Strategies for using electromyographic signals to control ankle torque in an active joint brace for alleviating drop-foot gait

This thesis describes the efforts to develop control strategies that use EMG signals from the anterior tibialis muscle to control ankle torque in an active ankle-foot orthosis. This would ultimately help rehabilitate persons affected by drop-foot gait, a condition which results in the loss of ability to dorsi-flex the ankle. This causes dropping of the toe during the swing phase of walking and "slapping down" of the foot after heel strike. Alleviation of these gait anomalies would improve mobility efficiency, safety, and cosmesis. Several types of orthotic devices fitted with springs and/or dampers have been used to control torque around the ankle and consequently facilitate the natural pattern of movement during the gait cycle. However, recent studies on powered upper-extremity orthoses controlled by EMGsignals from the users' impaired muscles have produced an unexpected and potentially exciting result. The use of EMG-controlled orthoses seems to improve the user's ability to control the compromised muscles and subsequently rebuild the connection between the brain and the output of those muscles. This could be a crucial step in helping stroke patients make a full recovery.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Lin, Elizabeth C

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Woodie Flowers.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36292

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36292