Abstract:
A robotic system for rehabilitation using EMG signals to provide mechanical help includes EMG electrodes ( 6 ) sequentially connected in series, a DAS card ( 2 ) and a control portion ( 1 ), and further includes an actuator ( 3 ) connected to the DAS card ( 2 ) and an additional moment providing portion ( 4 ) connected to the actuator ( 3 ). The EMG electrodes sense EMG signals corresponding to the muscle of suffering joint, and input the sensed EMG signals to the control portion ( 1 ) through the DAS card ( 2 ). The control portion ( 1 ) uses the input EMG signals and a constant moment set as desired to calculate an additional moment to be applied to the suffering joint, and additional moment providing portion ( 4 ) is controlled to apply the corresponding additional moment to the suffering joint through the DAS card ( 2 ) and the actuator ( 3 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to rehabilitation training equipments for assistant medical treatment, specifically to a rehabilitation robotic system and training method for providing mechanical help by using EMG (electromyographic) signals acquired from patients&#39; affected side. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Stroke is a common disease. The traditional rehabilitative devices have been introduced by Interactive robotic therapist in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,213 and A Multiple-motion rehabilitation training robot for hemiplegia upper limbs in Chinese Patent application CN 1480118A, for helping patients training their shoulder-elbow joints. However, the patients can merely be trained passively with these devices within such a little space which patients may not reach for their dyskinesia. 
         [0005]    Usually, there are some residual measured EMG signals in the patients&#39; affected muscle, and many of the rehabilitation devices use the residual EMG signals to encourage patients to join the rehabilitation trainings initiatively, such as Myoelectricity trainer disclosed in Chinese Patent CN 2103990U. However, these devices provide only a sound or visual feedback to patients based on the detected EMG signals, while there is no actual machinery help to the patients. This means that the devices could help the patients participate in the rehabilitation in their own initiative, but the acting qualities of the patients are restricted due to their own acting difficulties, so the devices could not help the patients&#39; rehabilitation training in a better way. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of this invention is to provide a new rehabilitation training equipment and method to help patients participate in mechanical training initiatively for improving the acting functions. 
         [0007]    The main object of this invention is to provide a rehabilitative robotic system for providing mechanical help to patients&#39; affected joints by using biofeedback (EMG signals). This rehabilitative robotic system comprising: an EMG electrode; a data acquisition card (DAS card); a control unit connecting to the EMG electrode and the data acquisition card in series; a driver connecting to the data acquisition card; an additional torque providing unit connecting to the driver, wherein the EMG signals from the muscle corresponding to affected joints are detected by the EMG electrode, and inputted into the control unit via the data acquisition card; and based on the inputted EMG signals and a preset constant torque required for mechanical help, an additional torque to affected joints is calculated by the control unit and further is provided via the data acquisition to the driver; the driver controls the additional torque providing unit with the additional torque for assisting affected joints. 
         [0008]    Produced from the muscle of affected joints when the patient act the affected muscle consciously using the rehabilitation robotic system, residual EMG signals is inputted into the control unit via the EMG electrodes, then the control unit controls the additional torque providing unit with the EMG signals to provide a proper additional torque. In the course of training, an assistive constant torque could be provided required for mechanical help by the control unit, which can be an assistive torque has same direction as the patient to act, or a resistive torque has opposite direction with the patient to act. 
         [0009]    Preferably, this rehabilitation robotic system further comprising a amplifying and filtering circuit, that is EMG amplifier, for rectifying and amplifying the EMG signals in full-wave, filtering with a moving window, such as with a moving window of 100 ms, and inputting the EMG signals into the data acquisition card. At the same time, the data acquisition card acquires EMG signals and additional torque signals at the sampling frequency of 1000 Hz in real time, and acquires angle signal at the sampling frequency of 100 Hz. 
