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Development of a robotic device for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: A user-centered design approach

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Paladyn

Abstract

Stroke is one of the major causes of permanent adult disability. Stroke frequently affects motor control of the arm, leading to diffculties in doing activities of daily living. This research focuses on developing an upper limb rehabilitation robotic prototype through user-centered design to aid stroke survivors in rehabilitating their arm. To gather requirements from end users, stroke therapy sessions were observed and a survey of stroke therapists was conducted. End user requirements were evaluated to determine technical targets for the mechanical design of the prototype. Evaluation of the prototype was done with stroke therapists in a focus group and a preliminary biomechanical study. As user-centered design would require more iterations of design, testing and evaluation, this project reports a first step in developing an affordable, portable device, which could increase access to stroke rehabilitation for the arm.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Room 407, M5S 3G9, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Elaine C. Lu, Rajibul Huq & Alex Mihailidis

  2. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada

    Rosalie Wang, Debbie Hebert, Jennifer Boger & Alex Mihailidis

  3. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada

    Rosalie Wang, Debbie Hebert, Jennifer Boger & Alex Mihailidis

  4. Quanser Consulting, Inc., 119 Spy Court, Markham, ON, L3R 5H6, Canada

    Don Gardner & Paul Karam

  5. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada

    Karl Zabjek

Authors
  1. Elaine C. Lu
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  2. Rosalie Wang
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  3. Rajibul Huq
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  4. Don Gardner
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  5. Paul Karam
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  6. Karl Zabjek
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  7. Debbie Hebert
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  8. Jennifer Boger
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  9. Alex Mihailidis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elaine C. Lu.

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Lu, E.C., Wang, R., Huq, R. et al. Development of a robotic device for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: A user-centered design approach. Paladyn 2, 176–184 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13230-012-0009-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13230-012-0009-0

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