelchairs, where the propulsive force is provided either by the wheelchair user/occupant pushing the wheelchair by hand ("self-propelled"), or by an attendant pushing from the rear.

Development

Vanderbilt University began testing its exoskeleton with paraplegics and medical experts at a rehabilitation center in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2010. [12] In October 2012, Parker Hannifin signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Vanderbilt University for the right to develop and manufacture a commercial version of the exoskeleton, which it plans to release under the name Indego. [6] [1] Whereas current commercial exoskeletons can cost as much as $140,000, Parker Hannifin hopes to exploit its manufacturing capabilities and the Vanderbilt model's lightweight design to ensure that the Indego is significantly cheaper. [5] In March 2014, Parker Hannifin entered into clinical trial agreements for the exoskeleton with several major medical rehabilitation centres. [7] In December 2014, Parker Hannifin invested in Freedom Innovations, a California-based prosthetic technology company with which it had a pre-existing partnership, to further the development of Indego. [13] Following regulatory approval, Parker Hannifin plans to release Indego in Europe in 2015 and in the United States in 2016. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek παραπληγίη "half-stricken". It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition that affects the neural (brain) elements of the spinal canal. The area of the spinal canal that is affected in paraplegia is either the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions. If four limbs are affected by paralysis, tetraplegia or quadriplegia is the correct term. If only one limb is affected, the correct term is monoplegia.

Parker Hannifin company

Parker Hannifin Corporation, originally Parker Appliance Company, usually referred to as just Parker, is an American corporation specializing in motion and control technologies. Its corporate headquarters are in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, in Greater Cleveland. The company was founded in 1917 and has been publicly traded on the NYSE since December 9, 1964. The firm is one of the largest companies in the world in motion control technologies, including aerospace, climate control, electromechanical, filtration, fluid and gas handling, hydraulics, pneumatics, process control, and sealing and shielding. Parker employs about 58,000 people globally.

Ludwig Guttmann British neurologist who created the Paralympic Games

Sir Ludwig "Poppa" Guttmann was a German-born British neurologist who established the Paralympic Games in England. The Jewish doctor, who had fled Nazi Germany just before the start of the Second World War, is considered to be one of the founding fathers of organised physical activities for people with a disability.

HAL (robot) powered exoskeleton suit

The Hybrid Assistive Limb is a powered exoskeleton suit developed by Japan's Tsukuba University and the robotics company Cyberdyne. It is designed to support and expand the physical capabilities of its users, particularly people with physical disabilities. There are two primary versions of the system: HAL 3, which only provides leg function, and HAL 5, which is a full-body exoskeleton for the arms, legs, and torso.

Mike Utley All-American college football player, professional football player, offensive lineman

Michael Gerard Utley is a retired American football player. He played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1989 through 1991, when he was paralyzed during a game.

M. Anthony Lewis, Ph.D., is a robotics researcher and currently serves as the Vice President of Hewlett-Packard and the head of Hewlett-Packard's Compute Lab for disruptive edge technologies. Formerly, he served as the Head of was the former Senior Director of Technology at Qualcomm Technologies and was the creator of Zeroth neural processing unit and its software API. He is past CEO of Iguana Robotics, a company specializing in the development of biomorphic robotics technologies.

ReWalk is a commercial bionic walking assistance system that uses powered leg attachments to enable paraplegics to stand upright, walk and climb stairs. The system is powered by a backpack battery, and is controlled by a simple wrist-mounted remote which detects and enhances the user's movements. Designed in Yokneam, Israel, by Amit Goffer, the ReWalk is marketed by ReWalk Robotics Ltd, and is priced at approximately US$85,000 per unit.

Sir George Montario Bedbrook, OBE was an Australian medical doctor and surgeon, who was the driving force in creating the Australian Paralympic movement and the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, and helped to found the FESPIC Games.

Homayoon Kazerooni is a roboticist and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ekso Bionics American business enterprise

Ekso Bionics develops and manufactures powered exoskeleton bionic devices that can be strapped on as wearable robots to enhance the strength, mobility, and endurance of soldiers and paraplegics. These robots have a variety of applications in the medical, military, industrial, and consumer markets. It enables individuals with any amount of lower extremity weakness, including those who are paralyzed, to stand up and walk.

When treating a person with a spinal cord injury, repairing the damage created by injury is the ultimate goal. By using a variety of treatments, greater improvements are achieved, and, therefore, treatment should not be limited to one method. Furthermore, increasing activity will increase his/her chances of recovery.

Claire Lomas Paraplegic runner and activist

Claire Lomas MBE is a British campaigner, fundraiser and former event rider known for finishing the 32nd Virgin London Marathon in 17 days using the ReWalk robotic suit. She became a paraplegic as a result of a riding accident in 2007.

Light Motion Dance Company is a two-woman integrated dance company based in Seattle, combining a wheelchair dancer and an able-bodied dancer in performances.

Lumbar anterior root stimulator

A lumbar anterior root stimulator is a type of neuroprosthesis used in patients suffering from a spinal cord injury or to treat some forms of chronic spinal pain. More specifically, the root stimulator can be used in patients who have lost proper bowel function due to damaged neurons related to gastrointestinal control and potentially allow paraplegics to exercise otherwise paralyzed leg muscles.

Proportional myoelectric control

Proportional myoelectric control can be used to activate robotic lower limb exoskeletons. A proportional myoelectric control system utilizes a microcontroller or computer that inputs electromyography (EMG) signals from sensors on the leg muscle(s) and then activates the corresponding joint actuator(s) proportionally to the EMG signal.

Darek Fidyka is a Polish firefighter and recovering paraplegic who became the first person in history to verifiably recover sensory and motor function after the complete severing of his spinal cord. Having been paralysed from the chest down in a knife attack in 2010, Fidyka regained the ability to walk in 2014 after receiving a pioneering regenerative treatment from a British-advised Polish surgical team.

Stentrode is a small stent-mounted electrode array that is permanently implanted into a blood vessel in the brain without the need for open brain surgery. It is being developed to hopefully function as a brain–computer interface (BCI) for people with paralyzed or missing limbs, who will use their neural signals or thoughts to control powered exoskeletons and robotic prosthesis.

Nic Radford

Nicolaus Adam Radford known as Nic Radford is an American engineer, roboticist, inventor, and serial entrepreneur raising over $26M in funding for his companies. He co-founded, and is currently chief technology officer, Houston Mechatronics, Inc (HMI) and also recently founded Jacobi Motors LLC and is also president. Prior to forming HMI, he spent 14 years at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center's Dexterous Robotics Laboratory at NASA in Houston, Texas. Radford was the principle investigator tasked with leading the development of Valkyrie for participation in the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) and NASA's future Mars robotics missions.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wearable robots getting lighter, more portable". South Coast Today. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Parker Hannifin names its new exoskeleton device Indego". Crain's Cleveland. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 Gene Ostrovsky (30 October 2012). "Inspired by Segway Scooter, Vanderbilt Exoskeleton Gets Paralyzed on Their Legs". Rehab. Medgadget.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012. Medgadget is an independent journal of the latest medical gadgets, technologies and discoveries written, edited and published by a group of MDs and biomed engineers.
  4. 1 2 "Powered Exoskeleton". Vanderbilt University . Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Advanced exoskeleton promises more independence for people with paraplegia". Vanderbilt University. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Parker Signs Licensing Agreement with Vanderbilt for Exoskeleton Technology and Targets Commercial Launch in 2014". Parker Hannifin. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 "Parker Hannifin enters clinical trial agreements for its Indego exoskeleton". Crain's Cleveland. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Spinal Cord Injury Facts & Figures (PDF)" (PDF). University of Alabama: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. February 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "NASA's strange robotic suit could pave way to Mars, make astronauts safe". Science Recorder. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "I am Iron Man: Top 5 Exoskeleton Robots". Discovery News. 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Vanderbilt University steps into the exoskeleton market". Gizmag. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "This Light, Affordable Exoskeleton Could Help The Paralyzed Walk Again". Fast CoExist. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Parker Hannifin strengthens Indego exoskeleton development efforts with investment in California company". Crain's Cleveland. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
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