         [0010]    Preferably, a normalized EMG signal NEMG j  inputted in the control unit are attained under the following equation (1): 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     NEMG 
                     j 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         w 
                         j 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         w 
                         r 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         w 
                         mvc 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         w 
                         r 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    wherein, w j  is an amplitude of rectified and filtered EMG signals created by the current acting of patients&#39; affected joints&#39; muscle, w r  is an amplitude rectified and filtered EMG signals created by patients&#39; affected joints&#39; muscle at rest, w mvc  is the rectified and filtered maximum amplitude of EMG signals created during maximal voluntary contraction; 
         [0011]    the additional torque T m  is calculated by the control unit under the following equation (2): 
         [0000]        T   m   =K   1   ×NEMG   j   −K   2   ×NEMG   i   +T   0   (2) 
         [0000]    wherein, NEMG j  is normalized EMG signal of the agonistic muscle, NEMG i  is normalized EMG signal of the antagonistic muscle, K 1  is the weighting coefficient of agonistic muscle, K 2  is the weighting coefficient of the antagonistic muscle, and T 0  is an additional constant torque that provided according to requirement. T 0  can be zero, positive value or negative value. The positive values means the direction of the torque and the direction which patients want to move are same, and the negative values means the direction of the torque and the direction which patients want to move are opposite. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the rehabilitation robotic system of the present invention further comprising: an angle sensor fixed on the additional torque providing unit and connected to the data acquisition card for measuring a patients&#39; affected joint angle and inputting the angle into the control unit via the data acquisition card; and a display unit connected to the control unit for displaying the information of the patients&#39; affected joint angles and an objective angle to patient. The system can provide mechanical help and visual feedback to patients at the same time for promoting the acting space of patients and improving patients&#39; rehabilitation confidence, further stimulating their cerebral consciousness with the visual feedback. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the system further comprising: a mechanical arm fixed on the additional torque providing unit for providing additional torque; and a motor connected to the mechanical arm for rotation, wherein the driver is motor driver. The assistive torque can assist the weak affected muscles accomplish their acting when the patient can not complete the acting by themselves for the mechanical arm connecting to the upper or lower limbs to be trained. Provided with the mechanical arm, the proper resistant torque used in the training can help patients improve their muscle strength when they can finish their acting independently. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the system further comprising: a torque sensor fixed on the additional torque providing unit and electrically connected to the data acquisition card for detecting an interactive torque between the mechanical arm and the motor; a first coupling movably connecting the mechanical arm with one end of the torque sensor; and a second coupling connecting the motor with another end of the torque sensor, wherein the torque sensor, the first coupling, the second coupling, the mechanical arm and the motor all share a same axis. For example, the rehabilitation robotic system can apply to patients&#39; elbow joints, wrist joints, knee joints, ankle joints and shoulder joints for rehabilitation training by changing different mechanical arms. 
         [0015]    Preferably, three measures are taken to protect patients&#39; training, comprising: mechanical stops for limiting the acting of the mechanical arm is fixed on the additional torque providing part; the control unit will limit the torque which produced by the motor to the preset range, and the operation will be stopped if the torque which produced by the motor exceed the range; an emergency stop is set on the control unit for breaking the power supply to the servo motor. 
         [0016]    Another object of this invention is to provide a method using EMG signals to provide mechanical help, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the EMG signals from the muscle corresponding to affected joints by an EMG electrode; inputting the EMG signals into a control unit via a data acquisition card; calculating an additional torque to affected joints basing on the inputted EMG signals and a preset constant torque required for mechanical help by a control unit and further providing the additional torque to a driver via the data acquisition card; controlling an additional torque providing unit to provide the additional torque for assisting affected joints by the driver. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the EMG signals can be acquired from corresponding agonistic muscle and antagonistic muscle for different joints. 
