Authors:
Anelise Ventura
1
;
João Marcos Peron Bataglia
2
;
Leonardo Mendes Ribeiro Machado
3
;
Jorge Vicente Lopes da Silva
3
;
Renato Varoto
2
;
4
and
Alberto Cliquet Jr.
1
;
2
;
4
Affiliations:
1
Bioengineering Post Graduate Course, University of São Paulo (USP), Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense 400, São Carlos, Brazil
;
2
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of São Paulo (USP), Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense 400, São Carlos, Brazil
;
3
Renato Archer Information Technology Center, Dom Pedro I Highway (SP-65) Km 143.6, Campinas, Brazil
;
4
Orthopedics & Traumatology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, Brazil
Keyword(s):
Parametric Design, NMES, Tetraplegia, Upper Limbs, Wearable System Design.
Abstract:
This work presents a portable and customized wearable system design towards applying Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to tetraplegicsúpper limbs patients, from creation to production, with users’ participation into the design process. The rehabilitation system protocol for reach and grasp movements developed by an academic research group, currently applied to patients, has already proven to be effective. However, the current system and recently published researches, demonstrate proposals distancing from those who will use and manipulate it, with limitations and failures evidenced. The propose wearable system integrates electrodes and electronic components activated by a smartphone app to improve the performance of upper limb movements and optimize the system, making it more functional for your users. The methodology includes (1) Design Thinking process, (2) Parametric Design process and three dimensional production, (3) Reduction of the electronic circuits, (4) Development
of Android application for setting NMES protocols and (5) Workbench tests and users experimentation. The methodology in this new approach of development proved to be feasible and effective. Results have shown that including the end users and health professionals in the design process to develop wearable system is a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of the NMES systems.
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