Design, Modeling, and Control of a Soft Robotic Diaphragm‐Assist Device in a Respiratory Simulator

摘要

The diaphragm is a critical muscle for respiration, responsible for up to 70% of the inspiratory effort. Standard treatment for patients with severe diaphragm dysfunction is permanently tethering the airway to a mechanical ventilator, which greatly impacts patient autonomy and quality of life. Soft robots are ideal to assist in complex biological functions, such as diaphragm contraction. This article introduces a soft robotic diaphragm‐assist device designed as a therapeutic treatment for diaphragm dysfunction, moreover a clinically relevant respiratory simulator is designed and proposed as a validation and testing tool for this treatment. The device uses fabric‐based pneumatic actuators to provide targeted mechanical assistance during inhalation. A two‐step control system is implemented to optimize synchronization and support: 1) detecting breath intention from the pleural pressure signal to trigger the device and 2) regulating the device's input pressure to assist in inhalation. Using the respiratory simulator, the device demonstrated the ability to restore pleural and abdominal pressures and significantly increased transdiaphragmatic pressure during simulated conditions of diaphragm dysfunction. This research advances the field of soft robotics in respiratory care, providing a foundational platform for the development of next‐generation therapeutic devices aimed at improving the quality of life for patients with diaphragm dysfunction.