Exoskeleton for children
Researchers of the National Research Council of Spain presented the first of its kind children's exoskeleton designed for patients with spinal muscular atrophy - a genetic degenerative disease, the frequency of which in Spain is one case per 10,000 newborns. The device weighing 12 kg is made of aluminum and titanium and is designed to provide patients with the ability to walk independently. Currently, the technology is undergoing preclinical studies.
The design consists of two long supporting rods, or orthoses, located on the sides of the patient's legs and torso. At the level of the joints there is a series of motors that reproduce the movements of human muscles and endow the child with sufficient strength to get up and walk. In addition, the device includes a set of sensors, a motion controller and a battery that supports the operation of the entire system for 5 hours.
According to one of the developers of the exoskeleton, Elena Garcia, the main difficulty in developing pediatric exoskeletons is due to the fact that the symptoms of neuromuscular diseases, such as spinal muscular dystrophy, change over time. Therefore, the ability of the exoskeleton to adapt to these changes independently is fundamental. The model proposed by the authors has "smart" joints that automatically change the rigidity of the structure, adapting it to the symptoms of each child if necessary.
The exoskeleton is designed for children aged 3-14 years. The five motors included in each "leg" (each of which requires a certain space to function) limit its minimum length. Moreover, the unpredictability of the movements of young children forced the developers to set a minimum age limit of three years. With other pathologies that do not limit the mobility of all joints and allow you to do with fewer motors, you can use a smaller design.
Spinal muscular atrophy is one of the most serious degenerative neuromuscular diseases in children and is characterized by high mortality among patients suffering from it. It has a genetic character and causes progressive muscle weakness. The immobility caused by this weakness leads to the development of many pathologies, including scoliosis and osteoporosis, as well as disorders of pulmonary function.
Type 1 is the most severe form of the three forms of the disease and is diagnosed in the first months of life. Such patients rarely live up to 18 months. Spinal muscular atrophy type 2, for the relief of symptoms of which the exoskeleton is intended, is detected between the 7th and 18th months of life. Such children cannot walk, which leads to a significant deterioration in their health; including any respiratory infection is deadly for them. However, despite this, some patients with this diagnosis manage to live to adulthood. The diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy type 3 is made at the age of 18 months, but the symptoms are fully manifested only in adolescence, when the patient loses the ability to walk. This, as a rule, does not affect the life expectancy, but significantly worsens its quality.
The developers hope that the exoskeleton they created will allow patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 to walk, which will prevent the development of scoliosis, as well as the chain of pathologies triggered by it.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru Based on the materials of the Spanish National Research Council: CSIC introduces the world's first child-exoskeleton for spinal muscular atrophy.
15.06.2016