The increasing aging population frequently suffers from knee joint degeneration, with 6 million people over 65 showing signs of knee OA. This demographic has limited access to preventative injury solutions due to the high costs of medical devices, thus impacting range of motion, independence, and safety. Typically, assistive exoskeletons to combat these problems are designed for a general population and then fit for each patient. In response this project aimed to develop a low cost customizable assistive knee exoskeleton for increased quality of life. The device includes a motor which provides assistance in walking. Testing showed that there is a minimal amount of change of gait when a healthy subject walks with the brace. This shows promise for assisting real patients with osteoarthritis.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Wivagg, Daniel P.
• Franca, Steven Joseph
• Schueler, Matthew Jordan
• Marcucci, Stephanie
• Goldner, Ariel

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042519-121041

Advisor

• Fichera, Loris
• Fischer, Gregory S.

Year

• 2019

Date created

• 2019-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Interdisciplinary
• Biomedical Engineering
• Robotics Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright