A simple pneumatic device that allows for the upper arm to raise to a user specified level. It's mainly useful for patients with neuromuscular diseases, spinal cord injuries, and stroke victims.
Neuromuscular diseases are diseases which affect the use of the
voluntary muscles through a problem with the nerves of the body.
When the nerves that control voluntary muscles become damaged or die,
the muscles become weak, leading to twitching, cramping, and difficulties with movement.
Muscular Dystrophy is a neuromuscular disease which weakens the muscles; some types of
dystrophy are Duchenne, Emery-Dreifuss, and Facioscapulohumeral.
The causes of neuromuscular diseases are often autoimmune or genetic in origin.
People with these diseases, as well as people with other conditions that cause weakness and affect movement such as stroke or spinal cord injury, suffer a loss of independence as they cannot perform basic actions. Physical therapy can help them regain or maintain muscle strength, but progress is slow. Devices that could help patients with common movements, such as walking or moving the arms, are often expensive, motor driven devices that are bulky and heavy. The average patient dealing with one of these debilitating illnesses does not have the means to afford a full exoskeleton or motor-driven orthotic.
Our goal was to create an open-source solution for people who have lost muscle strength in their arms to be able to lift their arms on their own. This would provide the option for independence for people who otherwise would need to rely on others for simple motions such as raising their arms to table level or even drinking water from a cup.
The two purposes of the Shoulder Assist are shoulder stabilization and shoulder abduction (arm raising). A shoulder brace is used to keep the posture of the person, with a simple pneumatic system composed of an air bladder in a canvas case under the arm on the side of the chest, which helps lift up the arm. The brace wraps around the arm and a piece rests under the same arm on the chest. Attached to that piece is the canvas case holding an air bladder inside to raise the arm. As the air bladder inflates, either manually or automatically, the arm raises.
An advantage of an open-source design is that it allows for a range of customization options. For a patient who has more hand strength or would like to rehabilitate hand strength, a blood pressure manual squeeze bulb can be used as the method of inflation. For a patient who benefits more from the ability to raise the arm, an automatic pump such as an air compressor can be used, which requires minimum hand and finger strength on the part of the user. Shoulder Assist allows more independence because people can raise their arms to a level they feel comfortable at.
Gallery Showing Step By Step of How to Make & Use the Device
Designs can be made from materials found in home or easily bought online
Can be made for less than $100 than spending thousands of dollars
Pick your own size, color, and pattern. Also pick if you want to inflate automatically or manually.