         [0018]    The rehabilitation robotic system and training method for providing mechanical help to patients using EMG signals of this invention control the assistive torque acting on patients&#39; affected using the residual EMG signals. Meanwhile, visual feedback accompanied by the objective angle and the current angle, which can promote the acting space of the patients&#39; affected joints by mechanical help. The method using EMG signals can strengthen patients&#39; confidence and active practice, and help patients&#39; affected joints rehabilitated fast. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a structure diagram of rehabilitation robotic system for providing mechanical help to patients by using EMG signals of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a stereo view of additional torque providing unit designed for elbow joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of additional torque providing unit designed for elbow joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of additional torque providing unit designed for elbow joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of additional torque providing unit designed for wrist joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of additional torque providing unit designed for knee joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of additional torque providing unit designed for ankle joints extension and flexion training of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side view of additional torque providing unit designed for shoulder joints anterior flexion and posterior extension training of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front view of additional torque providing unit designed for shoulder joints abduction and adduction training of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of the method for providing mechanical help to patients by using EMG signals. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The person skilled in the art knows that EMG signals is one-dimensional time series signals and originated motor neurons in spinal cord as a part of the central nervous system and is the sum of action potentials sent by many motor neurons contacted with electrodes. The EMG signals reflect the acting status of muscle and are approximately linear to the force generated from muscle. 
         [0030]    Using the approximate linear relationship between EMG signals and the force generated from muscle, the inventors develop a rehabilitation robotic system and a method for providing mechanical help to patients by using EMG signals for overcoming the drawbacks in prior art. This system and method can control the additional torque acting on patients&#39; affected parts by using the EMG signals from affected muscle, such as patients&#39; upper/lower limbs which including elbows, wrists, ankles, knees and shoulders, and accomplish the rehabilitation training cooperate with affected joints for assisting patients self-rehabilitation and promoting the acting space of affected joints, and improving the patients&#39; rehabilitation confidence to improve the rehabilitation effects of the patients. 
         [0031]    The additional torque could be produced by a mechanical arm when the patient act on the muscle consciously, and complete the acting with bio-mechanical torque from affected joints for the mechanical arms connecting the upper/lower limbs required to be trained. The mechanical arm can provide assistive torque to help the weak affected muscles accomplish their acting according to the additional torque provided by EMG signals at patients&#39; affected side when patients can not complete the acting by themselves. The mechanical arm also can provide a constant resistive torque to help patients improve their muscle strength when they can finish their acting independently. 
         [0032]    In other words, this system and method can make the additional torque (assistive torque or resistive torque) act on patients&#39; affected part mechanically for assisting them carry out the rehabilitation training. 
         [0033]    The control strategy of this invention is as follows: 
         [0034]    Before sampling, the EMG signals are amplified with a gain of 1,000 times and were band-pass filtered in 10-400 Hz, and then are sampled at 1000 Hz. Then the sampled EMG signals are full-wave rectified and filtered with a moving window of 100 ms. Electromechanical delay, which exited between the EMG signals and the mechanical torque generated by the muscle, was assumed to be 50 ms in the literature. The moving window could also cause a delay of 50 ms to the processed EMG signals in real time, which would cause the synchronization between the torque generated by the motor and the torque generated by the muscle. 
         [0035]    Later, a normalized EMG signal NEMG j  is attained under the following equation (1): 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     NEMG 
                     j 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         w 
                         j 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         w 
                         r 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         w 
                         mvc 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         w 
                         r 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0036]    Wherein, w j  is the amplitude of rectified and filtered EMG signals created by the current acting of patients&#39; affected joints&#39; muscle, w r  is the amplitude of rectified and filtered EMG signals created by patients&#39; affected joints&#39; muscle at rest, w mvc  is the rectified and filtered maximum amplitude of EMG signals created during maximal voluntary contraction. 
         [0037]    Later, the additional torque T m  which the mechanical arms need to be provided is attained under the following equation (2): 
         [0000]        T   m   =K   1   ×NEMG   j   −K   2   ×NEMG   i   +T   0   (2) 
         [0038]    Wherein, NEMG j  is normalized EMG signals of the agonistic muscle, NEMG i  is normalized EMG signals of the antagonistic muscle, K 1  is weighting coefficient of the agonistic muscle, K 2  is weighting coefficient of the antagonistic muscle, and T 0  is an additional constant torque that provided according to requirement. T 0  can be zero, positive value or negative value. The positive value means the direction of the torque and the direction which patients want to move are same, and the negative value means the direction of the torque and the direction which patients want to move are opposite. By adjusting the values of K 1 , K 2  and constant torque T 0 , the mechanical arms can give patients different help. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, this system has been developed with software in a PC-based platform, and further visual feedback can be provided to patients for guiding patients to complete kinds of training tasks. 
