NCT05835271

Powered Assist Hip Exoskeleton to Improve Ambulation in Severe Lung Disease

Exoskeleton Assist to Improve Physical Performance in Patients With Very Severe Chronic Respiratory Disease

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Sponsor: West Park Healthcare Centre · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is among the most prevalent and growing diseases worldwide with disabling consequences. Many with a compromised respiratory system cannot support the metabolic energy demands of walking causing them to walk slowly and stop often. Those with CRD could receive substantial benefit from a powered wearable exoskeleton device that assumes part of the energy of walking. Assisting the legs will lower the metabolic energy demands, and therefore the ventilation required for exercise, thereby allowing them to walk faster and further. Proposed is a series of single-case experiments comparing walking endurance with and without a powered hip exoskeleton assist. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of an exoskeleton on walking endurance in ventilatory limited patients with CRD. An exoskeleton could be a novel immediate and long term strategy to augment walking as part of the spectrum of pulmonary rehabilitation and community reintegration.

Conditions

• Lung Disease Chronic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	exoskeleton assist	A powered exoskeleton describes a wearable robot designed around the shape and function of the human body with segments and joints externally coupled to those of the user. The exoskeleton includes a rigid outer frame, sensors that detect a user's desired movements, a computerized controller, motors and actuators, and lightweight batteries. The exoskeleton is designed to be worn in the community.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-28
• Completion: 2026-09-30
• First posted: 2023-04-28
• Last updated: 2025-12-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada