Czech-German experts present hope for improving rehabilitation of patients with movement limitations

International Seminar Cooperation

A joint project of Czech and German experts is to support a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients with mobility limitations and their return to independence. The optimization of the lower limb exoskeleton solution was discussed together at a workshop at the UWB in Pilsen.

The attachment of the 3D printed sleeve to the lower limb, the connection of the calf and foot parts, the choice of the motor, the type of knee joint and the inner lining were the key topics of discussion over the technical and design solution of the special exoskeleton. A Czech-Bavarian workshop focused on the development of the lower limb exoskeleton was held at the Faculty of Health Care Studies of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen on 3rd and 4th December. The project entitled Applied Research on the Exoskeleton for Use in Rehabilitation brings together experts from the faculties of Health Care Studies, Ladislav Sutnar faculty of Design and Art, Applied Sciences and RTI at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and their partners from the Technische Hochschule Deggendorf. Together, they aim to create an innovative facility that will significantly improve the rehabilitation of patients with mobility limitations and support their journey to independence.

"The cooperation between engineers, health professionals and designers allows us to find practical and aesthetically functional solutions," said Rita Firýtová, project leader for the Faculty of Health Care Studies at UWB. The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art was assigned a role in the design area to ensure not only the visual attractiveness but also the user-friendliness of the resulting device.

Subsequent discussion covered the rehabilitation process itself, testing of the exoskeleton in practice, and activity in testing a brain-computer interface (BCI) driver based on motor imagery for the lower limb exoskeleton. "The next phase of the project will focus on the final completion and integration of the brain-computer interface prototype with the exoskeleton. This innovation will allow to control or activate the early stages of rehabilitation through the user's threshold level of concentration on a specific rehabilitation exercise, thus opening up new possibilities for effective and personalized rehabilitation care," described Roman Mouček from the Faculty of Applied Sciences at UWB.

The next joint workshop will take place next March at the Bad Kötzting Medical Campus of the Technische Hochschule Deggendorf. The team of experts expects that by then the exoskeleton prototype will be ready for further testing, bringing it one step closer to real-life deployment.

The workshop took place within the Czech-Bavarian project Applied research of exoskeleton for use in rehabilitation, BYCZ01-007 - ExRe. The project was supported by the INTERREG Bavaria - Czech Republic 2021 - 2027 Programme.

         

Gallery


Faculty of Health Care Studies

Markéta Maurer, Lucie Brůžková

10. 12. 2024