Proof of Concept of Pediatric and Adolescent EXPLORER V2 Exoskeleton in Children With Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease

Proof of Concept of Pediatric and Adolescent EXPLORER V2 Exoskeleton in Children With Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to analyze the usability and safety of the prototype gait exoskeleton EXPLORE V2 in children with neurological and neuromuscular disease.

Participants will use the exoskeletons in their home and the community and variables regarding safety and usability will be measured and recorded.

Neurological and neuromuscular diseases are the main cause of motor disability in children, leading to the inability to stand and walk in many cases. Exoskeletons are a useful tool in the rehabilitation of these children, but most of them are designed to be used in the clinical setting. EXPLORER V2 is a prototype of a robotic gait exoskeleton designed to assist gait in children with motor disability in their homes and the community. The aim of this study is to analyze the safety and usability of the EXPLORER V2 as a proof of concept.

A test phase will be conducted in healthy volunteers (phase 0) as a proof of concept with the aim of evaluating safety and usability in healthy participants prior to the use of the device in children with neurological and neuromuscular disease (phases 1 and 2). After this, participants will use the exoskeleton in 4 different ocassions, 1 in a laboratory of gait analysis and 3 in their homes and the community.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical authorization for standing, gait training and weight bearing.
• Informed consent signed by legal guardians.
• Maximum user weight of 35 kg.
• Hip width (between greater trochanteres) ≤40 cm.
• Length of the thigh (distance from the greater trochanter to the lateral condyle of the tibia) from 21cm to 36cm.
• Tibia leg length (distance from the lateral condyle of the tibia to the lateral malleolus) from 20cm to 35cm.
• Shoe size ≤38 (EU)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Spasticity equal to 4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale at the time of use of the device.
• More than 20º of hip and/or knee flessum at the time of using the exoskeleton.
• Necessity to walk with 15 of hip abduction.
• Skin lesion on parts of the lower extremities that are in contact with the device.
• Scheduled surgery scheduled during the study period.
• History of fracture without trauma. History of bone fracture traumatic in lower extremities or pelvic girdle in the last 3 months.
• Presence of other conditions causing exercise intolerance (such as uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, severe pulmonary disease).
• Conductual disorders that may interfere with the use of the device or their participation in the study, like impulsiveness or the inability to understand simple comands.
• Allergy to any of the EXPLORER materials: cotton, nylon, polyester, PPS, PEEK or ABS.