Providing patients with optimal support using rehabilitation robots

Abstract

Physical impairments can have a significant impact on quality of life and, depending on the patient's condition, may require consistent care and rehabilitation. Assistant Professor Asuka Takai, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan, is collaborating with Professor Tadao Kawai to develop a computer model that can aid a patient's recovery and rehabilitation. This novel research relies on the study of human movement assistive engineering and human-robot interaction and seeks to develop a technique that is capable of recognising the support needed by a patient. Engineering approaches that the team is using in its work include visualisation of technique by measurement, mathematical formulation of know-how, result prediction by simulation, and data accumulation through robot interaction. The researchers are also utilising the technique and of doctors and therapists to ensure the technology they are developing is as effective as possible. A key focus at present is on enhancing the functional recovery of patients with impaired motor functions by using robots to assist with their rehabilitation and, in addition to having an academic impact, Takai, Kawai and the team hope their work will help doctors and therapists to plan a patient's neurological and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Ultimately, the goal is to build a system that can control a robot in order to ensure it provides optimal assistance to the patient in question.