Application of Robotic and Mechatronic Systems to Neurorehabilitation

During the last decades, the potentiality of robotics as a tool for neuroscientific investigations has been demonstrated, thus contributing to increase knowledge on biological systems. On the other hand, a detailed analysis of the potentialities of these systems (Dario et al., 2003) based on recent neuroscientific achievements, in particular about the mechanisms of neurogenesis and cerebral plasticity underlying the motor learning and the functional recovery after cerebral injury, highlights the advisability of using the robotic technologies, as systems able to contribute to a breakthrough in the clinical procedures of neurorehabilitative treatments. Several examples of robotic machines applied to both neuroscience and neurorehabilitation can be found in the literature (Krebs et al., 1998; Colombo et al, 2000). One of the main scientific and technological challenges is represented by the design and development of innovative robotic and mechatronic systems able to i) simplify interaction modalities during assisted motor exercises, ii) enhance adaptability of the machines to the actual patient performance and residual abilities, iii) provide a comprehensive picture of the psycho-physiological status of the patient for assessment purposes, through the integrated use of brain imaging techniques. The basic assumption of this work relies on a human-centred approach applied to the design of robotic and mechatronic devices aimed at carrying out neuroscientific investigations on human sensorimotor behaviour, delivering innovative neurorehabilitation therapies and assessing the functional recovery of disabled patients. Special attention is paid to the issues related to human-machine interaction modalities inspired to human motor mechanisms and the design of machines for the analysis of human motor behaviour and the quantitative assessment of motor performance.