Robotic Devices Types Exoskeletons for Elbow Rehabilitation: A Technological Review

Upper-limb exoskeletons have become very important in recent years as an alternative to improve the quality of life and the rehabilitation of patients with motor problems. In this way, the purpose of this article is to analyze the technological trends of these upper-limb exoskeletons, that contain the movement of the elbow, stated in the different papers collected. First, a range of years (from 2016 to 2021) will be delimited for the data search. This information will be used to make a matrix, from which the similarities and differences shared by the upper limb exoskeletons can be identified. As a result, it can be observed that 100% of the exoskeletons use flexion/extension movement, 30.77% occupy aluminum as the main material, of which 26.94% use it with 3D printing as a complement for their manufacture. In addition, present PID, AC, and IC control algorithms in 46.16% of the exoskeletons, along with 46,15% motors or servomotors applications for the actuators. Finally, the TLR scale was used to observe the technological advance that each exoskeleton reached.