Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA): a gait assistive and fall intervention robot for daily living

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-023-01149-0 · Published: January 1, 2023

Assistive Technology Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This paper introduces the Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA), a robot designed to help people with balance issues walk safely at home and in the community. MRBA combines a gait assistive robot and a powered wheelchair into a single device. The robot supports the user's pelvis while they walk, preventing falls. It can also transform into a wheelchair for sitting or commuting, offering a versatile mobility solution. Experiments with healthy individuals and a person with a spinal cord injury showed that MRBA can help improve stability and reduce the risk of falls, although further improvements are needed.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Twelve healthy young subjects and one subject with spinal cord injury (SCI)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Healthy subjects walking with MRBA exhibited a lower speed, smaller step length, and longer step time compared to free walking.
2
The SCI subject showed similar changes and a decrease in step width, indicating improved stability with MRBA support.
3
The instability detection algorithm identified over 93% of self-induced falls with a 0% false alarm rate using force sensor measurements.

Research Summary

The Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA) is a novel device combining gait assistance and wheelchair functionalities for home and community use. MRBA uses a pelvic interface to support users during walking and features an instability detection system to intervene in case of falls. Experiments showed that MRBA affects gait parameters and can effectively detect self-induced falls, demonstrating potential for improving mobility and safety for balance-impaired individuals.

Practical Implications

Home-based Rehabilitation

MRBA can facilitate home- and community-based rehabilitation, increasing training dose and promoting better recovery in motor capability.

Fall Prevention

The robot's fall intervention system can improve safety and encourage a more active lifestyle for individuals with balance impairments.

Clinical Burden Reduction

MRBA can relieve the burden on physiotherapists by providing assistance and safety features during gait training.

Study Limitations

1
The robot compliance needs improvement to minimize interference with natural walking patterns.
2
The instability identification algorithm requires further refinement to reduce false alarms and improve detection accuracy.
3
The study primarily involved healthy young adults, limiting the generalizability of the findings to individuals with balance impairments.

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