Anatomical exoskeleton restores movement after stroke

Employees of Pirogov Russian National Research Institute of Medical Sciences have developed a new exoskeleton complex "Exokist-M", which is needed for the recovery of post-stroke and post-traumatic patients, as well as children with cerebral palsy. Unlike similar equipment, this device is mobile. Thanks to this, doctors have the opportunity to use it to work with bedridden patients who can still restore motor functions of the limbs.

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The device includes a "brain-computer" interface, which registers electroencephalography signals, and exoskeletons of the hands, which are controlled by this interface. The principle of the system is based on the reinforcement of a mental representation or effort to open and squeeze the fingers using the exoskeleton and visual feedback.

Another difference in the development is that engineers were able to achieve maximum anatomicality of human hand movements under the influence of the design. The specialists also created a unique set of classifiers for recognizing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, a proprietary artifact suppression unit, an extended list of game scenes for performing exercises, and the possibility of using various devices for recording brain activity. Developing the suite was an interdisciplinary challenge.

"It is difficult to single out any part: without accumulated fundamental knowledge, it would be impossible to formulate the concept itself, to understand what patterns of brain activity are the target of classification, to create a brain-computer interface and assume its usefulness for rehabilitation." The mathematical and IT part of the work is important to create a classifier for this interface, a robust software part of the complex and a motion control system for the exoskeleton. The engineering part consists in the development of the exoskeleton itself," said Pavel Bobrov, a senior researcher at the Department of Neurocomputer Interfaces of the Engineering Center of Pirogov Russian National Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RNIMU).

At the same time, as Bobrov emphasized, the medical part of the project is also critical. It is necessary to prove the effectiveness of the development during a clinical trial, so the creation of the program and exoskeleton is impossible without the participation of doctors.

Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:

In manual pressure: anatomical exoskeleton will restore movements after a stroke