People With Mobility Issues Set to Benefit From Wearable Devices
June 17, 2019 | University of BristolEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The lives of thousands of people with mobility issues could be transformed thanks to ground-breaking research by scientists at the University of Bristol.
The FREEHAB project will develop soft, wearable rehabilitative devices with a view to helping elderly and disabled people walk and move from sitting to a standing position in comfort and safety.
Led by University of Bristol Professor of Robotics Jonathan Rossiter, FREEHAB builds on discoveries from his previous Right Trousers project, which saw his team develop new soft materials that could be used like artificial muscles.
Professor Rossiter said: “There are over 10.8 million disabled people living in the UK today. Nearly 6.5 million have mobility impairments. These numbers are growing as the median population age increases and age-related mobility issues due to conditions such as arthritis and stroke become more prevalent.”
Rehabilitation is vital for patients, but according to Professor Rossiter, outcomes are hampered by a lack of easy-to-use dynamic tools to help therapists accurately analyse mobility performance and devise effective programmes; and as rehabilitation increasingly takes place in patients’ homes in the absence of a therapist, better ways to support in-home mobility and training are needed.
The materials from which the artificial muscles are made include 3D-printable electroactive gel materials, and soft but strong pneumatic chains that change shape when inflated and can exert considerable force.
Professor Rossiter said: “Together with integrated sensing technology, we will make devices that physiotherapists can use to accurately pinpoint limitations in their patients’ movements, thus enabling them to plan personalised training programmes.
“We will also make simpler devices that the patient can use to enhance their mobility activities and exercise with confidence when a therapist is not with them.”
To develop the project, the researchers will work with physiotherapists in the NHS and private practice, and with people who have undergone physiotherapy for their mobility problems.
Following research and development, the aim is to conduct clinical trials and then bring the devices into the supply chain once the project is over.
Philippa Hemmings, head of Healthcare Technologies at EPSRC: said: The work supported within the FREEHAB project will increase the ability of physiotherapists to support people with mobility impairments. It shows the power of engineers and physical scientists working in collaboration with partners, something our Healthcare Impact Partnership awards were set up to support.
Suggested Items
Revolutionizing Sustainable Energy: Georgia Solar Companies Partner with Georgia Power to Unveil New Parking Deck Solar Array
04/19/2024 | BUSINESS WIREThree Georgia-based solar companies have joined together to design, build and construct an innovative solar array atop the parking deck at Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
Sondrel Poised to Support the Evolution of Intelligent Cars with Ultra-Complex Chips
04/08/2024 | SondrelAccording to Sondrel, a leading provider of ultra-complex chips, the designing of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) is changing the automotive ecosystem, including new methodologies and technology approaches that could significantly reduce costs and shorten time to market for advanced features.
Creators of SMT UHDI Test Board Vehicle Discuss this Important Project
04/04/2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Chrys Shea of Shea Engineering and Altium’s David Haboud educate us on the latest revision of the SMT test board for UHDI testing, presented at the SMTA UHDI Symposium on March 26 in Arizona. Chrys was involved in the original SMT test board, introduced roughly five years ago. She and David discuss recreating the test board to be appropriate for UHDI, the genesis and history of this project, and why industry members should make use of it to benchmark their processes.
Smartkem Commences Project with RiTdisplay
03/22/2024 | PRNewswireSmartkem, the developer of a disruptive type of organic transistor that has the potential to drive a new generation of displays, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with RiTdisplay Corp. (RiTdisplay), a leading developer of optoelectronic solutions, visual displays and passive-matrix OLED (PMOLED) displays, for the manufacture of a new type of active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) display.