Pneumatic exoskeletons for orthopedic rehabilitation of the upper arm—An overview

Abstract

An exoskeleton is an external cast which can be used to maneuver, protect or even provide a greater magnitude of strength to the upper limb allowing for heightened efficiency and performance. The limb may be weakened due to so many diseases or reasons such as paralysis, stroke, muscular atrophy, and different kinds of injuries. Numerous designs and manufactured prototypes of pneumatic exoskeletons have been reviewed—their pros and cons weighed against each other. This paper covers the fundamental concepts of various prototypes that have been designed and developed over the years. The best mechanism has been highlighted, although the design of a fully efficient exoskeleton comes with its set of drawbacks. Types of energy used for the driver unit, types of actuators, materials used, design concepts, and overall weight and manufacturing cost of every prototype has been contrasted with the others to conclude what an ideal exoskeleton for rehabilitation purposes must look like and the principles and features of the prototype must be decided upon by keeping aesthetics and ergonomics in mind.