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Robotic applications in neuromotor rehabilitation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2003

H.I. Krebs
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering Department, Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation (USA) Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Department Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Medical Research Institute (USA)
B.T. Volpe
Affiliation:
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Department Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Medical Research Institute (USA)
M.L. Aisen
Affiliation:
Veterans Health Administration, Department of Rehabilitation and Development (USA)
W. Hening
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (USA)
S. Adamovich
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (USA)
H. Poizner
Affiliation:
Rutgers University, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (USA)
K. Subrahmanyan
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, presently at ESI SAI (USA)
N. Hogan
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering Department, Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation (USA) Veterans Health Administration, Department of Rehabilitation and Development (USA)

Abstract

Robot-aids or Rehabilitators are our chosen neologism to name a new class of robotic devices that represent a substantially departure from prior applications of robotics in rehabilitation. Rather than use robotics as an assistive technology for a disabled individual, we envision robots and computers as supporting and enhancing the productivity of clinicians in their efforts to facilitate a disabled individual's recovery. In this paper, we attempt a brief overview of our work in what promises to be a ground breaking field. We discuss the concept of robot-aided neuro-rehabilitation as a means to deliver therapy, measure patient performance, and also as a design tool. To illustrate the broad spectrum of neurological diseases that this technology might impact, we will illustrate each case with a different pathology, namely cerebral vascular accident (CVA – also known as stroke), Parkinson's disease (PD), and cerebral palsy (CP).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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