KINARM
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Kinesiological Instrument for Normal and Altered Reaching Movement (KINARM)[1] is an interactive robotic device designed to assess the sensorimotor and cognitive function of the brain through behavioural tasks using the upper limb. There are two types of KINARMs - the KINARM Exoskeleton and the KINARM End-Point. The technology is used by both basic and clinical researchers in order to develop a greater understanding of the neurological impacts of a variety of injuries and diseases. KINARMs allow researchers to collect more objective and quantitative data for assessing brain function than traditional methods.[2] The devices are created by BKIN Technologies Ltd., doing business as Kinarm, in Kingston, Ontario.
History
[edit]The first KINARM robot to be created was the KINARM Exoskeleton. It was developed in 1999 by Stephen Scott, a neuroscientist and researcher at Queen's University.[3] The KINARM Exoskeleton was commercialized in 2004[4] when BKIN Technologies was founded by Dr. Scott and Dr. Ian Brown with the assistance of PARTEQ Innovations.[5]
Product
[edit]KINARM robots assess the user's ability to interact with a two-dimensional virtual reality environment using their upper limbs. The KINARM Exoskeleton uses a motorized exoskeleton to measure and manipulate the function of the upper limbs and is produced in both human and non-human primate (NHP) versions. The KINARM End-Point uses hand-held robotic rods and is used primarily for human use. Both robot labs are available with gaze-tracking technology.[6]
As of 2018, there were roughly 100 KINARM labs distributed in 14 countries worldwide.[7]
KINARM standard tests
[edit]The KINARM Standard Tests (KST) form a library of automated behavioural tasks designed for use with KINARMs. The KST database has been extensively used in research publications and has created a universal platform for the comparison of data on neurological function among normal and impaired human populations.[8][9][10]
Applications
[edit]There are over 275 published peer-reviewed journal articles that use KINARM Labs.[11]
KINARM Labs are being used for concussion evaluation in high-performance athletes at the Canadian Winter Sport Institute as a part of the Canadian Olympic Committee's national concussion strategy.[12][13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Prof invents first ever objective brain function assessment tool". The Journal.
- ^ Rhamey, Ashley (Aug 13, 2017). "Robots and research". Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ Scott, S.H. (July 1999). "Apparatus for measuring and perturbing shoulder and elbow joint positions and torques during reaching". Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 89 (2): 119–127. doi:10.1016/S0165-0270(99)00053-9. PMID 10491942. S2CID 23295994.
- ^ "BKIN Technologies Ltd". Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ Mathison, Dick (Nov 23, 2010). "New technology enables better assessment of brain injuries". Kingston Herald. Kingston. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ "KINARM". Physiopedia. May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ Willson, Andrew (Dec 4, 2018). "Stephen Scott's robot is changing what we know about the brain". Dean's Blog. Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ Centen, A.; Lowrey, C.R.; Scott, S.H.; Yeh, T.T.; Mochizuki, G. (June 2017). "KAPS(Kinematic Assessment of Passive Stretch): a tool to assess elbow flexor and extensor hypertonicity after stroke using a robotic exoskeleton". Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 14 (1): 59. doi:10.1186/s12984-017-0272-8. PMC 5477344. PMID 28629415.
- ^ Bourke, T.C.; Lowrey, C.R.; Dukelow, S.P.; Bagg, S.D.; Norman, K.E.; Scott, S.H. (October 2016). "A robotic task quantifies post-stroke impairments in rapid motor decisions and actions". Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 13 (91): 91. doi:10.1186/s12984-016-0201-2. PMC 5057404. PMID 27724945.
- ^ Tyryshkin, K.; Coderre, A.; Glasgow, J.I.; Herter, T.M.; Bagg, S.D.; Dukelow, S.P.; Scott, S.H. (April 2014). "A robotic object hitting task to quantify sensorimotor impairments in participants with stroke". Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 11 (1): 47. doi:10.1186/1743-0003-11-47. PMC 3992166. PMID 24693877.
- ^ "Publications by Research Area". BKIN Technologies. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ Fletcher, Robson (Mar 18, 2019). "Canada adopts new national concussion strategy for high-performance athletes". CBC News. Calgary. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ MacQueen, Ken (Jul 17, 2012). "Team Canada's gold medal secrets". MacLean's magazine. Rogers Media. Retrieved May 22, 2019.