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🧑🏼‍💻 Research - November 12, 2024

Development of an individualized stable and force-reducing lower-limb exoskeleton.

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⚡ Quick Summary

This study presents the development of an individualized and stable passive-control lower-limb exoskeleton that utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) model to enhance walking stability. The exoskeleton significantly reduces the force exerted by users, making it a promising tool for individuals with lower-limb weakness.

🔍 Key Details

  • 🤖 Technology: CNN-LSTM model for control scheme evaluation
  • 📊 Metrics: 91% correlation in CoP during normal and passive walking
  • 💪 Force Reduction: 40% less force exerted by the rectus femoris muscle
  • 👥 Target Users: Patients with stroke and lower-limb weakness

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • 🦵 Exoskeleton technology can assist users in achieving balanced and stable walking.
  • 📈 The CNN-LSTM model effectively predicts and adjusts the exoskeleton’s control parameters.
  • 🔍 High correlation (91%) in CoP between normal and exoskeleton-assisted walking.
  • 💡 Significant force reduction (40%) in muscle exertion during stable walking.
  • 🌟 Potential applications for rehabilitation in stroke patients.
  • 🛠️ Future developments could enhance the exoskeleton’s adaptability and user experience.

📚 Background

The development of assistive technologies, such as exoskeletons, has gained momentum in recent years, particularly for individuals with mobility impairments. These devices aim to enhance walking stability and reduce the physical strain on users, thereby improving their quality of life. The integration of advanced machine learning techniques, such as CNN and LSTM, into exoskeleton design represents a significant step forward in personalized rehabilitation technology.

🗒️ Study

The study focused on creating a lower-limb exoskeleton that adapts to individual users’ needs. By inputting joint angles and the center of pressure (CoP) data into a CNN-LSTM model, researchers were able to evaluate and refine the control scheme of the exoskeleton. This innovative approach allows for real-time adjustments, enhancing the overall stability of the device during use.

📈 Results

The results demonstrated a remarkable 91% correlation in the CoP coordinates between normal walking and walking with the exoskeleton. Additionally, electromyography signals indicated that users exerted 40% less force when using the exoskeleton, suggesting improved efficiency and reduced physical strain during ambulation.

🌍 Impact and Implications

The implications of this study are profound, particularly for rehabilitation practices. The ability of the exoskeleton to provide stable walking assistance with reduced force application could significantly benefit patients recovering from strokes or those with lower-limb weakness. This technology not only enhances mobility but also promotes independence and confidence in users, paving the way for broader applications in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings.

🔮 Conclusion

This study highlights the transformative potential of individualized exoskeleton technology in enhancing mobility for individuals with lower-limb impairments. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, the developed exoskeleton offers a promising solution for achieving stable walking with reduced physical exertion. Continued research and development in this field could lead to even more sophisticated assistive devices, improving the lives of many.

💬 Your comments

What are your thoughts on the advancements in exoskeleton technology for rehabilitation? We would love to hear your insights! 💬 Share your comments below or connect with us on social media:

Development of an individualized stable and force-reducing lower-limb exoskeleton.

Abstract

In this study, an individualized and stable passive-control lower-limb exoskeleton robot was developed. Users’ joint angles and the center of pressure (CoP) of one of their soles were input into a convolutional neural network (CNN)-long short-term memory (LSTM) model to evaluate and adjust the exoskeleton control scheme. The CNN-LSTM model predicted the fitness of the control scheme and output the results to the exoskeleton robot, which modified its control parameters accordingly to enhance walking stability. The sole’s CoP had similar trends during normal walking and passive walking with the developed exoskeleton; they-coordinates of the CoPs with and without the exoskeleton had a correlation of 91%. Moreover, electromyography signals from the rectus femoris muscle revealed that it exerted 40% less force when walking with a stable stride length in the developed system than when walking with an unstable stride length. Therefore, the developed lower-limb exoskeleton can be used to assist users in achieving balanced and stable walking with reduced force application. In the future, this exoskeleton can be used by patients with stroke and lower-limb weakness to achieve stable walking.

Author: [‘Huang GS’, ‘Yen MH’, ‘Chang CC’, ‘Lai CL’, ‘Chen CC’]

Journal: Biomed Phys Eng Express

Citation: Huang GS, et al. Development of an individualized stable and force-reducing lower-limb exoskeleton. Development of an individualized stable and force-reducing lower-limb exoskeleton. 2024; 10:(unknown pages). doi: 10.1088/2057-1976/ad686f

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