Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RoboTexTherapy (Textile-based Wearable Mechanotheraphy Device with Liquid/Vapor Phase Change Actuation)
Reporting period: 2019-05-01 to 2021-04-30
Mechanotherapy can be broadly defined as any intervention that utilizes mechanical stimuli to induce a biological change via mechano-transduction processes with the goal of improving function and Soft Tissue Manipulation (STM) is a potent and direct form of mechanotherapy with important implications in physical rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion. STM, also known as therapeutic massage, is a type of manual therapy that is commonly used by clinicians around the world to treat common musculoskeletal pain disorders. Numerous devices for manipulating muscle tissue have been developed for clinical use, and pneumatic compression devices are already available and widely used. However, these systems have limited control mechanisms and do not monitor the forces applied to the body during application, and prior research has demonstrated that the loading conditions of soft tissue have a significant effect on the mechanotherapeutic treatment. Thus, the project's overall objective is to conduct a fellowship in order to develop a textile-dominated, mobile, wearable, Textile-based Mechano-Therapeutic Device (TMTD) with programmable actuation that combines natural compliance to aid in muscle recovery and regeneration. Additionally, one of the primary disadvantages of pneumatic compression systems is that they require rigid and bulky pumping systems to perform mechanotherapy, which significantly reduces the device's mobility. As a result, I propose a new device design called Thermally Powered Soft Fluidic Actuators (TPSFAs), which will utilize the liquid/vapour phase transition property of low boiling point liquids to generate the desired pressure level and thus eliminate the need for such bulky components in the proposed device.
Six research work packages were performed to carry out the work. I supervised two master's dissertations, and one Ph.D. thesis is still in the works related to the project topic . These dissertations are;
1) Development Of Textile-Based Soft Actuator For The Treatment Of Muscle Diseases At Hand (https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp(opens in new window))
2) Heating Textile Surfaces for Thermothrapy Application (https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp(opens in new window))
We are successful in producing a soft robotic glove for soft tissue manipulation. During the course of the project, a glove that uses both thermotherapy and mechanotherapy for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients was developed. In the glove, conductive textile structures were used to develop heating elements of the system and actuators developed with special liquids (i.e. low boiling liquids) as well as membranes The glove performs mechanotherapy and massages the hand by making a swelling/deflating motion with the low boiling point chemical liquid contained in the actuators. Simultaneously, thermotherapy is applied to the hand through the warming of gloves via the conductive structures. The developed glove is light and easy to use. To alleviate pain, patients will be able to use two different treatment methods on the same glove. Furthermore, this glove serves as a splint and keeps the hands straight.
1) Development Of Textile-Based Soft Actuator For The Treatment Of Muscle Diseases At Hand (https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp(opens in new window))
2) Heating Textile Surfaces for Thermothrapy Application (https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp(opens in new window))
We are successful in producing a soft robotic glove for soft tissue manipulation. During the course of the project, a glove that uses both thermotherapy and mechanotherapy for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients was developed. In the glove, conductive textile structures were used to develop heating elements of the system and actuators developed with special liquids (i.e. low boiling liquids) as well as membranes The glove performs mechanotherapy and massages the hand by making a swelling/deflating motion with the low boiling point chemical liquid contained in the actuators. Simultaneously, thermotherapy is applied to the hand through the warming of gloves via the conductive structures. The developed glove is light and easy to use. To alleviate pain, patients will be able to use two different treatment methods on the same glove. Furthermore, this glove serves as a splint and keeps the hands straight.
I have successfully proved my hypothesis and developed soft actuators for mechanotherapy applications according to the suggested method in my proposal. Actuators I have developed have repeatable properties even after 1000 cyclic loading. They are integrated into the glove structure as removable part of the system , thus they make the soft actuating system washable. I have gained lots of new skills and most importantly, I have become Assistant Professors as of 2020 at Marmara University.Successful results of this project are beyond my expectations. I have supervised two master students and they did dissertations on this subject. Currently, we are working on the journal papers based on students’ dissertations. We have attended Teknofest science festival in Turkey (It is the biggest scince festival at nationwide) and we were awarded with second prize. I have also attended Tubitak events and high school science festivals to disseminate my project results for greater audience and public. However, covid-19 affected my progress due to the lab closures and travel restrictions. I have also become a co-advisor of a PhD student from mechanotronic engineering. I have been teaching undergraduate courses and offered 2 new courses (graduate level) to our department. Based our scientific results, this project contributes to the competitiveness of Europe in Mechanotherapy field and holds great potential towards social and economic impact.