Robot Device Helps Stroke Patients
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - 12/17/2008

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are demonstrating the use of a
hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI to help rehabilitate chronic
stroke patients.  

In the experiment, the patients squeezed a special MR-compatible robotic
device for an hour a day, three days per week for four weeks. The study
showed that rehabilitation using hand training significantly increased
activation in the cortex, which is the area in the brain that corresponds
with hand use. Furthermore, the increased cortical activation persisted in
the stroke patients who had exercised during the training period, but then
stopped for several months. 

"We have shown that the brain has the ability to regain function through
rehabilitative exercises following a stroke," said A. Aria Tzika, PhD,
director of the NMR Surgical Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital
(MGH) and Shriners Burn Institute and assistant professor in the Department
of Surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "We have learned that the
brain is malleable, even six months or more after a stroke, which is a longer
period of time than previously thought."  

Read the entire article at:
Robotic Technology Improves Stroke Rehabilitation
http://www.rsna.org/Media/rsna/RSNA08_newsrelease_target.cfm?id=394

Links:
Significant rehab possible in chronic stroke
http://www.ajmc.com/article.cfm?ID=10928
http://www.imagingeconomics.com/reuters_article.asp?id=20081205clin003.html

Medicexchange TV Interview with Dr A Aria Tzika
http://www.medicexchange.com/RSNA-2008/medicexchange-tv-interview-with-a-tzika.html

Robotic Device Could Help Stroke Patients
http://www.ahealthyme.com/article/healthday/700190
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=94698
http://www.tmfhs.org/body.cfm?id=10&action=detail&aeproductid=HealthScoutfeed&aearticleid=25847

Robotic Technology Improves Stroke Rehabilitation
http://www.sciencecodex.com/robotic_technology_improves_stroke_rehabilitation
http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-03-2008/0004935536&EDATE=

Hand Exercising Robot Helps Stroke Patients Regain Brain Function after 6 Months
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/131858.php

No Time Limit on Starting Stroke Rehab (video)
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/RSNA/11997