Development of Rehabilitation Robot for Upper Limb Paresis in Recovery Period and Rehabilitation Effects

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K12749
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90150:Medical assistive technology-related
• Research Institution: Akita National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: KIZAWA SATORU 秋田工業高等専門学校, その他部局等, 教授 (90234202)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: バイオメカニクス / リハビリテーション / ロボット / 福祉工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aggressive rehabilitation of the paralyzed limb is necessary for functional recovery from upper limb paralysis after stroke. In particular, the amount of training is very important, and rehabilitation　using robots is effective. We have developed a desktop rehabilitation robot for upper limb paresis after Stroke that can be used on a desk. This system includes a VR system and an AR system to make motivation for rehabilitation sustainable. Furthermore, by adding a motion capture function, we were able to derive kinematics variables and kinetics variables that evaluate rehabilitation effects.
In this study, we compared and evaluated visual sickness and motivation maintenance between a rehabilitation program that combines VR technology and his AR technology developed for healthy subjects and a rehabilitation program while watching a conventional monitor screen.

Free Research Field

制御工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究成果の学術的意義は、リハビリのモチベーションを高めるためにモニタをVRゴーグルに置換え，高価な3次元動作分析装置の機能の代わりに安価なVive Trackerセンサと開発ソフトウエアで機能を代替えし，さらにこの機能を利用することで上肢の各関節運動をトラッキングすることができ，狭小な場所でも人間の運動解析を可能にしリハビリ効果を評価出来るようにしたことである．
社会的意義は、開発したリハビリシステムは病院外の療養施設や自宅の机上で可能なため，急性期以降の長期リハビリに対応し，医療費削減及び理学療法士，作業療法士の負担低減に貢献できる．