AWARD YEAR
2017
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
healthcare, physical impairment, Empowerment
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
Xinyang Tan
WEBSITE
https://www.rca.ac.uk/students/xinyang-tan/
Vigor
Automatic support for weak muscle of children who have a physical impairment
VIGOR is an orthotic product which can provide automatic support for weak muscles of
children who have a physical impairment and encourages them to complete movements. When the user is about to move, muscle signal will be detected
and analysed. The project is to design a wearable device for children with Muscular Dystrophy (MD), mild level Cerebral Palsy (CP) or related Neromuscular diseases to encourage and support them to complete their movements, by providing automatic strength to muscles. It was common to see children with MD or Hemiplegia trying so hard to raise their hands in order to reach spoons to mouths. What if there is a device which can be attached on their body and offer them extra force to help them reach higher, move further and complete their movements?
The project applies a mini mechanical system to imitate flexion and extension of human muscles.