Abstract
We have developed a walking assistance device using an orthosis for neuro-rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients. In clinical trials, the users including MD and PT requested as follows: 1) Low cost (because an orthosis is generally expensive), 2) Adjustable for various users, 3) Easy to bend at the toe (because the sole of orthosis was made of hard plastic), 4) Can grasp the sole pressure without fail (inner sole type pressure sensor was apt to keep on pressing). To address these problems, we developed novel type of the walking device enabled to attach under the user's shoes directly, without using an orthosis. The soleplate of this device under the toe was configured the flexible rubber plate, therefore the user enabled to kick by his/her toe at the end of stance phase. Furthermore, this device equips four pressure sensors to evaluate user's gait posture precisely, and it can be diagnosed user's condition of bone alignment of the leg, e.g., varus or valgus knee. We can therefore suggest the feasibility of this device for gait training of hemiplegic patients using this diagnose method.
