A team led by an Indian origin scientist from the Columbia engineering team invented a robotic device that can be used for people with spinal cord injuries to get themselves trained by not using their torso strength which would strain spinal cord. This robotic device would help in regaining trunk control without using the hands or lower back for support while sitting and doing any work. Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) have a very huge impact on the nervous system and the lower back and this is the main part of the human skeleton. SCI injuries may end up causing severe nerve damages and paralysis in some parts as well and can be fatal in some cases or lifetime full body paralysis in server cases.
Sunil Agrawal a professor of the mechanical engineering team that has designed the robotic arm quotes and says that “We designed TruST for people with SCIs who are typically wheelchair users. We found that TruST not only prevents patients from falling, but also maximizes trunk movements beyond patients’ postural control, or balance limits.”
The robotic trunk is an electronic device that is designed in way which can be used for the customers upper body torso to provide support while any physical activity that would exert pressure on the injured back or spine. This may include walking in a bad posture, bending to sit or standing up or even lying down. Spine injuries could end up being very complicated that may have devasting effects on the body. The cost of treatment for SCI are not easy and may require posture correction devices. This is to avoid upper body movements as much as possible.
The robotic arm platform will have significant challenges to help patient avoid the unnatural and over exertive pressure on the trunk over a large workspace. This pressure would be corrected over a period of time to have a stable improvement of the posture over workspace with better posture control.
