Improvement of the gait deviation index for spinal cord injury to broaden its applicability: the reduced gait deviation index for spinal cord injury (rSCI-GDI).

Background: The SCI-GDI is an accurate and effective metric to summarize gait kinematics in adults with SCI. It is usually computed with the information registered with a photogrammetry system because it requires accurate information of pelvic and hip movement in the three anatomic planes, which is hard to record with simpler systems. Additionally, due to being developed from the GDI, the SCI-GDI is built upon nine joint movements selected for a pediatric population with cerebral palsy, for which the GDI was originally developed, but those nine movements are not necessarily as meaningful for adults with SCI.

A new modular neuroprosthesis suitable for hybrid FES-robot applications and tailored assistance.

Background: To overcome the application limitations of functional electrical stimulation (FES), such as fatigue or nonlinear muscle response, the combination of neuroprosthetic systems with robotic devices has been evaluated, resulting in hybrid systems that have promising potential. However, current technology shows a lack of flexibility to adapt to the needs of any application, context or individual. The main objective of this study is the development of a new modular neuroprosthetic system suitable for hybrid FES-robot applications to meet these needs.

Validation of an IMU-based Gait Analysis Method for Assessment of Fall Risk Against Traditional Methods.

Falls are a severe problem in older adults, often resulting in severe consequences such as injuries or loss of consciousness. It is crucial to screen fall risk in order to prescribe appropriate therapies that can potentially prevent falls. Identifying individuals who have experienced falls in the past, commonly known as fallers, is used to evaluate fall risk, as a prior fall indicates a higher likelihood of future falls.

Towards a validated glossary of usability attributes for the evaluation of wearable robotic devices.

Background: Despite technical advances in the field of wearable robotic devices (WRD), there is still limited user acceptance of these technologies. While usability often comes as a key factor influencing acceptance, there is a scattered landscape of definitions and scopes for the term. To advance usability evaluation, and to integrate usability features as design requirements during technology development, there is a need for benchmarks and shared terminology.

First-in-human demonstration of floating EMG sensors and stimulators wirelessly powered and operated by volume conduction.

Background: Recently we reported the design and evaluation of floating semi-implantable devices that receive power from and bidirectionally communicate with an external system using coupling by volume conduction. The approach, of which the semi-implantable devices are proof-of-concept prototypes, may overcome some limitations presented by existing neuroprostheses, especially those related to implant size and deployment, as the implants avoid bulky components and can be developed as threadlike devices. Here, it is reported the first-in-human acute demonstration of these devices for electromyography (EMG) sensing and electrical stimulation.