| Autor: |
In Kim, Jae, Choi, Jaeyoun, Kim, Junhyung, Song, Junkyung, Park, Jaebum, Park, Yong-Lae |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Science Robotics; 7/17/2024, Vol. 9 Issue 92, p1-11, 11p |
| Abstrakt: |
Lumbar spine injuries resulting from heavy or repetitive lifting remain a prevalent concern in workplaces. Back-support devices have been developed to mitigate these injuries by aiding workers during lifting tasks. However, existing devices often fall short in providing multidimensional force assistance for asymmetric lifting, an essential feature for practical workplace use. In addition, validation of device safety across the entire human spine has been lacking. This paper introduces the Bilateral Back Extensor Exosuit (BBEX), a robotic back-support device designed to address both functionality and safety concerns. The design of the BBEX draws inspiration from the anatomical characteristics of the human spine and back extensor muscles. Using a multi–degree-of-freedom architecture and serially connected linear actuators, the device's components are strategically arranged to closely mimic the biomechanics of the human spine and back extensor muscles. To establish the efficacy and safety of the BBEX, a series of experiments with human participants was conducted. Eleven healthy male participants engaged in symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks while wearing the BBEX. The results confirm the ability of the BBEX to provide effective multidimensional force assistance. Moreover, comprehensive safety validation was achieved through analyses of muscle fatigue in the upper and the lower erector spinae muscles, as well as mechanical loading on spinal joints during both lifting scenarios. By seamlessly integrating functionality inspired by human biomechanics with a focus on safety, this study offers a promising solution to address the persistent challenge of preventing lumbar spine injuries in demanding work environments. Editor's summary: Repetitive tasks involving lifting of objects such as in industrial settings can cause injuries to the spine and back muscles. Although wearable exoskeleton suits can be used in these settings to alleviate risks to injury, they may not provide multidimensional movement during asymmetric lifting. Kim et al. have developed an active Bilateral Back Extensor Exosuit capable of multidimensional force assistance during lifting tasks. The wearable device offers multiple degrees of freedom in range of motion and was shown to provide back muscle force assistance and to decrease compression on the spines of human participants during asymmetric and symmetric lifting tasks. —Amos Matsiko [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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