Design and evaluation of a passive hydraulic simulator for biceps spasticity

Training Simulator, Haptic Technology, Robotic Arm, Spasticity, Clinical Training, MAS

Pei, Yinan ; Hsiao-Wecksler ; Elizabeth T.

关键词: Training Simulator, Haptic Technology, Robotic Arm, Spasticity, Clinical Training, MAS;   

Others  :  https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/101602/PEI-THESIS-2018.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

This thesis presents the design framework for a passive (unpowered) clinical training simulator using purely mechanical components to help improve the accuracy and reliability of clinical assessment. In the scope of this thesis, a prototype simulator was developed to replicate a common abnormal muscle behavior, biceps spasticity, at different levels of severities. Spasticity is often found in patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders causing abnormal motor activity. The current assessment of spasticity is via in-person evaluation using qualitative clinical scales, and the accuracy and reliability of this method heavily depend on assessors’ previous training and clinical experience. However, the current training methods cannot provide students sufficient amount of practice, resulting in lack of proficiency and missing clear understanding of spasticity behavior. The motivation of this project is to develop a self-contained, unpowered simulator to complement the current clinical assessment training. The design process started by characterizing the main behavioral features of the spasticity and selecting the appropriate mechanical design features that provides haptic feedback comparable to a spastic biceps muscle. The prototype was further validated by a two-stage evaluation process. The first part of evaluation involved examining the performance of individual mechanical design features and their combined performance through bench-top experiments. In the second part of evaluation, clinicians were invited to assess the replicated spasticity behavior and to compare the simulation with their previous experience interacting with actual patients. The bench-top performance and clinical feedback help design iteration and provide insights into the future development of the training simulator.Preliminary results suggested the feasibility of using the simulator as a training tool to teach spasticity assessment in a classroom setting.