Development of an
exoskeleton for pulp pinch grasping rehabilitation in stroke
patients
Abstract:
Forecasts indicate
that the incidence of stroke will increase significantly, mainly due
to the ageing of the population, and will become the second cause of
disability in Europe. Stroke usually results in neuromotor
disabilities and can affect the fingers. As finger movement is
essential for the most basic activities of daily living, there is a
strong motivation to focus on finger rehabilitation after injury or
stroke. It is well established that repetitive flexion and extension
movement of the fingers, even passively, can facilitate
neuromuscular re-education, help prevent spasticity and even control
pain associated with patients with hand paralysis due to acquired
brain damage. Therefore, this project proposes the development of a
prototype robotic exoskeleton that assists the pulp pinch movement
(or performs it passively) with a significantly lower manufacturing
cost and that allows patients to carry out intensive treatment of
this movement. To this end, it will be necessary to define the
clinical needs, characteristics of the target patients, technical
requirements, biomechanical restrictions and functional needs of the
robotic exoskeleton. It will also be necessary to study the
biomechanical characteristics of the normal intelligent gripper for
its integration into the exoskeleton.
Date:
Jan.
2022-Dec. 2022
PI UJI:
José L. Iserte Vilar
Partners:
Universitat Jaume I,
Brain Injury Unit of the Hospital La Magdalena de Castellón
