Gait Kinematics and Exoskeleton Interventions
Robot suit HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) is an exoskeleton able to provide an unique scenario for motor interventions in patients after stroke or myelopathy in either acute or chronic stages. Unveiling the neurological mechanisms activated for recovery after this intervention will lead to the development of refined technologies for neurologic patients.
HAL has been designed by Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai from the Center for Cybernics Research at the University of Tsukuba.
Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) and Gait Analysis
Collecting reliable and reproducible data from patients is always a challenge. The gold standard for kinematics analysis up to date are VICON cameras. However high cost and lack of portability are an issue. Our team is developing a new strategy for Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to collect kinematic data comparable to VICON systems. The use of IMUs for this purpose will improve portability allowing us to collect information from patients in remote places during interventions and for following up their status in a long term fashion.
Spasticity and Movement Recovery
Spasticity is a symptom secondary to the abnormal signaling to the muscles due to damage in the brain or spinal cord resulting in an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory stimuli. Being a common symptom among stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy patients, it may reduce severely the quality of life by restricting the range of movement and inducing limb deformities and pain. We are developing novel approaches to treat spasticity in a non-invasive and pain-free way.
Communication and Sign Language
Human communication is a major aspect of our daily life activities and language is an important tool for interacting with others. In our lab, we want to implement technologies in order to provide tools for sign language users in order to provide them with elements that empower them and enable them to use sign language without depending on the listener.
AI for Eye Diseases
Eye diseases are variated and their diagnosis depends on trained ophthalmologists. We want to implement Artificial Intelligence in order to ease the diagnosis of ocular diseases allowing the recognition or suggestion of certain conditions for the general public and for the training of doctors in training as well.
Animal Models of Human Diseases
The human central nervous system complexity stands a challenge to evaluate interventions. Animal models of human diseases offer a way to see further the skin and allow us to evaluate interventions under development when human testing is not available.