Upper Extremity Exoskeleton Research Grant - NJIT & Talem Technologies

Upper Extremity Exoskeleton Research Grant - NJIT & Talem Technologies

Funder: Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)

Award Amount: $600,000

Focus Area: Robotic exoskeleton development and clinical research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Background

This grant represents the next phase of PPMD's Robotics Initiative, funding a partnership between the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Talem Technologies. The project builds on successful collaboration between biomedical engineers who have tested technology, worked with the Duchenne community, and refined the technology based on community feedback.

Project Description

The upper-extremity exoskeleton developed by Talem Technologies was further refined in collaboration with biomedical engineers at NJIT to accept modular robotic assistance technology. This is the first of its kind to provide intuitive robotic guidance controls and motorized assistance to people with Duchenne, allowing them to continue to use their arms as their muscles weaken.

Technology Features:

Uses admittance control, a robotic control paradigm where the motion of the robot is controlled by the magnitude and direction of force applied by the user's arm

Minimizes friction and inertia compared to passive arm supports

Provides precise compensation against gravity

Reduces exertion necessary to move a limb, particularly vertically

Wheelchair-mountable passive arm supports provided initially

Modular upgrade to partially motorize arm support after several months

Community Involvement

The exoskeleton development is driven by families with Duchenne. Zach Smith has been a key innovator on this technology, along with more than a dozen young men who provided counsel and guidance to product developers and engineers.

Geographic Scope

United States

Eligibility

• Non-ambulatory members of the Duchenne community eligible for participation in research study
• Competitive award to research institutions and companies

Contact Information

• Phone: 1-800-714-5437
• Email: info@parentprojectmd.org
• Address: 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005
• Website: parentprojectmd.org