         [0040]    The structure of the rehabilitation robotic system for providing mechanical help and visual feedback to patients by using EMG signals of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 to 9 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a structure diagram of rehabilitation robotic system of this invention. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the rehabilitation robotic system of the present invention mainly comprises: a PC-based platform (control part)  1  for carrying out the task control, motion control, as well as data storage; a data acquisition card  2  for performing digital-analog and analog-digital conversion and acquiring EMG signals and torque signals, then inputting data to PC after digital-analog and analog-digital conversion, and acquiring angle pulse signals inputting into the computer  1 , and inputting the control signal calculated with algorithm into a motor driver  3  after digital-analog and analog-digital conversion; the motor driver  3  for driving motor; an additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a motor, a torque sensor, an angle sensor (also called position sensor) and a number of auxiliary equipment (the embodiments of additional torque providing unit will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 to 9 ); a human-computer interface  5  connecting to PC for displaying current mission and joint angles to patients, such as a monitor; an EMG electrode  6  affixed to the corresponding muscle; an EMG amplifying and filtering circuit  7  for amplifying and filtering the EMG signals from the EMG electrode  6 ; patients  8 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention constructs a closed loop control system which connected by the cycle of brain-nerve-muscle-computer information processing and control-additional torque providing unit-hemiplegic portion (such as upper/lower limb) acting-feedback interface-nerve-brain. Patients can control the mechanical arms and their own muscle to complete acting together. The mechanical arms can help patients&#39; hemiplegic parts improve acting quality which still controlled by patients&#39; brains, which help patients join the rehabilitation trainings initiatively, and strengthen the confidence of patients for overcoming the problem that the enthusiasm of patients&#39; active participation is difficult to improve in existing rehabilitation training. 
         [0044]    Concretely speaking, when patients want to control their own muscle, produced by the muscle, the EMG signals is inputted into the computer  1  via the amplifying and filtering circuit  7  and the data acquisition card  2  by the EMG electrode  6  affixed to the surface of muscle. Simultaneously, the interacting torque between mechanical arm and motor and the angle of patient&#39;s training joint are inputted into the computer  1  via the torque sensor, the position sensor and the data acquisition card. Then the computer  1  calculates the torque with equation (1) and (2), and controls the motor to produce corresponding torque. The computer  1  provides several different objective tracks to patients for training with the human-computer interface  5  (such as monitor). The monitor displays the present actual angle and objective angle of patients in real time. 
         [0045]    In this way, patients can control their limbs acting coordinated with the mechanical arms, and then self-regulates the EMG signals based on the actual joint angle and objective angle for reducing the gap with the goal and completing the prescriptive action. At the same time, the computer storage EMG signals, torque signals and the angular signals for data analysis and statistics. 
         [0046]    In addition, preferably, two computer screens are used, one is placed in front of the patients for guiding the training of patients and the other is placed in front of the operators (such as health care professionals) for controlling the system, such as setting the parameters and monitoring the rehabilitation training with the system. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a stereo view of the additional torque providing unit  4  designed for elbow joints training of the present invention. 
         [0048]    The additional torque providing unit  4  mainly comprises: a mechanical arm  10  fixed on a panel  17  for placing forearm, and installed a handle  9  for patients gripping conveniently, a support  11  for fixing the forearm and a tieback  24  (see  FIG. 4 ); a motor  15  with an angle sensor fixed on a bottom plate  16  for rotating the mechanical arm  10  connected to the mechanical arm  10  via a first coupling  21  (see  FIG. 3 ), a torque sensor  22  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the a second coupling  23  (see  FIG. 3 ); a base plate  20  fixed on the panel  17 ; a bracket  13  fixed on the base plate  20  for supporting patient&#39;s upper arm, which could move back and forth to adjust the scope of acting; a mechanical brake  12  fixed on the panel  17  for limiting the movement of mechanical arm  10 ; a connecting block  14  for connecting the torque sensor  22  and the panel  17 ; a big support pillar  18  (four) for supporting the panel on the base plate; a small support pillar  19  (six) for fixing the motor  15  on the base plate  16 ; wherein, the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15  and the mechanical arm  10  shared a same axis. In this way, the support  11  and the mechanical arm  10  can guide the forearm rotate around the axis, and the torque sensor can detect the torque between the motor and the mechanical arm in real time, and the angle sensor can detect the position of the motor rotation in real time, that is the angle of rotation of the affected joint. Wherein, the interaction torque detected by the torque sensor between the mechanical arm and the motor can combine with the EMG signals for various analysis. 
         [0049]    Preferably, the motor  15  is a direct drive (DDR) brushless AC servo motor. Driven by a servo driver, the brushless AC servo motor could rotate smoothly at a very low velocity (less than 2 rev/s), and has a flat velocity/torque curve with a high torque output (Nm), which is suitable for the biomechanical acting for human&#39;s joints. 
         [0050]    Preferably, the angle sensor of motor  15  is an incremental optical shaft encoder fixed on the motor shaft and the practical encoder&#39;s resolution for measuring the joint angle can reach 655,360 lines/resolution, which provide the maximum accuracy of the measured joint angle up to 0.00055 degree. 
         [0051]    For safety issues, three steps are taken to protect patients during the training. Firstly, two mechanical stops  12  are used to limit the rotation range of the motor  15 . Secondly, the control unit limits the torque generated by motor to the preset range with the software program, and the operation will be stopped if the torque generated by motor exceeded the range. The torque that the motor can generate ranged from −5 Nm to 5 Nm. Thirdly, an emergency stop button is set on the PC-based platform for permitting the person who is in charge of the training to use the emergency brake to cut off the power of the servo motor. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  is a side view of additional torque providing part  4  designed for elbow joints training of the present invention. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows the first coupling  21 , the torque sensor  22  and the second coupling  23  which are not shown in  FIG. 2 . Wherein, one side of the torque sensor  22  is connected to the mechanical arm via the first coupling  21 , and the other side is connected to motor  15  via the second coupling  23 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  is a top view of additional torque providing unit  4  designed for elbow joints extension and flexion training of the present invention. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows the tieback  24  and a tester  8  which are not shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Wherein, the tieback  24  is fixed on the bracket  13  to help patient&#39;s upper arm fix on the bracket  13 . Moreover, patient&#39;s forearm is combined with the mechanical arm  10  via the support  11  (see  FIG. 3 ) with semicircular cross section and the tieback  24  which fixes the forearm to the support. 
         [0056]    The additional torque providing unit  4  designed for wrist joints, knee joints and ankle joints training will be illustrated with reference to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . In order to avoid encumbrance, above that has been described will not be repeated unless it is necessary. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a top view of additional torque providing unit  4  designed for wrist joints extension and flexion training of the present invention. 
         [0058]    The additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a mechanical arm  25  designed for training the wrist joint and connected to the first coupling  21  via the nut; a baffle  26  fixed on the mechanical arm  25  for fixing the patient&#39;s wrist; a baffle  27  fixed on the panel  17  for fixing the forearm; a handle  28  fixed on the mechanical arm  25  for facilitating patient to grip; a tieback  29  fixed on the baffle  27  for fixing the forearm with the baffle  27 ; and the axis  40  shared with the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15 , the mechanical arm  25  for rotation. 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  is a side view of additional torque providing unit  4  designed for knee joints extension and flexion training of the present invention. 
         [0060]    The additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a mechanical arm  30  designed for training the knee joint and connected to the first coupling  21  via the nut; a tieback  31 ; a tieback  31  fixed on a support  32  for fixing patient&#39;s thigh with the support together; the support  32  fixed on the panel  17  for fixing patient&#39;s thigh; a baffle  33  fixed on the mechanical arm  30  for fixing the patient&#39;s calf; a tieback  34  fixed on the baffle  33  for fixing the calf; and the axis  40  shared by the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15 , the mechanical arm  30  for rotation. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a side view of additional torque providing unit  4  designed for ankle joints extension and flexion training of the present invention. 
         [0062]    The additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a mechanical arm  35  designed for training the ankle joint and connected to the first coupling  21  via the nut; a support  36  fixed on the mechanical arm  35  for fixing patient&#39;s feet; a tieback  37  fixed on the support  36  for fixing patient&#39;s feet with the support together; a baffle  38  fixed on the panel  17  for fixing the patient&#39;s calf; and the axis  40  shared by the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15 , the mechanical arm  35  for rotation. 
         [0063]      FIG. 8  is a side view of additional torque providing unit  4  designed for shoulder joints anterior flexion and posterior extension training of the present invention. 
         [0064]    The additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a mechanical arm  43  designed for training the shoulder joint and connected to the first coupling  21  via a nut; a support  41  fixed on the mechanical arm  43  for fixing patient&#39;s upper arm and forearm; a tieback  42  fixed on the support  41  for fixing patient&#39;s upper arm and forearm with the support together; a handle  44  fixed on the mechanical arm  43  for facilitating patient to grip; and the axis  40  shared by the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15 , the mechanical arm  43  for rotation. 
         [0065]      FIG. 9  is a front view of additional torque providing unit designed for shoulder joints abduction and adduction training of the present invention. 
         [0066]    The additional torque providing unit  4  comprises: a mechanical arm  47  designed for training the shoulder joint and connected to the first coupling  21  via a nut; a support  45  fixed on the mechanical arm  47  for fixing patient&#39;s upper arm and forearm; a tieback  46  fixed on the support  45  for fixing patient&#39;s upper arm and forearm with the support together; a handle  48  fixed on the mechanical arm  43  for facilitating patient to grip; and the axis  40  shared by the first coupling  21 , the second coupling  23 , the torque sensor  22 , the motor  15 , the mechanical arm  47  for rotation. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 2-9 , driven by the first coupling, the mechanical arms connect to the first coupling and are detachable, so the rehabilitation robotic system can be applied to the elbow (see  FIG. 2-4 ), the wrist (see  FIG. 5 ), the knee (see  FIG. 6 ), the ankle (see  FIG. 7 ), the shoulder (see  FIG. 8-9 ) and other joints for rehabilitation training by using different mechanical arms. The mechanical arm, the panel and the base plate can be placed horizontally, which make the mechanical arm rotate in the horizontal surface for the elbow and wrist joints rehabilitation training. The mechanical arm, panel and base plate also can be placed vertically, which make the mechanical arm rotate in the vertical surface for the elbow and wrist joints rehabilitation training. 
         [0068]    The method of providing patients mechanical help by using EMG signals of the present invention is illustrated with reference to  FIG. 10  and the above description, and will not be repeated here. 
         [0069]    According to Mortality and Morbidity Statistics of Hospital Authority Hong Kong in 2003, approximately 25,000 people suffered from stroke in Hong Kong and were admitted to the hospital. Our medical group is the first group in the world that has investigated the training effect of the EMG-controlled robotic on patients after stroke. Outcome measurements on the muscle strength at the elbow joint showed that there were increases in the muscle strength of the affected arms of all the patients after the four-week rehabilitation training. The patients could have a large range of motion for their affect elbow joint without the help of the robotic system after the four-week rehabilitation training. In addition, there were improvements in clinical scores after training, such as a decrease in the modified Ashworth scale and an increase in the Fugl-Meyer score. 
         [0070]    The robotic system and training method for rehabilitation of this invention can capture patients&#39; intention through the EMG signals from affected muscle, and provide the corresponding mechanical help and visual feedback. The system and the method can also assist the stroke patients join the rehabilitation training initiatively, and re-learn control muscle. Compared with the passive training to the patients in prior art, our system can train patients initiatively and provide them the visual feedback and the additional torque combined with the assistive torque and the resistive torque.