Saturday, May 10, 2025
5/10/2025
Motorized hand exoskeleton for stroke rehablitation - In this SBIR project, we will further develop a motorized HandSOME exoskeleton for stroke rehabilitation. This work builds off our prior experience from developing 3 hand exoskeletons, the purely passive HandSOME I and HandSOME II devices, and the motorized HandMATE exoskeleton. The HandSOME devices used elastic /bands to assist with finger and thumb extension, while HandMATE used 5 linear actuators for individual digit control. In this project, we will further develop a new simplified version of HandMATE that decreases the complexity of the design in terms of parts, pin joints and electrical connections, while also decreasing the difficulty of donning the device. For stroke survivors, improvement of the paretic hand can result in functional improvement of the upper paretic limb. However, the probability of regaining functional use of the impaired hand is low. In comparison to proximal joints, hand function restoration is often delayed and patients also suffer finger and thumb flexion weakness. A motorized device can increase range of motion and provide grip force amplification to aid in ADL performance, whereby the grip force applied to the object is higher than the grip force produced by the patient. In the testing phase, 13 individuals with chronic stroke will be evaluated for usability and functional gains when wearing the easy-to-use motorized device. The long-term goal is the development of an affordable and easy to use device that can be used as an assistive device during ADL, but in the process of daily use, promotes neurorehabilitation of hand motor control.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).