ARMin - Exoskeleton Robot for Stroke Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation robots are becoming an important tool in rehabilitation of stroke, SCI and other neurological pathologies. Compared to manual arm training, robot-supported training can be more intensive, of longer duration, repetitive and task-oriented. Therefore, such devices have the potential to improve the rehabilitation process in stroke patients. Whereas a majority of previous work in upper limb rehabilitation robotics has focused on end-effector based robots, a shift toward exoskeleton robots is taking place because they offer a better guidance of the human arm, especially for movements with large range of motions. One of the first actuated exoskeleton robot that is ready for deployment in clinics is the ARMin III robot. This paper gives a short overview of the ongoing clinical application and evaluation process of the ARMin III robot.

[1]  Robert Riener,et al.  ARMin III --arm therapy exoskeleton with an ergonomic shoulder actuation , 2009 .

[2]  D. Wade,et al.  Enhanced physical therapy improves recovery of arm function after stroke. A randomised controlled trial. , 1992, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[3]  K. Furie,et al.  Heart disease and stroke statistics--2008 update: a report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. , 2007, Circulation.

[4]  A.H.A. Stienen,et al.  Dampace: dynamic force-coordination trainer for the upper extremities , 2007, 2007 IEEE 10th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics.

[5]  J. Mehrholz,et al.  Computerized Arm Training Improves the Motor Control of the Severely Affected Arm After Stroke: A Single-Blinded Randomized Trial in Two Centers , 2005, Stroke.

[6]  C. Carignan,et al.  Design of an arm exoskeleton with scapula motion for shoulder rehabilitation , 2005, ICAR '05. Proceedings., 12th International Conference on Advanced Robotics, 2005..

[7]  M. Bergamasco,et al.  Arm rehabilitation with a robotic exoskeleleton in Virtual Reality , 2007, 2007 IEEE 10th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics.

[8]  M. Schroll,et al.  Stroke incidence, case fatality, and mortality in the WHO MONICA project. World Health Organization Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease. , 1995, Stroke.

[9]  C.G. Burgar,et al.  Evidence for improved muscle activation patterns after retraining of reaching movements with the MIME robotic system in subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[10]  M. Brainin,et al.  Acute neurological stroke care in Europe: results of the European Stroke Care Inventory , 2000, European journal of neurology.

[11]  K. Mauritz,et al.  Repetitive training of isolated movements improves the outcome of motor rehabilitation of the centrally paretic hand , 1995, Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

[12]  Hermano I Krebs,et al.  Rehabilitation robotics: pilot trial of a spatial extension for MIT-Manus , 2004, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

[13]  A. Fugl-Meyer,et al.  The post-stroke hemiplegic patient. 1. a method for evaluation of physical performance. , 1975, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[14]  Jaap Harlaar,et al.  Complete 3D kinematics of upper extremity functional tasks. , 2008, Gait & posture.

[15]  J. Zitzewitz,et al.  A View on VR-Enhanced Rehabilitation Robotics , 2006, 2006 International Workshop on Virtual Rehabilitation.

[16]  Robert Riener,et al.  Robot-aided neurorehabilitation of the upper extremities , 2005, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing.

[17]  R. Teasell,et al.  The Role of Task-Specific Training in Rehabilitation Therapies , 2005, Topics in stroke rehabilitation.

[18]  N. Manning,et al.  The human arm kinematics and dynamics during daily activities - toward a 7 DOF upper limb powered exoskeleton , 2005, ICAR '05. Proceedings., 12th International Conference on Advanced Robotics, 2005..

[19]  Robert Riener,et al.  ARMin: a robot for patient-cooperative arm therapy , 2007, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing.

[20]  D.J. Reinkensmeyer,et al.  Automating Arm Movement Training Following Severe Stroke: Functional Exercises With Quantitative Feedback in a Gravity-Reduced Environment , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.

[21]  Robert Riener,et al.  A novel paradigm for patient-cooperative control of upper-limb rehabilitation robots , 2007, Adv. Robotics.