Upper-Limb Rehabilitation of Patients with Neuromotor Deficits Using Impedance-Based Control of a 6-DOF Robot.

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the use of impedance-based control of a 6-degree-of-freedom robot for upper-limb rehabilitation of patients with neuromotor deficits. The control strategy is based on impedance and does not require external force sensors at the end-effector for implementation. The experimental setup involved using the control algorithm to move the robot to a desired position, follow a desired trajectory while being moved out of the trajectory by the user, and reproduce three different rehabilitation exercises (passive, isometric, and ADL). The results suggest that the parameters of the control strategy can be adjusted to set the robot's compliance and support force according to the patient's needs. Ultimately, the study concluded that the proposed control strategy can serve as a foundation for rehabilitation robots, which could potentially improve access to continued upper-limb rehabilitation for stroke patients and reduce the number of healthcare professionals required per patient.Clinical Relevance- This paper proposes a human-robot interaction control scheme to be used in a robotic rehabilitation tool, with the goal of assisting both clinicians and patients during the rehabilitation exercises and ultimately reducing the load on healthcare system. This platform can be potentially used in telemedicine solutions for upper-limb rehabilitation of a wide range of patients with neuromotor deficits such as stroke.