WAKE-Up Exoskeleton to Assist Children With Cerebral Palsy: Design and Preliminary Evaluation in Level Walking

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Pediatric Neurology
• Biomechatronics

Background:

• Neurological diseases in children, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), often impair ankle and knee mobility, affecting locomotion.
• Existing rehabilitation devices may lack the adaptability and synergy required for natural movement assistance.

Observation:

• A novel compliant lower limb multi-joint exoskeleton, the Wearable Ankle Knee Exoskeleton (WAKE-up), was developed.
• The WAKE-up is an untethered, powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with position control, designed for synergistic operation with the user's musculoskeletal system.

Findings:

• Mechanical characterization revealed a maximum hysteresis of 8.8% and a maximum torque of 5.6 N m/rad.
• Pre-clinical trials with typically developing children and children with CP demonstrated the exoskeleton's effectiveness under weight-bearing conditions.
• The WAKE-up successfully provided torque assistance for ankle and knee movements during overground walking, notably aiding in correct foot landing.

Implications:

• The WAKE-up exoskeleton shows promise for enhancing gait rehabilitation in pediatric patients with neurological disorders.
• This technology can potentially improve functional mobility and independence for children with conditions affecting lower limb function.
• Further research could explore long-term effects and broader applications in pediatric rehabilitation.