Webinar 3 in the Seminar on Robotics for rehabilitation and elderly care seminar series.

By Prof. Zlatko Matjači, Professor of Biomechanics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Head of R and D Unit, University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia on 15 February 2021

Abstract: Ability to adequately maintain dynamic balance during walking is an essential task in human locomotion which is in most cases impaired after stroke. We developed a robot that enables application of perturbing pushes to the pelvis during walking. Experimental studies in neurologically intact subjects have shown that balancing responses to perturbing pushes greatly vary with speed of walking as well. Zlatko Matjačić obtained PhD in electrical engineering from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Currently, he is the Head of Research and Development Unit at University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia. He is also a Full Professor of Biomechanics at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. From 1998 to 2001 he was with Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Denmark. His research interests include human motion analysis and synthesis, biomechanics, and rehabilitation robotics. He has led several national and international research projects related to rehabilitation of movement. He holds eleven international patents, two of them were commercialized as standing balance training device “Balance Trainer” and walking balance training device “E-go”(www.thera-trainer.de). His group has in the last decade developed several rehabilitation robots for neurorehabilitation of goal-directed upper extremity movement and for neurorehabilitation of walking. The work of his research group is strongly oriented into transfer of basic science into viable practical approaches and devices with the view of deployment in clinical practice. Dr. Matjačić received “The Jožef Stefan Golden Emblem Award” for outstanding contributions made to science in doctoral thesis (2000) as well as prestigious Slovenian national “Puh Award” for excellence in transferring new scientific findings into innovative products (2012).

The recording is available below:

Webinar 2 in the Seminar on Robotics for rehabilitation and elderly care seminar series

By Prof Ashish D. Deshpande, Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin, USA on 29 January 2021

Abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the US and around the world, and the current rehabilitation treatments are costly, labor-intensive and insufficient, leaving millions of stroke survivors with life altering disabilities. Deshpande’s group has built a novel robot, called Harmony Exoskeleton, for upper-body rehabilitation. Fundamental Ashish D. Deshpande is passionate about helping stroke patients recover from their disabilities and he believes robots could serve as important tools in the recovery process. He is a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the ReNeu Robotics Lab. His work focuses on the study of human system and design of robotic systems toward the goals accelerating recovery after a neurological injury (e.g. stroke and spinal cord injury), improving the quality of lives of those living disabilities (e.g. amputation) and enhancing lives and productivity of workers, soldiers and astronauts. Specifically, his group has designed two novel exoskeletons for delivering engaging and subject-specific training for neuro-recovery of upper-body movements after stroke and spinal cord injury. Dr Deshpande is a co-founder of Harmonic Bionics whose mission is to improve rehabilitation outcomes for stroke patients.

The recording is available below:

Webinar 1 in the Seminar on Robotics for rehabilitation and elderly care seminar series

Prof Sunil Agrawal, Professor, Columbia University, USA on 11 January 2021

Abstract: Neural disorders and old age limit the ability of humans to perform activities of daily living. Robotics can be used to probe the human neuromuscular system and create new pathways to characterize, relearn, or restore functional movements. Dr Agrawal’s group at Columbia University Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory has designed innovative technologies and robots for this purpose. These technologies have been tested on subjects in a variety of studies to understand the human cognitive and Speaker Bio neuro-muscular response. Human experiments have targeted patients with stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Vestibular disorders, elderly subjects and others. The talk will provide an overview of some of these technologies and scientific studies performed with them.

Recording is available below: