Robotic Glove Helps Patients Restore Hand Movements
From: Medical Design Technology - 01/11/2016

Patients who have lost their hand functions due to injuries or nerve-related
conditions, such as stroke and muscular dystrophy, now have a chance of
restoring their hand movements by using a new lightweight and smart
rehabilitation device called EsoGlove developed by a research team from the
National University of Singapore (NUS).

Made of soft materials, this novel device is an improvement from conventional
robotic hand rehabilitation devices as it has sensors to detect muscle
signals and conforms to the natural movements of the human hand, reducing
discomfort and risk of injury. This robotic glove is also compact and
portable, so patients who are recovering at home or are bedridden could carry
out rehabilitation exercises with greater ease and comfort.

EsoGlove is connected to a pump-valve control system that modulates the air
pressure which directs the soft actuators. When the actuators are pressurized
by air, they apply distributed forces along the length of the finger to
promote finger movements, such as bending, extending and twisting, to support
different hand motions. This novel method does not constrain the finger’s
natural movements, unlike conventional devices that make use of rigid links
and joints. Each actuator also functions independently, providing assistance
to each finger separately.

The robotic glove can be applied in a table-top version for bedridden
patients, as well as a waist-belt version for patients who are mobile and
recovering at home.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/01/robotic-glove-helps-patients-restore-hand-movements

Links:
Robotic glove invented by NUS researchers helps patients restore hand movements
http://news.nus.edu.sg/press-releases/9885-robotic-glove-by-nus

EsoGlove Robotic Glove Engineered to Help Restore Hand Movements
http://www.rehabpub.com/2016/01/esoglove-robotic-glove-engineered-help-restore-hand-movements

EsoGlove Demo (video 1:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZv7YHKoWm4

Glove Restores Hand Use following Nerve Damage
http://www.pddnet.com/news/2016/01/glove-restores-hand-use-following-nerve-damage

Robotic Glove Can Help Restore Hand Movements
http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/mdb/features/24681