Development and Testing of a Modular Upper Extremity Exoskeleton for Infants

Abstract

A passive upper extremity exoskeleton has been developed for people with neuromuscular weakness. The WREX (Wilmington Robotic EXoskeleton) has been used successfully for a number of years by people with disabilities such as muscular dystrophy and arthrogryposis. This paper describes the modification of the WREX to be fitted with infants. The Pediatric WREX Plus (P-WREX+) can selectively assist or resist antigravity arm movements based on the needs of each individual. It consists of a 3-D printed device that can be mounted to a jacket or a chair and allows infants more access to their environment by augmenting anti-gravity arm movement. The target population is infants born with brain injuries and at high risk for significant neuro-motor impairments. The paper describes the development of the device and testing with an infant with arthrogryposis over a 6-month period.