Resistive Torques in Rehabilitation Engineering Equipment

Abstract

This paper presents the state-of-the-art in resistive torques systems used in physical therapy rehabilitation and the authors’ contribution in this field. The second part presents a practical computing method that can be used for electrorheological fluid brakes design. A test bench developed by authors, for electrorheological fluids studies at different field intensities is presented in section three. Section four presents the authors’ contribution in the development of electrorheological fluid brakes field. These brakes are especially designed to be used in physiotherapy systems. The mathematical relations for the electrorheological fluids brakes design are described, as well as an electrorheological fluid brake prototype and its implementation possibilities into developed rehabilitation equipment. The last two sections present future work in the field of electro-rheological fluid brakes that can be used into the rehabilitation systems.