The current Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Exoskeletons research projects use lab space in the Biomechanics Research Building located on the Dodge Campus of the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Main Gait Laboratory, 116 BRB
This 2,535 ft2 lab features a 3-D motion capture system with 14 high-speed Raptor cameras (Motion Analysis Corporation, Rohnert Park, CA, USA). It is integrated with 3 Gen5 and 5 Optima strain gage force platforms (AMTI, Watertown, MA, USA), and tandem-belt instrumented treadmill (AMTI, Watertown, MA, USA).
Each of these is mounted into a concrete subfloor surrounded by a trench for cable management. It is also integrated with a dedicated, but portable, 16 sensor Avanti Trigno Delsys EMG system.
Balance and Strength Lab, 123 BRB
The Balance and Strength Lab (548 ft2) primarily features two independent systems.
- A Balance Master (NeuroCom Intl., Clackamas, OR, USA) that provides an objective assessment of balance control and postural stability under dynamic test conditions through the use of computerized dynamic posturography. The unit provides assessment and retraining capabilities on a stable or dynamic support surface and in a stable or dynamic visual environment. A unique feature of this unit is that it includes separate clinical and research modules. The clinical modules provide standard testing protocols while the research module allows for the creation of custom protocols.
- A System 4 (Biodex, Shirley, NY, USA) is a dynamometer that can measure strength and fatigue during a variety of exercises. It comes with multiple attachments for the dynamometers to accommodate exercises involving the limbs and torso. It also includes a chair with several positioning, rotation and inclination adjustments.
GRAIL Virtual Reality Lab, 103 BRB
The VR Lab is a 1,462 ft2 space primarily featuring a Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) (Motek ForceLink, Amsterdam, Netherlands). It is integrated with 14 high-speed Vero Series cameras, 1 Bonita high-speed high-definition camera (Vicon, Oxford, UK) and an instrumented treadmill (Bertec Corp., Columbus, OH, USA).
The treadmill has a split-belt design with separate belts running side by side. Each side is instrumented to measure 6-component ground reaction forces. The virtual environment is created by a front projection system and displayed onto a 180-degree screen and floor. The four projectors, consisting of one Optoma TX774 with 4000 lumens brightness and 2500:1 contrast ratio, three Barco F50s with 5,000 lumens and 5300:1 contrast ratio, all controlled by dedicated computers.
Virtual environments can be created in-house using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software or obtained from Motek ForceLink. These environments can also be displayed into an Occulus Rift (Occulus, Menlo Park, CA, USA). The system includes an A/D board and Phidget mechanical relay box (Phidgets Inc, Calgary, Canada). Both can be used to interface the GRAIL with other systems.
Brain Imaging Lab, 129 BRB
This 178 ft2 space houses equipment used for noise-sensitive brain imaging and features an airlock and concrete walls for noise cancellation. The ETG-4000 24 Channel Optical Topography System (Hitachi Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) is an FDA approved device that enables imaging of the cerebral cortex during sitting or standing using infrared technology.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) from Electrical Geodesics Inc. (Eugene, OR, USA) measures the electrical activity in the brain. It uses a net of 130 electrodes wrapped around the scalp and face. The system is integrated with E-Prime software (Psychology Software Tools) and peripheral sensors including: EKG, oximeter, airflow sensors and polygraph. It installed on a wooden desk with casters for electrical isolation and portability.
An NDI 3D Investigator motion capture system (Northern Digital Imaging, Ontario, Canada) uses Optotrak Smart Markers for improved tracking and labeling of the markers. The markers are active markers, using specific frequencies of light to improve accuracy. This system has allows simple motion to be tracked in small spaces. An InMotion 2.0 Shoulder Robot (Interactive Motion Technologies, Watertown, MA, USA) allows patients to use a motorized arm to complete tasks and games on a flat-screen display. The arm is actuated allowing force feedback to be communicated to the patient.
These lab spaces are managed by the Movement Analysis Core (MOVAN).
Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
The Additive Manufacturing Laboratory includes a primary 675 ft2 space for general activities and a secondary 224 ft2 space specifically designed for printing metal components. The space has six Ultimaker 2+ Extended (Ultimaker, Geldermalsen, Netherlands), two uPrint SE plus (Stratasys, Eden Prairie, MN, USA), an Objet 260 Connex3 (Stratasys, Rehovot, Isreal), a Robo R2 (Robo 3D, San Diego, CA, USA) and a Form 2 and Fuse 1 (Formlabs, Somerville, MA, USA).
The secondary space has a ProX DMP 200 (3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC, USA), with specially designed ventilation and fire suppression systems. Two of the printers are capable of Stereolithography, 2 by Selective Laser Sintering and the remaining through Fusion Deposition Modeling. Three can print support materials that can be dissolved in a special solution or removed with a contained power washer. Printing materials include plastics, wood, metal and composites.