Cooper Long / en Undergrads, professors collaborate to develop state-of-the-art leg brace for student with cerebral palsy /news/undergrads-professors-collaborate-develop-state-art-leg-brace-student-cerebral-palsy <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Undergrads, professors collaborate to develop state-of-the-art leg brace for student with cerebral palsy</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-08-27T11:51:10-04:00" title="Thursday, August 27, 2015 - 11:51" class="datetime">Thu, 08/27/2015 - 11:51</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"> Engineering students Shakthi Seerala, Lakmini Perera, Kayatri Rangarajan and Elizabeth Sumitro, with Tom Garsides (photo by Marit Mitchell)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/kathleen-o-brien" hreflang="en">Kathleen O'Brien</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cooper-long" hreflang="en">Cooper Long</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Kathleen O'Brien and Cooper Long</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/features" hreflang="en">Features</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t" hreflang="en">U of T</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/robotics" hreflang="en">Robotics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/prosthetics" hreflang="en">prosthetics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mobility" hreflang="en">mobility</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ischool" hreflang="en">iSchool</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">iSchool, Engineering, Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education work together to enhance student's mobility</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Robotic exoskeletons have long been a staple of science fiction.</p> <p>Now, Master of Information student <strong>Thomas Garside</strong> has collaborated with <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/looking-future-matt-ratto">iSchool Professor <strong>Matt Ratto</strong></a> and a team of Engineering students and motion specialists from the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education to make such a device a reality.<br> <br> A full-time student concentrating on critical information policy studies and knowledge management, Garside has limited mobility because of cerebral palsy. Normally he gets around with a cane, wheelchair or motorized scooter.<br> <br> When he arrived at U of T, he knew that more advanced mobility aids were under development – and that their price put them out of reach.<br> <br> Garside was also familiar with Ratto’s work as director of the iSchool’s Critical Making Lab, and in particular his application of <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/using-3d-printers-create-prosthetic-limbs-ugandans">3D printer technology</a> to the problem of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/71041967@N02/albums/72157650217582368">producing prosthetic sockets and limbs for Ugandan children</a>.<br> <br> “Even before being accepted into the iSchool I was impressed by the work he had done,” Garside says.<br> <br> The student decided to approach his professor of only two months about the possibility of creating a powered assistive device to help him, and others with mobility challenges, walk better.<br> <br> After consulting iSchool Dean<strong> Seamus Ross</strong>, they enlisted final-year engineering students <strong>Shakthi Seerala</strong>, <strong>Lakmini Perera</strong>, <strong>Kayatri Rangarajan</strong> and <strong>Elizabeth Sumitro</strong> to work on the electrical controls and sensor systems necessary for a mechanized leg brace.<br> <br> The circle of collaborators continued to widen: Garside sought out the expertise of Professors <strong>Luc Tremblay</strong> and <strong>Tyson Beach</strong>, sensorimotor control and biomechanics specialists from the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education. Using state-of-the-art 3D motion-capture and force-measurement systems, Beach analyzed Garside’s gait.<br> <br> <img alt src="/sites/default/files/2015-08-28-Tom_brace_side.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 435px; margin: 10px; float: right;">Meanwhile, the Tetra Design Group charity connected Garside&nbsp;with a volunteer who was able to fabricate the mechanical components of the brace. Using off-the-shelf radio-controlled motors, the Engineering team finished a functioning prototype at a cost of only $1,000.<br> <br> Last spring Garside&nbsp;got to strap on the result of all this multi-disciplinary hard work. The prototype works by measuring the pressure exerted by the foot, detecting what part of the stride cycle he is performing and helping him flex his leg to complete the appropriate movement.<br> <br> “I have been amazed by the quality of the brace,” Garside says. “And I have been delighted to see how well the Master of Information program can help in the development of physical devices. The training I’ve received on design from faculty like <strong>Colin Furness</strong> has really been well applied to hardware.”</p> <p>Apart from enhancing his mobility, the project has given Garside useful experience in project management.<br> <br> The next steps are to work with Engineering and Tetra to improve the brace’s control system and look at different structural materials. Then, create a brace for his left leg.<br> <br> The results of this collaboration could have worldwide impact.<br> <br> “Besides the enhancement of the prototype,” Garside says, “we’re all excited to continue to show the world that exoskeleton technologies are now mainstream technologies capable of solving issues of mobility for the disabled and elderly.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-08-28-leg-brace.jpg</div> </div> Thu, 27 Aug 2015 15:51:10 +0000 sgupta 7240 at