Rehab Robo: A Patient-Specific Robot for Tele-Rehabilitation in Neuromuscular Diseases

This Phase I project researches the feasibility of Rehab Robo, an at-home robotic physical therapy device. The goal of this project is to elevate the standard of care for rehabilitation in neuromuscular diseases by increasing access to care through providing effective at home solutions. The objectives are: (1) continue the early- stage developments on a device that can produce clinically accurate stretching and strengthening routines for use in the at-home setting; (2) integrate sensors and implement torque control to safely measure patient outcomes such as joint angle and torque; (3) develop a comfortable and patient-specific bracing interface that employs a parametric design based on unique patient anatomy; and (4) validate an alignment verification method to allow safe use without trained professionals. Project outcomes include: (1) increasing the accuracy and resolution of data compared to traditional manual methods; (2) quantitatively monitoring and detecting smaller, previously undetectable changes during rehabilitation; and (3) providing patients more control of their own rehabilitation and the ability to achieve a higher frequency of exercise without disrupting their life. The Rehab Robo prototype will allow for at-home rehabilitation with real-time, high-resolution data transmission and collection for clinician control and feedback, ultimately, improving the access to care and quality of life for those with neuromuscular diseases.