Autonomous training robot for acute and rehabilitation clinics

 
Application Software

In addition, we are dedicated to researching and developing new possible fields of application for our therapy robot, such as programmes which assist patients while they practise stair climbing or teach correct weight bearing on the injured leg while walking on crutches.

Furthermore, we are investigating and assessing various navigation methods, technical solutions on how to integrate the robot into the hospital’s own IT infrastructure and in-house emergency call system, as well as a function which would enable the robot to be controlled via the cloud.

As a first application for the robot, we are working on developing a mobile robot-assisted system to give patients the opportunity to conduct self-directed gait training on crutches, which is intended for use in acute care and rehabilitation clinics/hospitals.

Our robot THERY is based on a mobile robotic platform, which was originally developed for industrial purposes. This platform includes a drive unit and is equipped with a robust robot navigation and safety stack. At TEDIRO, we complement the platform with depth cameras, implement our own software and assemble the housing. In order to enhance the robot-patient interaction during training sessions, the robot has a virtual face, displays correction recommendations on its big screen and features a voice output system.

 

Anmeldung am Roboter mit RFID-Chip

This is how robot-assisted gait training works

  • A high-quality colour and depth camera captures patient gait at 30 frames/second
  • Generation of a skeleton model of the patient with a total of 32 joint and support points
  • Recognition of patient’s position, distances and angle of joints, limbs and crutches
  • Analysis of 18 different gait parameters, such as stride length, track width, upper body inclination, weight transfer etc.
  • Continuous analysis of movement sequences and detection of deviations from the desired movement sequence while the patient walks on crutches
  • Output of correction recommendations, the order of which is based on a prioritization protocol which has been determined and agreed upon by experts in the field of physiotherapy
robot training patient walking with robot

This is how robot-assisted gait training works

  • Color and depth camera captures patient gait at 30 frames/second
  • Generation of a skeleton model of the patient with a total of 32 joint and support points
  • Recording of positions, distances and angles of joints, limbs and supports as a basis for gait analysis
  • Examination of 18 different gait parameters, such as stride length, track width, upper body inclination, weight transfer
  • Continuous analysis of movement sequences during gait training on crutches and detection of deviations from the desired movement sequence
  • Output of correction recommendations, the order of which is based on a prioritization determined by physiotherapeutic experts
robot training patient walking with robot