Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) created a wearable robot leg that could help a person with Parkinson's disease walk without freezing.
The new robotic exoskeleton is designed to assist diseased people in regaining their mobility and gradually gaining independence walking.
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Harvard Partners With Boston University to Design Exoskeleton for Patients
The new wearable robot was created under the partnership of Harvard SEAS and Boston University's (BU) Sargeant College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. The design is intended to be worn around the hips and thighs which the robot pushes as the leg swings.
According to the researchers, freezing is a common issue for people who suffer from Parkinson's wherein they temporarily lose the ability to move while walking. It poses a dangerous problem as it increases the frequency of falling accidents for patients.
"Using data collected by sensors, algorithms estimated the phase of the gait and generated assistive forces in tandem with muscle movement," Harvard explained in a video demonstration.
Benefits of Harvard, BU's Exoskeleton to Patients of Parkinson's
After a thorough process and trial, the researchers found that the patient was able to walk without any freezing during indoor walks. On the other hand, there are still occasional freezing episodes when walking outdoors. Regardless, it was still an improvement in the walking experience of patients.
Moreover, the exoskeleton helped the patient to walk faster and reach further distance as compared to walking without the robotic garment.
Harvard announced that the researchers are already developing the next-generation versions of the suit. The enhanced suit could potentially help the patients regain their independence and mobility in the future.
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