Communications of the ACM
Robotic Glove Invented By Nus Researchers Helps Patients Restore Hand Movements
A research team from the National University of Singapore has developed a new lightweight, smart rehabilitation device to help patients who have lost hand functions due to injuries or nerve-related conditions to restore their hand movements.
National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers have developed the EsoGlove, a rehabilitation device equipped with sensors to detect muscle signals.
The researchers say the device consists of soft materials and conforms to the natural movements of the human hand, which reduces discomfort and risk of injury.
"EsoGlove is designed to enable patients to carry out rehabilitation exercises in various settings," says NUS professor Raye Yeow.
EsoGlove is connected to a pump-valve control system, which modulates the air pressure to direct the soft actuators. It also uses an intuitive control mechanism, which involves the coupling of electromyography and radio-frequency identification technologies, thus enabling the glove to detect a patient's intent to perform a hand action on a specific object. "With this unique approach, we can develop therapeutic tools using safe and wearable robotic technology," says NUS researcher Lim Jeong Hoon.
The soft actuators in the EsoGlove are made from non-ferromagnetic materials, making them suitable for use in functional magnetic-resonance imaging studies.
"We hope that the robotic glove can contribute towards investigating the brain's activity in relation to motor performance during hand rehabilitation, and unravel the functional effects of soft rehabilitation robotics on brain stimulation," says NUS Ph.D. candidate Yap Hong Kai.
From National University of Singapore
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