Assistive ExoSkeletons to Enable Wearable Rehabilitation Robotics

NCT ID: NCT03717233

Last Updated: 2020-03-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-10-18
• Study Completion Date: 2019-10-17

Brief Summary

Study will evaluate the use of lower-limb assistive exo-skeletons worn on the ankle and foot. Participants will wear the exo-skeletons and walk in a safe environment. Measurements will be taken to determine how the exo-skeletons affect the pressure on the feet of people with diabetic foot ulcer and how they walk.

Detailed Description

Study will evaluate the use of lower-limb assistive exo-skeletons worn on the ankle and foot. Participants will include those with self-described history of Diabetic Foot Ulcer and age-matched healthy volunteers. Participants will wear the exo-skeletons and will be asked to walk 32 feet, and to stand quietly for 30 seconds.

Measurements will be taken to evaluate how the exoskeletons affect how people walk, and will also evaluate the pressure on the bottom of their feet. These measurements will be repeated multiple times to evaluate four different exo-tendon spring rates, and two sets of control shoes.

Exo-skeletons have been shown to reduce the pressure on the bottoms of people's feet and to reduce the effort to walk. This study is necessary to understand the contribution of different levels of exo-skeleton spring force to these effects.

Conditions

Diabetic Foot Ulcer; Diabetic Foot Ulcer Associated With Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Primary Arm

Participants will be used as their own controls. Participants will be evaluated using exo-skeletons with non-motorized spring elements in parallel to the Achilles tendon. Up to 5 different levels of spring force will be evaluated to evaluate the impact upon plantar pressure and measures of fall risk.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Exoskeleton

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Ankle-foot exoskeleton - device to help reduce load on the bottom of the front of the foot

Interventions

Exoskeleton

Ankle-foot exoskeleton - device to help reduce load on the bottom of the front of the foot

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Self-reported history of diabetic foot ulcer

Exclusion Criteria

• Unable to continuously ambulate/walk ≥ 40 feet without an assistive device, such as a cane or walker
• Signs/symptoms of an infected foot lesion/ulcer as determined by a basic foot exam
• Trans-metatarsal foot amputation or more significant amputation.
• Symptomatic for signs/symptoms of cardiovascular disease as determined from interpretation of the 2017 PAR-Q+ (predicated on participant responses of "yes" indicating symptomatic/unstable medical conditions to page 2 and page 3 of the 2017 PAR-Q)
• Participants will be excluded from this study if they demonstrate pre-participation, or chronic, signs/symptoms of hypoglycemia: Confusion, unusual headache, unusual visual disturbances, self-reported mental dullness, shakiness, self-reported weakness, abnormal sweating, undue nervousness/anxiety, and/or tingling of the mouth, toes, and/or fingers or if they answer yes to question 5b and 5c of the 2017 PAR-Q+ .
• Participants will be temporarily excluded from this study if they are symptomatic for acute illness such as cold or fever. If the participant is symptomatic for acute illness such as cold or fever, participation will be reconsidered upon illness resolution.
• If participants answer yes to question 4a of the 2017 PAR-Q+ and if they demonstrate pre-study participation resting blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg and >140/90 mmHg .

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Southern Connecticut State University

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Results Group LLC

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Rancho Los Amigos

Los Angeles, California, United States

Southern CT State University

New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Countries

United States

References

Roser MC, Canavan PK, Najafi B, Cooper Watchman M, Vaishnav K, Armstrong DG. Novel In-Shoe Exoskeleton for Offloading of Forefoot Pressure for Individuals With Diabetic Foot Pathology. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2017 Sep;11(5):874-882. doi: 10.1177/1932296817726349.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28859516 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

FB20181

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id