FZS hosted a workshop on the development of an exoskeleton prototype

Researchers from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen together with Bavarian colleagues from the Technische Hochschule Deggendorf discussed the development of an exoskeleton prototype for use in common rehabilitation processes.

The initial development of a test prototype of the exoskeleton for rehabilitation and prosthetic practice was carried out by researchers from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (Faculty of Health Studies, Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, Regional technological Institute, Faculty of Applied Sciences) and colleagues from the Bavarian Technische Hochschule Deggendorf (Technology Campus Cham, Technology Campus Hutturm, Bad Kötzting Medical Campus). Their joint workshop took place on 12 and 13 March in Pilsen.

The goal of the meeting was to discuss the use of shared innovations in design, construction technologies, 3D printing, mechatronics, applied cybernetics (brain-computer interface) and innovations in rehabilitation fields. Based on the defined features and key functional and design elements, an experienced team of 20 people will develop a prototype in the coming months, which will then be tested on patients and directed to the application sphere, for use in common rehabilitation processes.

"For the specification of the requirements for the exoskeleton, the multidisciplinary representation in the medical part of the team consisting of physiotherapists and orthotists-prosthetists, as well as the close cooperation between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Medical Campus Bad Kötzting, was crucial," says Rita Firýtová from the Department of Rehabilitation Studies at the Faculty of Health Care Studies of the University of West Bohemia.

The project responds in an interdisciplinary way to the strong societal demand for innovation in the medical field and uses international know-how to develop and create new tools that will soon find application in practice.

"In the university environment we simulate the work of regular research and development teams as it is known from regular commerce. At the same time, our ambition is to prepare a prototype of the exoskeleton for technology transfer so that it can serve patients as soon as possible," added Tomáš Chochole from the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, who has long been involved in interdisciplinary topics.

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