University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) Associate Professor Alex Mihailidis, along with his research team has developed an intelligent rehab robot on behalf of stroke patients.
Intelligent, affordable rehab robot to help stroke patients
The neuroplasticity of stroke patients increases with rehabilitation exercises. But patients fail to practice these exercises regularly in a home environment because of the convoluted process or lack of rehab machines or necessary assistance required to complete the exercises.
Mihailidis and his research team conducted interviews with therapists and selected groups, obtaining questionnaires from over 200 respondents for designing and developing a new, affordable, intelligent rehabilitation robot. The research team led by Mihailidis, developed a lightweight, handy robot, in association with industrial partner Quanser Consulting. Designed for effective patient care, the new, cost-effective intelligent rehab robot is now available.
The robot will keep the patients constantly active with its incorporated computer screen that initiates exercises by displaying interactive games and various other fun and interactive visual stimuli. Furthermore, the artificial intelligence of the robot enables independent operation of the robot, wherein the patient’s progress will be tracked, followed by feed-backs. The robot enables the patients to be encouraged, motivated and relaxed. According to the user’s fatigue-level and other related needs, the exercises can be adjusted and programmed, wherein the in-built camera system will record the posture and movements of patients.
According to the designer of the robotic intelligence, researcher Rajibul Huq, the system is capable of recording video or any other data which will allow remote access to the attendants.
Patients suffering from osteoarthritis, spinal cord and brain injuries, or those requiring any upper body rehabilitation will be benefited by this rehab robot technology. Further clinical trials of the robot will be conducted next month, anticipating offering this technology by early autumn.