A lot of people suffer from weakening conditions that make their hands practically useless. An engineering team at Harvard has come up with a smart powered glove that can make a weak, poorly coordinated hand stronger and more capable.
The team said that the glove could be tailored to individual patients needs. The technology can be rolled out to people with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and other diseases.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly (Greek-enlargements of the extremities) is a hormonal disorder resulting from excessive production of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland after puberty, often referred as gigantism.
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The device has soft actuators made from Kevlar and silicone that work together to close the fingers of the hand. The strength that is delivered to each finger is programmed to compensate for the patient's unique disability. This results in natural control, sufficient strength, and a proper range of motion.
"From the start of this project, we've focused on understanding the real-world challenges facing these patients by visiting them in their homes to perform research," said Walsh, who is Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and founder of the Harvard Biodesign Lab at SEAS, and a Wyss Institute Core Faculty member.
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The developers are now attempting to integrate electromyography (EMG) sensors that can be used to trigger the glove a lot more accurately in terms of the user's intentions.
"We are continuing to test the design of the soft robotic glove on patients, in relation to making it customizable for the specific pathologies of each individual and understanding what control strategies work best - but we're already seeing a lot of exciting proof-of-concept experimental results," said Walsh.
Source: Medindia
No Handshake, Just Namaste to Avoid Swine Flu, Says Minister
All you need to beat the H1N1 virus is to be Indian — don't shake hands, greet others with folded hands, says Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij.
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The developers are now attempting to integrate electromyography (EMG) sensors that can be used to trigger the glove a lot more accurately in terms of the user's intentions.
"We are continuing to test the design of the soft robotic glove on patients, in relation to making it customizable for the specific pathologies of each individual and understanding what control strategies work best - but we're already seeing a lot of exciting proof-of-concept experimental results," said Walsh.
Source: Medindia
Prosthetic Hands With the Ability to Feel Could Soon Become a Reality
The goal for robotic prostheses is to develop a bionic arm that mimics natural limb, both in its ability to perform complex motor commands and elicit sensation.
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