Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC               December 11, 2000
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

Carolina Martinez
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
(Phone: 818/354-9382)

Harlan Lebo
University of California, Los Angeles
(Phone: 310/206-0510)

RELEASE:  00-194

NASA ROBOTICS MAY SOON HELP SPINAL CORD PATIENTS TAKE FIRST STEPS

     NASA engineers and University of California, Los Angeles 
(UCLA), neurophysiologists are creating a robot-like device that 
could help rehabilitate thousands of Americans with spinal cord 
injuries.  

"We are developing a prototype robotic stepper device that when 
complete will be used as part of rehabilitation that can 
potentially help some people now wheelchair-bound take their first 
steps," said Jim Weiss, program manager for collaborative neural 
repair at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA. 
"This system can do the work of four therapists and help monitor a 
patient's progress in a controlled manner."

The device, still in the development phase, will look like a 
treadmill with robotic arms, and will be fitted with a harness to 
support the patient's weight. The arms resemble knee braces that 
attach to the patient's leg, guiding the legs properly on the 
moving treadmill.

The robotic stepper device is one of several projects in the 
Neural Repair Program at the UCLA Brain Research Institute and 
JPL. UCLA neurologists now believe that by using the robotic 
stepper device in rehabilitation, some patients functionally 
confined to wheelchairs may be able to learn to walk again, and 
those with limited movement could improve their level of walking.

NASA and UCLA researchers emphasize the robotic stepper is still 
in development and is not yet ready for use in rehabilitation. 
However, the device could be part of clinical trials at UCLA in 
about three years. 

 "We see tremendous potential for rehabilitation that uses this 
form of therapy," said Dr. Reggie Edgerton, professor in the 
departments of physiological science and neurobiology at UCLA.
 
"Some rehabilitation centers around the world are starting 
programs that will allow therapists to train individuals affected 
with spinal injuries, stroke and perhaps other neuromotor 
disorders to improve their mobility and stepping capacity," 
Edgerton said. "This robotic device could help therapists in those 
rehabilitation efforts." 

Current rehabilitation therapies are labor-intensive, and require 
up to four therapists. Unlike therapists, who only sense and 
observe a patient's progress, the robotic device takes precise 
measurements of the person's force, speed, acceleration, and 
resistance, counting each step the patient takes. These precise 
measurements help therapists monitor the day-to-day progress of 
their patients and provide valuable information on the 
effectiveness of the therapy. These measurements will be used by a 
control system that can assist the robotic stepper device as 
needed.

JPL robotic engineers have worked alongside therapists to develop 
the device, which has highly sensitive sensors that collect up to 
24 different data readings of the patient's activity. The device, 
connected to a computer, displays the information on the screen 
for the therapist to monitor. 

According to Weiss, the same device could also someday be useful 
to astronauts and help them walk safely after prolonged periods in 
space, such as extended missions on the International Space 
Station. 

JPL and UCLA are actively pursuing efforts to commercialize the 
robotic system. JPL technically supported UCLA in filing a patent 
application in August. 

"Many technologies developed at NASA for space exploration have 
tremendous medical applications. We can provide practical 
solutions based on our engineering experience," said Dr. Antal 
Bejczy, senior research scientist and lead engineer on the robotic 
stepper device at JPL. 

JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology 
in Pasadena.

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