A Battlefield-Hardened Robotic Ankle with Neuromuscular Efferent and Afferent User Interface
Abstract
Objective: The proposed project will develop and evaluate a second-generation robotic ankle-foot prosthesis, "Warrior Ankle," enabling its wearer to return to the war theater. Aside from improving the performance and control of a commercially available design, the effort will evaluate and integrate neuromuscular control and user-intent sensing technologies to complement the system s negotiation of rough terrain. Wearers of Warrior Ankle will shed the constraints of current powered-ankle devices and operate in extreme terrain conditions with full mission gear, supported by the system s ability to apply a highly efficient power system, high dynamic loading capacity, and terrain adaptation capability beyond that of current devices. Rationale: Recent studies indicate only 2% of the over 1,645 Warriors who have suffered lower-extremity amputation in recent conflicts have returned to their original service. It is envisioned that Warriors fitted with the Warrior Ankle will return to service in much greater numbers, preserving the training investment, boosting morale, and restoring a sense of purpose, societal contribution, and quality of life. Scope: The project will serve Warriors and Veterans who have suffered unilateral or bilateral lower extremity amputations, focusing on the overarching Fiscal Year 2015 Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program "Rehabilitation" challenge to advance prosthetic device function and durability. This research will impact the focus area by providing optimal treatment and rehabilitation for lower extremity amputees with a battlefield-hardened robotic ankle that employs advanced sensing, and control technologies. The ultimate applicability of the research will be twofold; primarily, the developments and evaluations of the Warrior Ankle will inform the design of a prosthesis that could be produced specifically for the military. Secondarily, the knowledge and core technological developments can be leveraged in the evolution of the commercially available prosthesis for benign civilian conditions. Risks: Newly implemented technologies for walking in extreme conditions may increase the fall risk during the clinical evaluation period. The design will maintain a "no-fall-triggering" requirement as the commercial BiOM Ankle has implemented, and extra protections will be provided during lab evaluations. Timeline: In the third year of the project, iWalk will work with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to recruit three active or retired Service members for an evaluation of the efficacy of the development. The concluding focus of the project (in year 3) will be on data analysis and dissemination of results to the research community. All outcome measures will be processed, organized, and analyzed to answer relevant hypotheses and abstracts will be developed and submitted to professional conferences. Military and Societal Benefit: This research creates a natural pathway for more Amputee Warriors to return to service in meaningful ways, including a return to the field in support of combat operations. For those who choose not to return to service, the Warrior Ankle will, in many cases, enable the Veteran to return to active jobs in the public or private sector. The technology will significantly improve users quality of life by increasing their confidence during daily activities and extend their capacity for walking in all speed and terrain conditions. Greater energy efficiency, stability, and approximation of normal gait parameters will decrease energy consumption and fatigue, decrease secondary overuse phenomena such as low back and knee pain, and decrease the probability of falls and the associated risk of fractures and joint injury. The users have a high probability to increase mobility, vascular functions, and decrease obesity and other issues.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1620049
Entities
People
- Zhixiu Han
Organizations
- United States Army