ALTEC, INC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NICHD

Description

Gait impairments hinder mobility for more thanchildren and adults living with cerebral palsyCPin the USMotor relearning is possible for these individual but typically requires numerous training sessions with a team of physical therapists and assistants to restore coupling between upperand lower body segments while assisting spastic uncoordinated limb movement to improve gait kinematicsWhile advancements in rehabilitation robotics have the potential to relieve therapists of the need to stabilize the patient and augment limb movementexisting devices excessively restrict the lower limb to single plane motionimpede natural rotation translation of the pelvisand impose rather than accommodate volitional adaptation of movementAdditional constraints of high cost and immobile configuration only further preclude translation of these devices for in home therapywhere more frequent training sessions necessary to enhance neural plasticity can be attainedThe proposed Phase I SBIR will target this health disparity by developing the first sensor based mobile Pelvic Assist DevicemPADthat is uniquely capable of delivering preciseadaptablemulti degree of freedom pelvic control to promote natural intersegmental couplingrestore coordination of upperand lower limb movementand improve normal gait kinematics in children with CPBecause of its proximity to the center of mass and critical role in coordinating upperand lower limb controlthe pelvis provides an ideal access point for physiotherapists to manually improve gaitWe propose to greatly simplify this task by designing a portable mPAD device that automates pelvic assistanceallows for full body volitional controland promotes relearning through biofeedback sensory motor integration and in home useOur team of specialists in sensor based systems for monitoring human movement is now partnering with clinical and engineering experts in rehabilitation robotics to translate the existing laboratory based Tethered Pelvic Assist DeviceTPADfrom a stationary system into a mobile device that utilizes body worn sensors for mobility and programmable biofeedback for training in or out of the clinicIn Phase I we will integrate electromyographicEMGand inertialIMUbiofeedback metrics with TPAD to demonstrate feasibility for gait training in children with spastic diplegiaOur Phase I deliverable will include validated sensor based gait metrics and a new biofeedback system for motor learning that are integratable with TPAD and compliant with the target populationA fully portable mPADsimilar in appearance to a pediatric rollatorwill be developed in Phase IIwhich will provide opportunities for enhanced motor relearning and improved mobility through therapist guided gait retraining protocols tailored for adaptable pelvic intervention and biofeedback to patients representing a wide variety of gait disorders among CP populationsThe impact of this innovation marks a first of its kind robotic rehabilitation technology that meets the immediate and long term health needs of underserved children with CP who stand to benefit from translation of improved healthcare advancements beyond the clinic and into the community This collaborative project between Altec Inca leading sensor technology small businessand a leading rehabilitation robotics engineering laboratory at Columbia University will transform the way current therapeutic strategies for gait retraining are conducted in children with cerebral palsyCPCollectivelywe will provide a first of its kind pelvic guidedgait retraining device for children with CP that uses a mobile pediatric rollator to provide adaptable guiding forces directly to the pelvis through cable operated and roboticallycontrolled mechanismswhile wearable biofeedback technology provides sensory feedback to facilitate sensorymotor relearningThe enhanced gait and stability from this innovation will improve functional mobility offering greater opportunities for socializationincreased work potential and improved quality of life at a lower cost for the more thanchildren and adults living with cerebral palsyCPin the US