Aircradle: Enabling the Manipulation of Real Objects During Robot-assisted Stroke Rehabilitation

Research Objectives: To investigate the clinical usability of integrating the AirCradle™ system with Burt® robot-assisted arm support.

Design: A usability pilot study was conducted using the AirCradle™ system and Burt® robot-assisted arm support to facilitate pick-and-place tasks and object manipulation for stroke survivors. The setup revolved around the robot-assisted arm support, a sophisticated medical device featuring a robot arm that securely attaches to a patient's arm and provides both freedom of movement and unweighting as required for rehabilitation. Central to our investigation was the integration of an end-effector system, camera rig, and supporting software called AirCradle™. This system complements the robot-assisted arm support capabilities by allowing participants to interact with real objects while leveraging virtual reality, where the states of physical objects are represented and dynamically updated in virtual on-screen settings. This enables patients to see themselves interact with those objects, thereby enabling stroke survivors to interact with physical objects in a virtual reality environment, immersing participants in a dynamic rehabilitation setting.

Setting: Rehabilitation Hospital

Participants: Fifteen stroke survivors were recruited. Of those, eleven were eligible to complete the study.

Interventions: Participants engaged in object manipulation tasks with and without the utilization of the robot-assisted arm support. The interventions involved performing movements of the forearm and hand to reach for real objects on a table, with variations in support provided by the robot-assisted support system and feedback from the integrated software.

Main Outcome Measures: Study participants completed the System Usability Scale as the main outcome measure to evaluate the system's usability and effectiveness. Semi-structured interview questions captured participant satisfaction regarding object manipulation capabilities and user experience, providing insights into the system's impact on rehabilitation outcomes.

Results: Nearly 3 in 4 participants found the system made it easier to perform the motor tasks while using the robot-assisted support. An even larger number of participants reported being very satisfied with the system, though 3 in 4 participants suggested modifications to improve fit and comfort. On average, participants reported subjective grip strength was greater when using the robot. Seven individuals reported high system usability.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the combined system facilitated improved object manipulation capabilities while providing essential support to the affected arm. Most participants reported enhanced ease in performing motor tasks and expressed high satisfaction with the system. Overall, these results underscore the potential of this integrated approach to enhance rehabilitation outcomes for stroke survivors, suggesting avenues for further development and implementation in clinical settings.

Author(s) Disclosures: No disclosures