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Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that occurs in
approximately two to three percent of Americans at age 16. Most scoliosis
curves are detected by a child's pediatrician or in a school screening due to
clues such as uneven shoulders, a prominent shoulder blade, or a lean to one
side. An x-ray is needed to confirm the diagnosis and the severity of the
spinal curve.
Currently, the treatment
for scoliosis is wearing a static brace when the spinal curve is between 25
to 40 degrees. This stops the progression of the curve and may provide a
temporary correction, but usually the curve will assume its original magnitude
when bracing is eliminated. For those who have more severe curves from 40 to 50
degrees, the treatment is scoliosis surgery. Surgery is done to make sure the
curve does not get worse using metallic implants, but it does not perfectly
straighten the spine and usually a brace still needs to be worn.
Image Credit: Spectrum IEEE
Researchers at Columbia's School of Engineering have
created a smart exoskeleton which they hope will replace the static brace. The
exoskeleton bends and moves with the patient's body, while exerting targeted
force on the affected areas of the spine. This will allow patients to bend,
twist, and do a variety of activities while still experiencing the benefits of
treatment.
The brace is composed of three levels with six linear
actuators that are connected to four sensors at the base of each motor. The
motors are equipped with motion sensors. The researchers are able to set each of
the three levels to be positioned in different displacements and measure how
much force is being exerted on the body.
This provides a big advantage in terms of the data the
researchers are able to collect. Current x-rays provide no way of knowing
what's going on, but the dynamic brace is able to provide clues about how the
patient's spine is responding to treatments and give physicians insight on what
to do next.
Researchers are still testing another use for the brace,
which is to be able to measure the "stiffness" of a patient's spine which may
help in earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
Click the link here
to watch the exoskeleton brace in action.
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