The Rehabilitation Robotics Research Program

POWERED ORTHOSIS PROJECT

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Schematic of Prototype Schematic of Prototype

Among the various projects on rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) of the Alfred I duPont Institute and the University of Delaware one of the projects is the "Criteria for Interfacing and Control of a Powered Upper Extremity Orthosis".

This project is concerned with the development of an upper limb orthosis, intended primarily for individuals with muscular dystrophy. What characterizes this etiology is the progressive loss of muscle function where the distal musculature is the last to be affected. When a person retains sensory and partial muscular control, it is possible to augment his abilities with the aid of the appropriate technology. This attitude is superior to a total substitution of his manipulative function with a robot. This project explores ways of doing this using powered orthoses that can support a person's arms against gravity and provide a broad range of arm movement.

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Last Updated: Jan. 17 1999 by Rungun