Clinical Research Directory

Study of Home Use of the Jaco Robotic Manipulation Device by Individuals With Tetraplegia

For all individuals deprived of active and functional motor control of the upper limbs to perform grasping tasks, the restoration of a grasping function becomes a priority. The population concerned is mainly represented by so-called functional tetraplegic individuals. In this context, new technologies, and more particularly robotics, appear as a solution for substitution and compensation of motor impairment of the upper limb. Assistive robotic manipulation today relies on three robot concepts that have led to commercially available products. It is the robotic arms mounted on wheelchairs that have benefited the most from technological advances in assistive robotics over the past 15 years and from a more advanced industrial transfer than all other robotic devices. The two main ideas underlying their development are to offer, with a single robotic solution, what several technical and human aids could provide, and to allow the user to take along the "substitute" for their missing or impaired effector-namely the arm-into an unknown and non-configured environment. The JACO arm, marketed by a Canadian company (KINOVA), now stands out on the market as one of the most promising arms in terms of functional contribution and ergonomics. No published study has ever prospectively examined home uses related to this type of manipulator arm. Only an oral communication reports on this, suggesting, in 7 users, an impact in terms of functional gain and quality of life. The idea that the use of the Jaco arm could reduce the time of professional caregiver intervention. The present study aims to report on the potential uses of the Jaco robot at home, its appropriation in daily life, and its impact on psycho-social-family balance.