Patients those struggled to move their fingers after a stroke or an accident could be soon provided with a helping hand from a robotic glove. It is developed by Italian engineers and is known by the name of the Gloreha glove that can be used on either hand during rehabilitation exercises and takes just about three minute to fit
The device is motorized by a sequence of pneumatic cylinders those running beside the back of the hand and each digit on the device. This sets aside a moderate pressure to be put on the hand to direct it during workout. It also helps users to move their hand independently to reconstruct gestures like pointing and clutching.
The electronic sensors in the glove are attached to computer software which runs through a sequence of 3D animated hand movements. Then the users follow the virtual hand through a range of supported exercises. The software records the duration of each session as well as achievements completed.
The gadget then uses this information to generate the next session for the therapy. The Gloreha project was initiated in 2008 in collaboration with Professor Molteni who works at the rehabilitation hospital in Costa Masnaga. Three prototypes of the glove were developed taking the help of engineers from the University of Brescia.
According to Carlo Seneci, president of developers Idrogenet, this is different from a robot simply, moving a patient’s fingers. A patient can follow the movement of his hand in real-time and try to imitate the movement. This is a key aspect for patients affected by strokes or spinal injuries. They almost need to rehabilitate the brain more than they do the hand.
The Gloreha is normally used for half-hour sessions once or twice a day. It has been well-tolerated by patients and shown improvements both in their movements and diminution of edema. The therapy can last for weeks or months depending from patient to patient. The glove has developed in order that the forces it exudes should not cause the patient pain, added Seneci.
Even if something did go wrong there is a red button that can be pressed to stop the movement. The researchers will now work on a simpler version of the glove that patients could use at home that would store exercises on an integrated SD card, he concluded.
source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health