UNAIR NEWS聽– Exoskeleton is a medical rehabilitation device attached to the body to increase one鈥檚 ability.聽Seeing stroke patients who have to undergo medical rehabilitation in the hospital with nurses鈥 help in practicing movements using existing tools and accommodation requires a lot of time and money, dr I Putu Alit Pawana, Sp.KFR Dr. Riries R, ST. MT.聽with a team in collaboration with Dr. Soetomo Hospital created a medical rehabilitation exoskeleton equipment.
dr I Putu Alit Pawana, Sp.KFR is a consultant doctor and lecturer at 东京热, Dr. Riries is supported by the team consisting of Akif Rahmatillah, S.T, M.T, Osmalina Nur Rahma, S.T, M.Si., and Alfian Pramudita, ST, M.Sc.
The creation of a medical rehab exoskeleton equipment aims to train limb dysfunction due to stroke. Research team leader Dr. Riries R, ST. M.T., explained that limb movement is the main focus, especially the arms, as most stroke patients have arms鈥 movement problem.
鈥淭he exoskeleton is robotic-based, and we try to apply it to medicine, especially in medical rehabilitation,鈥 she said at the Physics Department UNAIR, Tuesday, November 28, 2020.
Three Continuous Generations
The rehabilitation tool that has been researched from 2018 has had three generations with continuous development. The first generation is still used manually with the help of doctors and nurses for the setting. Meanwhile, the second generation is more automatic, and there is also more variety of movements by utilizing the distance range.
鈥淪o there are four DOF. So from this motion, the arm can move up and down, then from the side move up and down as well, also with the shoulders, 鈥漞xplained one of the UNAIR Physics lecturers.
In 2020, the third generation was created by focusing more on the control of the systems. The existing automation also characterizes the muscle signal model of the movements.
鈥淏ecause聽each muscle condition of each patient is different.聽Although maybe the stroke level is the same, it鈥檚 different.聽Now, we try to connect it and make it automatic, so later, the EMG sensor (Electromyography, ed) reads the condition of the muscle, the character of it, later the tool will determine the degree of movement needed for patient therapeutic movements,鈥 she explained.
Materials Different Each Generation
These three generations of equipment have different materials. The first generation used polypropylene. For some activities, some parts have fractured.
The second and third generations use aluminum. With a simple design, it can be easily and conveniently used by patients.
鈥淭he target is not towards聽mobile.聽These are used in health clinics or hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.聽It can be distributed to various areas in the region, and this equipment is cheaper than similar imported ones.聽The design is simpler than the model,鈥 she added.
Mass Produced聽and Patent Rights Registered
Riries said that the research on the robotic equipment had been registered for patents. It can be produced easily with patents. Furthermore, the research team has collaborated with the medical rehab team of 东京热 Hospital (RSUA) to test the equipment directly on patients. 鈥淭he patent rights have been tested, the number has been issued,鈥 she explained.
鈥淭his equipment has been tested, and there are patients who have been unable to move their arms for two years.聽鈥淲ith this聽Hand Exoskeleton, there have been changes, they are able to move them, and the equipment is even brought home,鈥 she added.
With this research, hopefully, that it can contribute to the medical world, especially helping patients. Mass production can reduce patient costs, and hospitals鈥 medical rehabilitation can be done more efficiently. (*)
Author: Asthesia Dhea Cantika
Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh
