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Patients with head drop need external support to keep the head up and move it around. Their neck muscles are not strong enough to bring the head back to the neutral configuration from a flexed position. They often use static neck braces to keep the head in the upright configuration. These braces do not allow movement of the head-neck and cause further atrophy to the muscles. In this paper, we present a spring-loaded dynamic neck brace to support the head in a desired equilibrium configuration. The brace is fitted with torsional springs that can provide restoring forces to the head as it is displaced from the equilibrium configuration. The equilibrium configuration is adjustable by preloading the springs. In this paper, we present a mathematical model and validate through experiments with a prototype. The dynamic brace was found to provide sufficient support to the neck in a configuration while also allowing the users to move their head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a human–machine interface with the concept of “blink control” is proposed. The human–machine interface is applied to an assistive device, namely “blink scanning keyboard”, which is designed specifically for the severely physical disabled and people suffering from motor neuron diseases or severe cerebral palsy. The pseudo electromyography (EMG) signal of blinking eyes could be acquired by wearing a Bluetooth headset with one sensor on the forehead and the other three on the left ear of the user. Through a conscious blink, a clear and immediate variation will be formed in the pseudo EMG signal from the users’ forehead. The occurrence of this variation in pseudo EMG signal could be detected and filtered by the algorithms proposed in this paper, acting like a trigger to activate the functions integrated in the scanning keyboard. The severely physical and visual disabled then can operate the proposed design by simply blinking their eyes, thus communicating with outside world. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focusing and addressing the problems faced by the differently abled people such as visually, audibly and vocally challenged, through a single device is a tough job. A lot of research has been done on each problem and solutions have been proposed separately. But not all of them are addressed together. The aim of the project is to create a single device solution in such a way that is simple, fast, accurate and cost-effective. The main purpose of the device is to make the differently abled people, feel independent confident by seeing, hearing and talking for them. The paper provides a Google API and Raspberry Pi based aid for the blind deaf and dumb people. The proposed device enables visually challenged people to read by taking an image. Further, Image to text conversion and speech synthesis is done, converting it into an audio format that reads out the extracted text translating documents, books and other available materials in daily life. For the audibly challenged, the input is in form of speech taken in by the microphone and recorded audio is then converted into text which is displayed in the form of a pop-up window for the user in the screen of the device. The vocally impaired are aided by taking the input by the user as text through the built-in customized on-screen keyboard where the text is identified, text into speech conversion is done and the speaker gives the speech output. This way the device speaks for the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Assistive devices for load carriage on the back are systematically reviewed. • Assisting strategies of included studies are categorized into 4 types. • The evaluation metrics and performance of devices are summarized and compared. • Limitations in current studies are discussed to illuminate future directions. Manually carrying loads for a long distance and duration is highly physically demanding for humans but commonly required in outdoor activities. With the rapid growth and advancement of wearable robotics, many explorations have been conducted to design and evaluate robotic systems, aiming to enhance human capacity and/or endurance in load carriage tasks. In this paper, state-of-the-art robotic load carriage assistive devices are systematically reviewed regarding the mechanisms and their performances in experimental evaluation. Methods and strategies of assisting load carriage are analyzed and the existing devices are categorized into four classes: (1) reducing inertial force of the load, (2) transferring load weight to the ground, (3) assisting human joints, and (4) integration of transferring load weight and assisting human joints. The efficacy of different mechanism designs and assisting strategies are discussed from both engineering and biomechanical perspectives. Based on these analyses, challenges in the current studies and further efforts required in developing better assistive devices are discussed to provide insights for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Individuals with motor impairments may be limited in the realization of their activities of daily living, their leisure activities or their work activities. To overcome these limitations, the involvement of a caregiver and/or the acquisition of assistive devices are often necessary. In the last few years, more and more assistance robots have been developed and the interest they generate is growing. Among these, there are robotic arms aiming to improve the functional autonomy of people living with upper limb motor impairment. Objective Since the effects and impacts of the use of a robotic arm by these individuals are not well documented, this study aims at obtaining an overview of what has been reported until now in the scientific literature. Methods To achieve this, we undertook a scoping review. Four databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Compendex and Scopus. Following a selection process involving different steps, 36 papers were retained. Relevant data, the same for each paper, were recorded. The quality of the selected papers was evaluated using the Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies (McMaster University). The papers were also classified according to the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E). The CMOP-E allowed us to identify the occupational domains addressed in the retained studies. Results Twenty-four papers presented results related to basic activities of daily living, 18 to instrumental activities of daily living, 9 to work activities, 8 to leisure activities, 2 to school and 2 to games. The quality assessment revealed a mean score of 8.8/15, demonstrating that the effects and impacts of robotic arms have to establish in a more rigorous way. The utilisation of a robotic arm has more positive than negative effects and impacts on the various occupational domains. Conclusion These assistive devices have the potential to be successfully integrated into the users’ life, but some improvements are desirable to increase the satisfaction related to their utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]