Robot-aided neurorehabilitation

TLDR

The authors aim to apply robotics and automation to assist, enhance, quantify, and document neurorehabilitation, and to present a kinematic‑data approach in robot‑aided assessment. They reviewed a clinical trial of 20 stroke patients using a prototype robot‑aided rehabilitation facility at MIT and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, analyzed kinematic data from the assessment procedure, and based the results on standard clinical assessment procedures. Robot‑aided therapy showed no adverse effects, was tolerated by patients, and peripheral manipulation of the impaired limb may influence brain recovery.

Abstract

The authors' goal is to apply robotics and automation technology to assist, enhance, quantify, and document neurorehabilitation. This paper reviews a clinical trial involving 20 stroke patients with a prototype robot-aided rehabilitation facility developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, (MIT) and tested at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, NY. It also presents the authors' approach to analyze kinematic data collected in the robot-aided assessment procedure. In particular, they present evidence (1) that robot-aided therapy does not have adverse effects, (2) that patients tolerate the procedure, and (3) that peripheral manipulation of the impaired limb may influence brain recovery. These results are based on standard clinical assessment procedures. The authors also present one approach using kinematic data in a robot-aided assessment procedure.