Locomat, a System for Locomotion Therapy (SLT)
A system for the locomotion therapy (SLT) is suggested for use in rehabilitation of motor activity of patients with
spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, and diseases of the nervous system. The system
allows the patient to maintain a vertical position on a treadmill. It partially compensates the patient's weight and
forces the patient's legs to move in sync with the treadmill belt. The SLT provides physiological movement of the
lower limbs (walking) of the patient using special drives of the hip and ankle joints.
The system for the locomotion therapy (SLT) isintended to provide robot[1]mediated locomotor therapy of patients with locomotor disorders. Locomotor therapy is widely believed to be the most effective method for restoration of walking behavior [1-4]. Treadmill walking is accompanied by forced movement of the patient’s legs along the treadmill. Originally, the patient’s movements were assisted by two physicians. To facilitate this process, robot[1]assisted systems Locomat (Switzerland) and ReoAmbulator (USA) were developed. However, these devices are rather expensive and unfriendly in use.
The SLT can be used in neurological rehabilitation (cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, diseases of the nervous system), rehabilitation after injury (spinal trauma, long[1]term immobilization after limb injury), and orthopedic rehabilitation (lower extremity deformation).
The SLT can be used for rehabilitation of adult and pediatric patients. A general view of the SLT is shown in Fig. 1.
The SLT contains:
– special platform with holder;
– crane for body support;
– three belts for compensation of patient’s weight up to 100 kg;
– electric treadmill with rate 0.3-5 km/h;
– wheelchair ramp;
– chair for patient’s rest;
– electromechanical drivers of hip and ankle joints
of patients with height 90[1]195 cm and weight up to 140 kg;
– remote control system for notebook computer;
The system for the locomotion therapy (SLT) isintended to provide robot[1]mediated locomotor therapy of patients with locomotor disorders. Locomotor therapy is widely believed to be the most effective method for restoration of walking behavior [1-4]. Treadmill walking is accompanied by forced movement of the patient’s legs along the treadmill. Originally, the patient’s movements were assisted by two physicians. To facilitate this process, robot[1]assisted systems Locomat (Switzerland) and ReoAmbulator (USA) were developed. However, these devices are rather expensive and unfriendly in use.
The SLT can be used in neurological rehabilitation (cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, diseases of the nervous system), rehabilitation after injury (spinal trauma, long[1]term immobilization after limb injury), and orthopedic rehabilitation (lower extremity deformation).
The SLT can be used for rehabilitation of adult and pediatric patients. A general view of the SLT is shown in Fig. 1.
The SLT contains:
– special platform with holder;
– crane for body support;
– three belts for compensation of patient’s weight up to 100 kg;
– electric treadmill with rate 0.3-5 km/h;
– wheelchair ramp;
– chair for patient’s rest;
– electromechanical drivers of hip and ankle joints
of patients with height 90[1]195 cm and weight up to 140 kg;
– remote control system for notebook computer;
– alarm stop system;
– portable 8_ or 16_channel myoneurostimulator;
– workplace with operating system Windows XP.
Dimensions of the systems are 350 х 140 х 240 cm; weight, 270 kg.
Mechanical drive of hip and ankle joints is mediated
by two Maxon Motor devices. The SLT costs 100 000 USD.
The systems has been certified with public health certificate No. FSR 2011/12477 (08.12.2011) and corre_ spondence certificate No. 0027775 (23.04.2012)