Tamez-Duque Jesús, Cobian-Ugalde Rebeca, Kilicarslan Atilla, Venkatakrishnan Anusha, Soto Rogelio, Contreras-Vidal Jose Luis
National Robotics Laboratory, School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey N.L. 64849, Mexico.
Laboratory for Non-Invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA.
Sensors (Basel). 2015 Feb 16;15(2):4550-63. doi: 10.3390/s150204550.
Assistive and rehabilitative powered exoskeletons for spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke subjects have recently reached the clinic. Proper tension and joint alignment are critical to ensuring safety. Challenges still exist in adjustment and fitting, with most current systems depending on personnel experience for appropriate individual fastening. Paraplegia and tetraplegia patients using these devices have impaired sensation and cannot signal if straps are uncomfortable or painful. Excessive pressure and blood-flow restriction can lead to skin ulcers, necrotic tissue and infections. Tension must be just enough to prevent slipping and maintain posture. Research in pressure dynamics is extensive for wheelchairs and mattresses, but little research has been done on exoskeleton straps. We present a system to monitor pressure exerted by physical human-machine interfaces and provide data about levels of skin/body pressure in fastening straps. The system consists of sensing arrays, signal processing hardware with wireless transmission, and an interactive GUI. For validation, a lower-body powered exoskeleton carrying the full weight of users was used. Experimental trials were conducted with one SCI and one able-bodied subject. The system can help prevent skin injuries related to excessive pressure in mobility-impaired patients using powered exoskeletons, supporting functionality, independence and better overall quality of life.
用于脊髓损伤（SCI）和中风患者的辅助及康复动力外骨骼最近已进入临床应用。适当的张力和关节对齐对于确保安全至关重要。在调整和适配方面仍然存在挑战，目前大多数系统依赖人员经验进行适当的个体固定。使用这些设备的截瘫和四肢瘫患者感觉受损，如果绑带不舒服或疼痛，他们无法发出信号。压力过大和血流受限会导致皮肤溃疡、坏死组织和感染。张力必须刚好足以防止滑落并保持姿势。关于轮椅和床垫的压力动力学研究广泛，但对外骨骼绑带的研究却很少。我们提出了一种系统，用于监测人机物理接口施加的压力，并提供有关紧固绑带中皮肤/身体压力水平的数据。该系统由传感阵列、具有无线传输功能的信号处理硬件和交互式图形用户界面组成。为了进行验证，使用了一款承担使用者全部重量的下半身动力外骨骼。对一名脊髓损伤患者和一名身体健全的受试者进行了实验测试。该系统有助于预防使用动力外骨骼的行动不便患者因压力过大而导致的皮肤损伤，支持其功能、独立性并改善整体生活质量。
