Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

SHADE: A Shape-Memory-Activated Device Promoting Ankle Dorsiflexion

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acute post-stroke rehabilitation protocols include passive mobilization as a means to prevent contractures. A device (SHADE) that provides repetitive passive motion to a flaccid ankle by using shape memory alloy actuators could be of great help in providing this treatment. A suitable actuator was designed as a cartridge of approximately 150 × 20 × 15 mm, containing 2.5 m of 0.25 mm diameter NiTi wire. This actuator was activated by Joule’s effect employing a 7 s current input at 0.7 A, which provided 10 N through 76 mm displacement. Cooling and reset by natural convection took 30 s. A prototype of SHADE was assembled with two thermoplastic shells hinged together at the ankle and strapped on the shin and foot. Two actuators were fixed on the upper shell while an inextensible thread connected each NiTi wire to the foot shell. The passive ankle motion (passive range of motion, PROM) generated by SHADE was evaluated optoelectronically on three flaccid patients (58 ± 5 years old); acceptability was assessed by a questionnaire presented to further three flaccid patients (44 ± 11.5 years old) who used SHADE for 5 days, 30 min a day. SHADE was well accepted by all patients, produced good PROM, and caused no pain. The results prove that suitable limb mobilization can be produced by SMA actuators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Mackay, G. Mensah (Eds.), Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2004

    Google Scholar 

  2. L.M. Brass, Stroke, Chap. 18, The Yale University School of Medicine Heart Book, 1st ed., B.L. Zaret, M. Moser, and L.S. Cohen, Eds., William Morrow & Co, 1992, p 215–234

  3. NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke), Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Fact-Sheet, NIH Publication number: 02-4846, Office of Communications and Public Liaison—National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke—National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 2002

  4. L. Harvey, R. Herbert, Muscle stretching for treatment and prevention of contractures in people with spinal cord injury, Spinal Cord, 40, 2002, p 1-9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. J-M. Gracies, Pathophysiology of spastic paresis I: paresis and soft tissue changes, Muscle Nerve, 31, 2005, p 535–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. P.W. Duncan, R. Zorowitz, B. Bates, J.Y. Choi, J.J. Glasberg, G.D. Graham, R.C. Katz, K. Lamberty, D. Reker, Management of Adult Stroke Rehabilitation Care. A Clinical Practice Guideline, Stroke, 36, 2005, p e100-e143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. G. Kwakkel, R. van Peppen, R.C. Wagenaar, S. Wood Dauphinee, C. Richards, A. Ashburn, K. Miller, N. Lincoln, C. Partridge, I. Wellwood, P. Langhorne, Effects of augmented exercise therapy time after stroke: a meta-analysis, Stroke, 35, 2004, p 2529-2536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Masiero, A. Celia, G. Rosati, M. Armani, Robotic-assisted rehabilitation of the upper limb after acute stroke, Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 88, 2007, p 142-149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Pittaccio, S. Viscuso, M. Rossini, L. Magoni, S. Pirovano, S. Besseghini, and F. Molteni, SHADE: An Active Orthosis for Safeguarding Ankle Motion Skills in Dropfoot Patients, Proceedings of the 4th World Congress of the International Society Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, U.W. Rah, Ed., June 10–14, 2007 (Seoul), Organizing Committee of ISPRM, 2007, p 360

  10. S. Pittaccio, F. Zappasodi, S. Viscuso, F. Mastrolilli, M. Ercolani, F. Passarelli, F. Molteni, P.M. Rossini, F. Tecchio, Cortical correlate of passive mobilisation of the ankle joint by means of the SHADE orthosis, Clin Neurophysiol, 119 (Suppl 1), 2008, p S20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR Institute for Energetics and Interphases at Lecco, Lecco, Italy

    S. Pittaccio, S. Viscuso, E. Villa & S. Besseghini

  2. Ospedale Valduce Centro di Riabilitazione Villa Beretta, Costamasnaga, Italy

    M. Rossini, L. Magoni, S. Pirovano & F. Molteni

Authors
  1. S. Pittaccio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Viscuso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Rossini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Magoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Pirovano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Villa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. S. Besseghini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. F. Molteni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Pittaccio.

Additional information

This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at Shape Memory and Superelastic Technologies 2008, held September 21-25, 2008, in Stresa, Italy, and has been expanded from the original presentation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pittaccio, S., Viscuso, S., Rossini, M. et al. SHADE: A Shape-Memory-Activated Device Promoting Ankle Dorsiflexion. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 18, 824–830 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-009-9405-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-009-9405-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation