Design of a robotic wrist rehabilitator

• Main Author: Lam, Tze An.
• Other Authors: Yeo Song Huat
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Assistive technology; DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Prototyping
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15725
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A stroke is a condition where the brain rapidly loses its functions because of a disturbance in the blood supply. This medical emergency can cause neurological damage, sometimes resulting in a permanent loss of the ability to move the limbs on one side of the body. In Singapore, with about 10,400 patients admitted to hospitals yearly for either stroke or transient ischemic attacks, it is the fourth most common cause of death, and the top cause of long term disability. Patients with disabling strokes undergo a treatment called stroke rehabilitation. The main aim of the treatment is to enable them to return and lead as normal a life as possible by helping them to regain and relearn the skills of everyday living. As stroke rehabilitation exercises are repetitive, robotic devices are being researched to take over the task of nurses. Robotic therapy has also shown to have a positive effect on the patient. The objective of this project is to design a biologically inspired wrist rehabilitator for the purpose of restoring the wrist motion range of patients. Although certain difficulties were encountered, a bio‐mechanical Robotic Wrist Rehabilitator was developed and fabricated. The device uses stepper motors to provide linear actuation in order to rotate the patient’s wrist. Initial testing showed positive results with respect to the performance of the device. Possible further developments, as well as minor improvements to the design, were stated at the end of this report.