Samsung Electronics, Suwon, Korea.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
Sci Robot. 2024 Jul 24;9(92):eadk6717. doi: 10.1126/scirobotics.adk6717.
Lumbar spine injuries resulting from heavy or repetitive lifting remain a prevalent concern in workplaces. Back-support devices have been developed to mitigate these injuries by aiding workers during lifting tasks. However, existing devices often fall short in providing multidimensional force assistance for asymmetric lifting, an essential feature for practical workplace use. In addition, validation of device safety across the entire human spine has been lacking. This paper introduces the Bilateral Back Extensor Exosuit (BBEX), a robotic back-support device designed to address both functionality and safety concerns. The design of the BBEX draws inspiration from the anatomical characteristics of the human spine and back extensor muscles. Using a multi-degree-of-freedom architecture and serially connected linear actuators, the device's components are strategically arranged to closely mimic the biomechanics of the human spine and back extensor muscles. To establish the efficacy and safety of the BBEX, a series of experiments with human participants was conducted. Eleven healthy male participants engaged in symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks while wearing the BBEX. The results confirm the ability of the BBEX to provide effective multidimensional force assistance. Moreover, comprehensive safety validation was achieved through analyses of muscle fatigue in the upper and the lower erector spinae muscles, as well as mechanical loading on spinal joints during both lifting scenarios. By seamlessly integrating functionality inspired by human biomechanics with a focus on safety, this study offers a promising solution to address the persistent challenge of preventing lumbar spine injuries in demanding work environments.
由于重物搬运或重复性劳动而导致的腰椎损伤仍然是工作场所普遍存在的问题。为了减轻这些损伤，已经开发出背部支撑设备，通过在搬运任务中为工人提供帮助来实现。然而，现有的设备在为非对称搬运提供多维力辅助方面往往存在不足，而这是实际工作场所使用的一个重要特征。此外，还缺乏对整个人体脊柱的设备安全性验证。本文介绍了双侧背部伸展外骨骼（BBEX），这是一种机器人背部支撑设备，旨在解决功能和安全问题。BBEX 的设计灵感来自于人类脊柱和背部伸肌的解剖学特征。该设备采用多自由度架构和串联连接的线性致动器，其组件的设计策略旨在紧密模拟人体脊柱和背部伸肌的生物力学特性。为了验证 BBEX 的功效和安全性，对 11 名健康男性参与者进行了一系列的人体实验。这些参与者在穿戴 BBEX 的情况下进行了对称和非对称的搬运任务。实验结果证实了 BBEX 提供有效多维力辅助的能力。此外，通过分析在两种搬运场景中上下竖脊肌的肌肉疲劳以及脊柱关节的机械负荷，实现了全面的安全验证。本研究通过将受人体生物力学启发的功能与安全性重点无缝融合，为解决在高要求工作环境中预防腰椎损伤的持续挑战提供了一个有前景的解决方案。
