Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595958›Full record

ArticleBioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Towards Clinical Trial Readiness: Optimization of a Parallel Robot for Lower Limb Rehabilitation.

Paul Tucan, Oana Maria Vanta, Alin Horsia, Ionut Zima, David Mihai Lupu, Calin Vaida, Daniela Jucan, José Machado, Doina Pisla

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Paul TucanCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-5660-8259
Oana Maria VantaCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0009-0002-2398-9715
Alin HorsiaCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-1257-4127
Ionut ZimaCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0009-0007-0483-7691
David Mihai LupuCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Calin VaidaCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-2822-9790
Daniela JucanCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
José MachadoCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-4917-2474
Doina PislaCESTER-Research Center for Industrial Robots Simulation and Testing, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-7014-9431

Funding

European Union-NextGenerationEU and Romanian Government, under National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania contract no. 760071/23.05.2023, code CF 121/15.11.2022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study presents the clinical trial readiness and optimization of a parallel robotic system developed for early-stage lower limb rehabilitation of bedridden patients using feedback from healthy users and clinicians. The system combines a parallel hip-knee mechanism with a Bowden cable-driven ankle module, both actuated by servomotors and controlled through a PLC platform. Experimental tests were performed in laboratory conditions with twenty healthy participants (aged 25-45) and ten clinicians, focusing on safety, ergonomics, clinical usability, and comfort through structured questionnaires. The responses were quantified and analyzed using a Mamdani-type fuzzy logic model, allowing subjective feedback to be converted into objective redesign priorities. Safety, torque capacity, and adaptability emerged as the key areas that need improvement. Subsequent mechanical and structural refinements resulted in substantial gains in user comfort, perceived safety, and clinician-reported applicability. The optimized robotic system demonstrates enhanced functionality and improved readiness for clinical evaluation, highlighting the benefit of incorporating fuzzy logic-based feedback into the development of rehabilitation robots.

Indexed as

clinical trial readinessclinician feedbackfuzzy logicparallel robotrobotic-assisted lower limb rehabilitationuser feedback

Identifiers

PMID41595958
PMCPMC12838050

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.