Robotic ankle device to improve walking after stroke
Powered Ankle Exoskeleton for Stroke Survivors With Gait Impairment
This project will test a wearable robotic ankle device with an AI controller to see if it helps adults who had a stroke walk better during treadmill and everyday walking tasks.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Georgia Institute of Technology Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Atlanta, Georgia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07179627 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will fit people who had a stroke with a powered ankle exoskeleton that uses a novel self‑adapting AI control system and have them perform walking tasks on a specialized treadmill as well as overground, up ramps, and on stairs. The same tasks will be repeated without the device to provide baseline measurements. The study will compare gait speed, symmetry, and stability between the powered exoskeleton and the no‑device baseline. Outcomes will show whether the personalized controller produces consistent improvements across participants with variable, asymmetric post‑stroke gait patterns.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community‑dwelling adults aged 18–85 who had a stroke at least 6 months earlier, can walk independently without another person's assistance (FAC ≥ 3), and can safely perform walking tasks.
Not a fit: People who require a walker, need physical assistance to walk (FAC ≤ 2), have a shuffling gait, or have major secondary impairments (for example amputation or legal blindness) are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the adaptive ankle exoskeleton could increase walking speed, improve gait symmetry and stability, and help people after stroke regain more independent mobility in the community.
How similar studies have performed: Previous powered ankle exoskeletons have shown promising improvements in gait metrics after stroke, but fully self‑adapting AI controllers for individualized gait personalization are relatively novel and less extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Between 18-85 years of age * Had a stroke at least 6 months prior to study involvement * Are community dwelling, which means you do not live in an assisted living facility * Are able to provide informed consent to participate in the study activities * Can safely participate in the study activities (per self-report) * Must have a Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score of 3 or above, which means you can walk without the assistance of another person Exclusion Criteria: * Require a walker to walk independently * Have a shuffling gait pattern overground * Have a Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score of 2 or lower, which means you require the assistance of another person in order to walk * Have a significant secondary deficit beyond stroke (e.g. amputation, legal blindness or other severe impairment or condition) that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI), would likely affect the study outcome or confound the results * For exoskeleton-only studies, the exoskeleton device does not fit appropriately or safely, as determined by the research team during the fitting assessment.
Where this trial is running
Atlanta, Georgia
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Aaron Young, PhD — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Aaron Young, PhD
- Email: aaron.young@me.gatech.edu
- Phone: 404-385-5306
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.