A New Sitting-Type Lower-Limb Rehabilitation Robot Based on a Spatial Parallel Kinematic Machine

Abstract

This paper proposes a lying/sitting type lower-limb rehabilitation robot based on a three degrees of freedom spatial parallel kinematic manipulator namely “The Orthoglide” along with an actuated rotational degree of freedom at the end-effector for the purpose of lower-limb rehabilitation treatments. This rehabilitation robot is an end-effector/foot-plate based mechanism which controls the ankle-joint movements to assist physiotherapists in performing therapeutic treatments along with a passive orthosis (supporting system). The conceptual and detail design of the rehabilitation device is presented along with its kinematics. Further, the functional validation of the proposed robot in terms of the kinematic motion capabilities to provide physiological motions like knee flexion-extension, hip adduction-abduction and hip flexion-extension are also investigated. The required safety features for the proposed rehabilitation robot in terms of mechanical constraints and non-actuated joints are also discussed.