RST Research Facilities and Labs
RST Product Testing Laboratories contain apparatus for a variety of testing capabilities to evaluate the quality, safety, and durability of mobility products, both prototype devices as well as mobility products already on the market. In the Product Performance Test Lab, we have apparatus to evaluate the performance and safety of products. The Product Durability Test Lab provides environmental test chambers (heat and corrosion) and fatigue testing machines, which allow researchers to simulate product aging and wear.
RST Design Studio provides a creative space that facilitates the development and sharing of ideas for product design. The space contains workstations with 3D design software, and engaging meeting space for collaborative idea generation that can be shared on dry erase painted walls and through projection.
RST Prototyping Laboratory includes equipment for fabrication of prototypes and test fixtures. The lab contains a variety of hand and power tools including a mill, drill press, lathe and compound miter saw. An electronics workstation serves to support hardware and software development. This station consists of software programming, electronics prototyping, and debugging stations, equipped with oscilloscopes, meters, power supplies, soldering irons, and function generators. Multiple 3D printing stations and supplies facilitate rapid prototyping of components.
Visit the Rehabilitation Technology program at Bakery Square:
RST/UPMC Center for Assistive Technology – The Center for Assistive Technology (CAT), a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, is one of the largest community-based outpatient assistive technology (AT) clinics in the United States. CAT provides AT related services to over 1500 clients annually and has been steadily growing. The CAT is engaged in research (virtual coaches, advanced mobility devices, assistive robotic devices), development of clinical outcome tools (functioning every day in a wheelchair, functional mobility assessment, multi-sensor driving assessment), and experimental clinical service provision (telerehabilitation, wearable technologies). CAT has recently implemented “smart text” into the electronic record system, to define “mobility related activities of daily living”, and to define “functional ambulation”.
RST Prosthetics and Orthotics Research Lab provides designated space for human subjects testing. Adjacent reception area and changing room facilitate logistics. Research equipment includes prosthesis integrated load cells (one ipecs, RTC electronics, Dexter, MI; two Europa, Orthocare Innovations, Tacoma, WA), mobile gait-analysis sensor (G-walk, BTC engineering, Milan, ITA), compatible wireless 8-channel EMG (FreeEMG, BTS engineering, Milan, ITA), metabolic breath analysis system (CardioCoach, Korr, Salt Lake City, UT), 50 activity monitors (StepWatch, modus health, Washington, DC), along with an assortment of tools and exercise equipment to facilitate a range of protocol designs. The lab shares space with RST’s Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program that contains all of the major equipment for functional assessment, fabrication and fitting of prosthetic and orthotic devices including a fabrication lab, vacuum forming/oven room, lamination room, machining room, and plaster room. A spacious patient area provides a waiting/changing room, parallel bars, movable steps, wall to floor mirrors, and assistive devices to enable efficient fitting and gait assessment sessions.
Visit the Prosthetics and Orthotics program at Bakery Square: