Using Biomechanics to Improve the Design of Walking Assistive Devices

Speaker: Shawanee' Patrick, The Ohio State University

Abstract: There are millions of people who are unable to be mobile without the use of Walking aids. Being mobile, and more specifically walking, has a great impact on a person’s quality of life. Not being able to walk, as well as walking abnormalities, can have many long term affects both physically and psychologically. Although walking aids are designed to help with walking, sometimes how they impact the body can have negative impacts, such as arthritis, scoliosis, and increased energy use. Therefore, designing walking aids optimally is very important. The design process is an iterative process that requires analysis on every level. Walking assistive devices often end up being modified and altered to better serve users even after they are on the market. This means that the design does not always properly meet the needs or unknowingly creates another need. The design methodology proposed in this work to assist in optimal design of walking assistive devices is the user center design approach. User centered design is when the desired user is considered at every part of the design process. So often walking assistive devices are being created with the user in mind, but not included. This can lead to devices being created, but not used. This talk will discuss how we can better design walking assistive devices utilizing biomechanics and user desires. Both lower limb exoskeletons and a transfemoral powered prosthesis will be discussed.

Bio: Shawanee’ Patrick is currently a Legacy Postdoctoral Scholar in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Ohio State. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. She later went on to receive a Master of Science degree, and PhD also at Texas A&M University, in Mechanical Engineering. Her doctoral work focused on the design methods and analysis of walking assistive devices. More specifically, she is interested in creating uniform methods utilizing biomechanics to create optimal walking assistive devices for multiple population groups. Her work primarily has focused on lower limb prosthetics and powered exoskeletons.  She has presented aspects of her work at the Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), and IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social (ARSO) Impacts. Her work has been publish in IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Its Social Impacts (ARSO) conference proceedings and Frontiers in Neurorobotics.