Myoshirt (exoskeleton)

Main article: Exoskeletons

2022: Exoskeleton announcement

At the end of June 2022, the SwissFederal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich announced the creation of the Myoshirt exoskeleton, with the help of which it is possible to fully restore the motor activity of the hands in patients affected by stroke and other injuries. The device has already been successfully tested in several hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Former ETH Zurich Sensor-Motor Systems Laboratory Doctor Marie Jorgarakis, is the creator of Myoshirt, a wearable textile robotic device that helps users raise their hands or stretch. The motorized cable works as an artificial tendon guided by sensors and an algorithm to support the intended movement of the user.

Exoskeleton working like tendons released

Researchers from ETH Zurich tested Myoshirt on 50 patients, one person was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, another spinal cord injury, 25 had ligament and muscle injuries of varying degrees and directionality, fifteen patients were without physical disabilities. All subjects noted greater endurance when raising their arms with the exoskeleton worn.

When using the Myoshirt exoskeleton, participants without impairment (n = 10.5 men) experienced delayed onset of muscle fatigue by 51.1 s (36.1%, P<0,001), а при выполнении функциональной задачи их мышечная активность снижалась на 49,1% (P <0,001). Аналогично, у двух участников с поражением верхних конечностей вследствие мышечной дистрофии и травмы спинного мозга наблюдалось отсроченное наступление мышечной усталости при подъеме рук без нагрузки на 256,4 с (61,5%) и на 450,6 с (210,3%) соответственно.

According to the developers, artificial tendons are similar to the natural system of muscles and tendons of the hand, they help people unable to move their fingers to grab objects. In addition, a specialist in the field of robotics stressed that to achieve successful results, patients need to use an exoskeleton for about 15 minutes every day after traditional rehabilitation.

Myoshirt settings can be personalized for each user, and most noted the intuitive ease of use. Although the Myoshirt device somewhat reduced the range of motion, this range remained functional for most everyday activities. According to the researchers, users always have the ability to cancel the device.

{{quote'Although hospitals have plenty of good therapeutic devices, they are often very expensive and cumbersome... And there are very few technical devices that patients could use directly in everyday life and receive assistance when performing exercises at home. We want to close this gap, "said Marie Georgarakis. }}

Until the end of 2022, the Myoshirt exoskeleton must become smaller and lighter so that it can be worn under clothes. For example, the current actuator and control unit weigh more than 3.62 kg. The researchers plan to focus on the basic function, supporting the user's shoulders when he raises his hands.^[1]

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