Development of a Pediatric Exoskeleton for Gait Rehabilitation

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Abstract Cerebral palsy and spina bifida affect thousands of children in the United States alone each year. These children are often unable to walk without utilizing braces; however, these orthoses are cumbersome, energetically costly, and must be frequently replaced as the child grows. These factors lead to reduced use, and thus reduced benefit. Exoskeletons have emerged as a tool in gait rehabilitation that can provide addition power as well as guidance throughthe gait cycle. Current devices are too large for a child to utilize and devices have not been designed with these specific diagnoses in mind. The goal of this project is to develop an exoskeleton for pediatric gait training therapy for those with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. This device will provide functional practice of a natural gai while providing the additional strength that the child may need to complete the step. Furthermore, by making the device adjustable, the exoskeleton can grow with