Professor hopes robots will take over the rehabilitation world

Robots along with Dr. Watson would probably do a much better job at getting you rehabilitated. Bedside manner might leave a bit to be desired.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/78766244/professor-hopes-robots-will-take-over-the-rehabilitation-world
The face of medicine is transforming and robots could soon be taking over.
An Auckland University professor is hoping the future of medicine will see robot-aided rehabilitation in hospitals and in patients' homes.
The university's head of medical and rehabilitation robotics research group professor Dr Shane Xie

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Robotic wrist orthosis for rehabilitation.

visited Palmerston North Hospital on Monday  to give a presentation on the work Auckland University was doing - developing robots for science.
"Robots - they're the way of the future. They're going to be used for medical surgery and physical recovery."
Xie's robots are wearable devices, which range from leg exoskeletons to simple finger and wrist strengthening devices.
Xie has spent about 15 years researching and developing ideas in the field of mechatronics. He hopes medical robots can reduce the workload of hospital staff and increase the accessibility of care for patients at home.
For patients with spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, or for people who are undergoing stroke rehabilitation, or needing physio treatment, Xie is hoping his robots will work alongside physiotherapists and help with patient rehabilitation.
He said robots would aid physiotherapists in particular due to the repetitive nature and strength required during some exercises.
"For physiotherapists it's very tiring and there's only so much they can do in one day. So what we can do instead is you can have a robot doing all of the exercises."

Using special software the robots can measure data and they can be programmed by physiotherapists to assist in physical rehabilitation assessments. Some can speak to patients and move while carrying out movements and strengthening exercises on patients.
"With a robot, we can measure the stiffness of a joint for example, so that we can adjust the exercise accordingly."
Xie said the robots will be a way of supporting hospital staff rather than taking over people's jobs.
Overseas, a leg exoskeleton robot could cost about £150,000. While a wrist device used for strengthening, would likely cost more than $1000, he said.
Xie said his robots had undergone clinical trials and were close to commercialisation. He hoped to see them in New Zealand hospitals and eventually in patients' homes within the next few years.