Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With Modular Powered Orthoses

Part of paid clinical trials in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sponsor
University of Michigan
Study ID
NCT05240014
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Chronic Overuse Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Frailty/Sarcopenia
  • Lower-limb Orthoses

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 85 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Modular powered orthosis — DEVICE
    This study will investigate modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. The central hypothesis is that high-torque, low-inertia motor systems controlled with energetic objectives will enable modular powered orthoses to partially assist the joints. High-torque electric motors combined with minimal transmissions can be freely rotated (i.e., backdriven) by human joints, allowing the use of an emerging torque control method called energy shaping to reduce the perceived weight/inertia of the body during any motion. By mounting these modular actuators to commercial orthoses, this technology will be easily prescribed/configured by clinicians.

Study Details

The overall goal of this project is to develop modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. This project aims to establish feasibility of assisting different populations with these modular powered orthoses. The investigators hypothesize that assisting lower-limb musculature with modular powered orthoses will improve 1) lifting/lowering posture in able-bodied subjects and 2) functional outcomes in elderly subjects.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 29, 2022
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Sep 20, 2026
Completion
Sep 21, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
33 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER

Arms

  • Experimental: Exoskeleton
    Participants in this arm of the study will perform various tasks while wearing the modular powered orthosis

Primary Outcome Measure

Powered orthosis effect (muscle effort) [ Time Frame: 1 day ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Rehab Lab, University of MichiganAnn ArborMichigan48109
Emily Klinkman, MS
[email protected]
734-763-1156

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Rehab Lab, University of Michigan· Ann Arbor, MI