An Instrumented Ankle-Foot Orthosis that Quantifies Clinical Diagnostic and Performance Measures for "Tuned" Walking
Abstract
Many Veterans and civilians alike are burdened with lower leg walking difficulties as the result of disease or trauma, with a condition of drop foot being one of the most common conditions requiring medical intervention and rehabilitation. Drop foot refers is a general term that describes a difficulty with the voluntarily ability to lift the foot toward the shin. This impairment can have a profound impact on mobility for individuals, limiting their ability to walk without tripping, due to the weakness, since flexing the foot toward the shin is a fundamental action of normal walking. To assist persons with drop foot, devices called ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are prescribed by orthotists. AFOs are lightweight, rigid shells or frames that attach to the ankle and foot in such a way that they assist the user in maintaining the desired alignment of the ankle and foot for safe and functional walking. Although AFOs are regularly fitted on patients by orthotists, the procedure with which the AFO is fitted and customized is currently tradecraft and relies on the subjective judgment of the specialist rather than objective measures of performance. Our ultimate goal is to transition AFO design and customization into a quantitative process by which the devices are "tuned" to the exact needs of each patient rather than subjectively determined through observation. Based on our proposed research, patients with drop foot will receive exactly the "dosage" of ankle stiffness that is required for getting the best assistance during their normal walking activities. Rather than being satisfied with the fact that they can walk again, the device parameters will be adjusted such that the mechanics of their movement will be as natural and efficient as possible. As a result, they will be able to walk faster, for longer distances, and for longer time periods without tiring, and will be better-equipped to navigate stairs and hills. Tens of thousands patients per year are fitted with AFOs for commonly known medical conditions such as stroke and multiple sclerosis, etc. Veterans that present with traumatic injuries from gunshot wounds, blast injuries, and spinal cord injuries often present with lower limb weaknesses that can be managed with AFOs. Upon completion of this project, we envision rapidly transitioning our new technologies into the clinic by either starting our own venture or licensing the technology to AFO manufacturers. Because of the fact that we will be using components and sensors that are available commercially rather than customized, this transition could be accomplished quickly and successfully. Additionally, our project is led by Dr. Kogler, a clinical biomechanics expert with two decades of experience as an orthotist; as a result, our research is directly focused on making clinical impact and benefitting patients.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510479
Entities
People
- Geza Kogler
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Army