NCKU engineers and physical therapy experts develop rehabilitation robots

Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, has developed rehabilitation robots by integrating the experience of physical therapy experts at NCKU Hospital, opening a new road for stroke patients' rehabilitation.

“Among the three robots, many patients have participated in the rehabilitation programs of upper-limb and ankle rehabilitation robots, receiving significant treatment effects. The acceptance level of the patients is gradually increasing as well.”

Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju has developed three rehabilitation robots of upper-limb, lower-limb and ankle, thus, under the guidance of the computer system, stroke patients can use human-machine interaction methods, such as graphics and games, for rehabilitation.

The three rehabilitation robots are installed in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NCKU Hospital, and many patients are using them for rehabilitation, resulting in significant therapeutic effect.

The research team led by Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju has integrated a brain-computer-interface system with rehabilitation robot to create a leading technology in which patients can control the brain-computer-interface system to drive body movement, which is helpful to the activation of damaged central nervous system.

In the future, the system can develop into a smart home system, thus achieving the goal of patients' self-control, adding autonomy for stroke patients and reducing the need of labor care.

Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju of NCKU Department of Mechanical Engineering expressed, "Currently, we've developed three rehabilitation robots of upper-limb, lower-limb and ankle. The rehabilitation robot of upper-limb can motivate the patients' arms to do horizontal movements in a sitting position. The rehabilitation robot of lower-limb can motivate the patients to lift up their legs and do movements similar to riding a bicycle in a lying position. The rehabilitation robot of ankle, on the other hand, can motivate the patients to move their ankles up and down in a sitting position."

Prof. Ming-Shaung Ju added, "Among the three robots, many patients have participated in the rehabilitation programs of upper-limb and ankle rehabilitation robots, receiving significant treatment effects. The acceptance level of the patients is gradually increasing as well."

Dr. Shu-Min Chen of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NCKU Hospital revealed, "Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Taiwan. It'll cause language, intellectual and physical barriers for the patients. The traditional method is therapists applying manual therapy one-on-one with the patients. It's highly repetitive. With the advancement of modern technology, we can use rehabilitation robots to replace repeatability, thus reducing the human labor of the therapists and adding diversity and uniqueness to movement therapy."

Dr. Chou-Ching Lin of the Department of Neurology at NCKU Hospital, said, "It's possible that the successful development of the brain-computer-interface system can lead to the development of smart home system and great potential of the research of related fields or commercial value. The integration of brain-computer-interface and rehabilitation robot still faces some challenges. Because brain waves are extremely weak and easily interfered by the surrounding environment, the research group is currently evaluating and improving the system and trying to make it more stable and secure, thus patients can feel comfortable accepting the examination."

The research achievements have been published in related national and international academic journals. The research on brain-computer-interface has been elected as the best paper of the 2009 Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering and selected for the 2010 Engineering Paper Prize, Chinese Institute of Engineers. The research on rehabilitation robot has also received 2009 Excellence Award for Outstanding Paper Competition, International Society of Biomechanics (ISB).