Analysis and design of passive assistive devices for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
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Inclou dades d'ús des de 2022
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hdl:2117/353076
Tipus de documentTreball Final de Grau
Data2021-09-27
Condicions d'accésAccés obert
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Reconeixement-NoComercial-SenseObraDerivada 3.0 Espanya
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophies diagnosed during childhood, and it affects approximately 1 out in 5000 male newborns in the world [1]. This disorder causes the progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass, which leads to serious medical problems. Children with DMD usually have impairment in the upper limb, a characteristic gait pattern and several medical problems such as scoliosis, fractures and heart problems, among others. The first symptoms appear between 3 and 5 years old, and by the age of 12 the ability to walk is lost, and the children need to use a wheelchair. Orthopaedic devices and other assistive technologies, such as canes, braces and wheelchairs, are usually necessary to aid walking and posture. This thesis aims to design a passive assistive device to improve the posture and gait of children with DMD through computational simulations and optimal control tools. Therefore, the thesis is focused on the late ambulatory stage, in which it becomes increasingly difficult for the children to walk, and it requires the use of orthopaedic devices like Ankle-Foot-Orthosis and Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthosis. Although these devices are very helpful, they require time and commitment from the patient and the people who take care of them, additionally to the financial cost of the devices. For this reason, this thesis’s purpose is to simulate and analyse the gait of children with DMD in order to identify the parameters to design a virtual prototype to assist them walking. Two OpenSim models have been adapted to the size and properties of children from the age of nine, one healthy and one with DMD. The maximum isometric force of the muscles in the model with DMD has been modified to represent muscular dystrophy, and a general hyperactivation of the muscles has been obtained after performing MocoTrack. Subsequently, muscular dystrophy has been implemented in the healthy model and the activations have been limited with the purpose of forcing the reserve actuators to perform torque. Another MocoTrack has been carried out, and it has been found that the right iliopsoas muscle is at its maximum activation during the whole gait, and in the terminal stance and pre-swing periods the reserve actuator of the right hip performs a relatively high torque, which leads to the conclusion that the right iliopsoas needs assistance for hip flexion. The torque performed by the reserve actuator is then parameterized to three different springs using first order linear regressions. The springs have been tested and optimized, ultimately obtaining a spring that reduces the activation of most of the muscles and partially substitutes the performance of the reserve actuator
MatèriesDuchenne muscular distrophy -- Patients, Orthopedic implants -- Design and construction, Distròfia muscular de Duchenne -- Pacients, Pròtesis ortopèdiques -- Disseny i construcció
TitulacióGRAU EN ENGINYERIA EN TECNOLOGIES INDUSTRIALS (Pla 2010)
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memoria-comas-paula.pdf | 7,017Mb | Visualitza/Obre |