A new wearable, soft exoskeleton has been developed to help children with mobility disabilities to walk.
In an April 29 news announcement, a team of engineers at the University of Houston (UH) Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology BRAIN Center, an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) and TIRR Memorial Hermann introduced the exoskeleton, whose study was published in Electron Devices Magazine.
The MyoStep exoskeleton project was funded by the IEEE Electron Devices Society Award, which the journal said “exemplifies the transformative potential of technology in addressing global challenges.”
An exoskeleton especially made for kids
The news announcement described the MyoStep as “lightweight, discreet, made of smart materials and wearable technology, and tailored to fit seamlessly into the lives of children and their families.”
This pediatric exoskeleton addresses challenges — such as heavy weight and lack of adjustability for growth — that current adult exoskeletons have presented.
“The MyoStep project represents a significant advancement in the field of pediatric mobility aids, particularly for children with cerebral palsy,” said Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, director of the BRAIN Center.
Contreras-Vidal added that project participants worked to make the MyoStep kid friendly. “Although exoskeletons offer some degree of assistance and stability, they often prove impractical for regular daily use,” Contreras-Vidal noted. “These devices typically fail to accommodate a child’s growth and remain too heavy. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial muscles, smart fabrics, and a comprehensive sensor network, MyoStep offers a promising solution to the challenges faced by existing exoskeletons.”
In addition to physicians, the cross-disciplinary MyoStep team included specialists in biomechanics, orthopaedic surgery, costume design, industrial design, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
The result is a system that uses a wireless sensor network embedded inside smart and flexible fabrics. That sensor network collects and sends data in real time regarding the child’s movements “so the device knows when to assist their arms and legs,” the announcement said. Sensors communicate with each other via Bluetooth technology.
“All electronics and actuators are fully isolated from the user’s skin to prevent direct contact and reduce the risk of irritation or discomfort,” the announcement said. “Integrated temperature sensors continuously monitor the device’s surface temperature, automatically deactivating the system if it exceeds safe limits to protect against overheating or burns.”
The MyoStep prototype focused on coordinating the ankle, knee and hip to promote efficient walking that requires less of the child’s energy.
“The team is currently focused on enhancing ankle movement control using artificial muscles made from advanced smart materials, such as shape memory alloys, which contract with temperature changes and dielectric elastomers which respond to voltage,” said Contreras-Vidal. “These actuators work in conjunction with a multimodal sensor network, including EMG sensors to monitor muscle activations, and inertial measurement units to detect gait phases and joint angles. To make this possible, there is a need for interdisciplinary systems and disciplines to fully execute the physics of muscle gesticulations.”
Improving how kids move through their world
The end result is an exoskeleton that looks very different compared to well-known adult exoskeletons. The MyoStep more closely resembles orthopaedic braces and soft goods and is referred to as a “soft power suit” in the announcement.
“This research represents a groundbreaking step forward in how we think about mobility and independence for children with cerebral palsy,” said Gerard Francisco, M.D., professor and chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UTHealth Houston and medical officer at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
“What makes the MyoStep project so compelling is that it’s not just about the technology: It’s about restoring confidence, function, and hope,” Francisco added. “This kind of innovation has the potential to dramatically improve quality of life, helping children move through the world with greater ease and dignity.”
Images courtesy University of Houston.
