Development of a bio-chair using electromygraphic actuation for rehabilitation excercises

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Title

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings (IMECE)

Volume

5

DOI

10.1115/IMECE2023-114245

Abstract

Traditional rehabilitation exercises are required for patients who have partially lost their mobility and intend to regain it to walk freely without any external assistance. Selective exoskeleton devices are commercially availble that rely on mechanical systems to conduct such rehabilitation exercises. Such devices are expensive and are not suitable for patients who are unable to stand. In the current work, a commercially available wheelchair is modified to incorporate new features of the proposed bio-chair. In order to operate the leg supporting plates, several components, including ball-screw mechanical actuators, motors, and L-shaped power transmitting shafts, were conceived and built. Ball screw mechanical actuators and motor holders were made via 3D printing. The angular motion of the leg supporting plates was used to calibrate the linear movement of the ball-screw nut. To determine the motors that are most suitable for operation by providing enough torque, basic calculations were performed. A unique feature of the bio-chair is that it enables the user to use his leg muscle s power to trigger the bio-chair operation to conduct rehabilitation exercises to regain his/her mobility. The final design is fabricated and tested in this work. Initial operation results are included.

Keywords

Automation, Bio-Chair, Rehabilitation Exercises

Department

Mechanical Engineering

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