Human-like Robotic Controllers for Enhanced Motor Learning

Launched by SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB · Oct 1, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how human-like robotic controllers can help improve movement learning for people recovering from strokes or spinal cord injuries. Researchers want to understand how humans interact physically with each other and use this knowledge to create robots that can mimic these interactions. By studying both healthy individuals and those with movement challenges, the team aims to develop robots that can assist with rehabilitation and enhance learning through different types of interaction, like working together or competing.

To participate, individuals need to be between 18 and 80 years old and meet certain health criteria, such as being able to walk independently for at least 10 meters. Healthy participants should not have any neurological disorders or significant health issues that might affect their movements. Those who have had a stroke or have a spinal cord injury must also meet specific requirements related to their condition. Participants can expect to work with these robotic systems in a supportive environment, helping to advance research that could lead to better rehabilitation techniques.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Participants:
• • Age from 18 to 80 years
• • No history of a brain and/or skull lesion
• • Normal hearing and vision, can be corrected
• • Able to understand and give informed consent
• • No neurological disorders
• • Absence of pathology that could cause abnormal movements of extremities (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, marked arthritis, chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries)
• • Able to understand and speak English
• • Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches
• Inclusion Criteria for Participants Post-Stroke:
• • Age from 18 to 80 years
• • History of unilateral, supratentorial, ischemic or hemorrhage stroke greater than 6 month
• • Ability to walk \>10m independently on level ground, allowed to use assistive devices or bracing as needed
• • Self-selected walking speed is less than 0.8 meters/sec
• • Medically stable
• • No concurrent surgeries, medical treatments, participation in research or outpatient therapy
• • Normal hearing and vision, both can be corrected
• • Able to understand and give informed consent
• • Able to understand and speak English
• • Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches
• Inclusion Criteria for Participants with Spinal Cord Injury:
• • Age from 18 to 80 years
• • History of incomplete SCI injury (ASIA C or D) \> 6 months prior
• • Ability to walk \>10 m independently on level ground, allowed to use assistive devices or bracing as needed
• • Self-selected walking speed is less than 0.8 meters/sec
• • Medically stable
• • No concurrent surgeries, medical treatments, participation in research or outpatient therapy
• • Normal hearing and vision, both can be corrected
• • Able to understand and give informed consent
• • Able to understand and speak English
• • Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches
• Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Participants:
• • Weight over 220 lbs
• • Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy questionnaire)
• • Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers
• • Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, or cancer of the central nervous system
• • History of significant head trauma (i.e., extended loss of consciousness, neurological sequelae)
• • Known structural brain lesion
• • Significant other disease (heart disease, malignant tumors, mental disorders)
• • History or peripheral nerve injury
• • History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed)
• • Prior neurosurgical procedures
• • Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities
• • Prisoners
• • Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements
• Exclusion Criteria for Participants Post-Stroke:
• • Weight over 220 lbs
• • Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy test)
• • Botox (botulinum toxin) injection to lower limbs within the prior 3 months, or planned injection during study period.
• • Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers
• • History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed)
• • Reduced cognitive function
• • Severe aphasia
• • Prisoners
• • Co-existence of other neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or cancer of the central nervous system)
• • History or peripheral nerve injury
• • Severe hip, knee, or ankle arthritis
• • Recent fracture or osteoporosis
• • Significant spasticity in the lower limbs (≥3 on Modified Ashworth Scale)
• • Medical (cardiac, renal, hepatic, oncological) or psychiatric disease that would interfere with study procedures
• • Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities
• • Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements
• Exclusion Criteria for Participants with Spinal Cord Injury:
• • Weight over 220 lbs
• • Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy test)
• • Botox (botulinum toxin) injection to lower limbs within the prior 3 months, or planned injection during study period
• • Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers
• • History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed)
• • Prisoners
• • Co-existence of other neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or cancer of the central nervous system)
• • History of peripheral nerve injury
• • Severe hip, knee, or ankle arthritis
• • Recent fracture or osteoporosis
• • Significant spasticity in the lower limbs ( ≥3 on Modified Ashworth Scale)
• • Medical (cardiac, renal, hepatic, oncological) or psychiatric disease that would interfere with study procedures
• • Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities
• • Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements