LSU Seniors Design New Quadriplegic Exoskeleton for Mobility

posted on Jun 08 by Admin in the Disability News, Health, Healthcare, Paralysis Cures, Spinal Cord Injury, Technology category

A group of Engineering seniors at Louisiana State University have taken on a senior design project that hits close to home for a LSU alum, Norman Deumite. Norman’s son, Sloan, broke his neck at the age of 17 in a boating accident that left him a quadriplegic (paralysis in all four limbs and torso). The Deumites have been given hope that Sloan, now 40, may one day soon be able to walk again with the assistance of a new kind of exoskeleton.

Norman is an active LSU alumnus, giving generous donations and sponsoring several programs. He pitched his idea to the LSU Engineering Seniors to design and construct a new type of exoskeleton for quadriplegics by combining a gyroscopic balance system with the current type of exoskeleton designed for paraplegics (paralysis in the lower limbs only). Existing exoskeletons that function for paraplegics are not currently available for quadriplegics, due to a problem with balance. Himself an LSU graduate of the university’s Mechanical Engineering program in 1958, Norman and the seniors embarked on the project, aptly named “Walk Again.”

The collaborative project includes seven Mechanical Engineering seniors (Patrick Vocke, David Bray, Steven Cobb, Blake Conzelman, Mark Korinek, Evan Ledet, and Rachel Yates), two Electrical Engineering seniors (Brittany Culotta and William La Fleur), and one Computer Science Engineering senior (Patrick Sibley). The “Walk Again” group is advised by Marcio de Queiroz, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Norman Deumite, the sponsor with his initial investment $35,000.00. The project will take a minimum of three different groups of students to complete.

The group’s main focus is on the balancing aspect of the exoskeleton. Once this obstacle is overcome, later groups will focus on the walking aspect. The exoskeleton has no knee joints, but it will rely on the more commonly used hip and ankle joints to facilitate bending.

“The exoskeleton is designed as a double inverted pendulum with the ankle and waist as the two points or joints,” de Queiroz states.

For core support, the exoskeleton will use a back plate, plates under each foot, and a bracket around the hip. Pressure sensors on the foot plates will detect and correct weight distribution to assist in keeping the user properly balanced. Additionally, hydraulic cylinders will work in pairs for balance, but move individually to walk.

Sloan is able to walk a few hundred yards with a heavy-duty walker, but the new exoskeleton could greatly improve his motor skills. The group has assessed Sloan’s current motor abilities, customizing the project’s focus and direction to Sloan and how he would benefit most from the exoskeleton.

The students say the project is made all the more rewarding because they know who is going to benefit from their work. Both Norman and Sloan eagerly await the group’s final presentation.

Source: http://www.lsureveille.com/mobile/students-design-exoskeleton-for-quadriplegic-1.2540805