Mechatronic Design of a Prototype Orthosis to Support Elbow Joint Rehabilitation

Abstract

Injuries in the elbow area, such as lateral and medial epicondylitis, are the leading causes of consultation with health specialists. Therefore, this research proposes the mechatronic design of an orthosis with a graphic interface that supports professionals in the rehabilitation of the elbow joint through the execution of flexion–extension and pronation–supination movements. For the development of the rehabilitation prototype, mechatronic design, co-design, and IDEF0 methodologies are used, performing activities such as actuator characterization, simulations, and modeling, among others. Through the execution of a case study in a real environment, the device was validated, where the results suggest a functional and workable prototype that supports the treatment of pathologies in the elbow area through the execution of the mentioned movements, supposing that this is a low-cost alternative with elements to improve, such as the industrial design and new functionalities. The developed proposal shows potential as an economical product that health professionals can use. However, some limitations related to the design and functionalities in the application domain were identified.