A robotic glove built by a team of engineers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) could assist patients suffering from loss of hand motor control.
Soft, multi–segment actuators used in the device enable an assistive range of motions like those performed by the biological fingers and thumb. The actuators are customizable to accommodate each patient's specific hand size and pathology.
The mechanics of the glove were adapted to make the technology more comfortable and natural feeling to wearers. Over several iterations of design, the actuators powering the movements of the glove were made smaller and were modified to distribute forces more evenly over the wearer's fingers and thumb. The resulting actuators, which are composite tubular constructions of Kevlar fibers and silicone elastomer, support the range of motions performed by biological fingers. The glove's lightweight, portable control system can be worn using a waist belt or can be attached to a wheelchair.
For patients suffering from muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and incomplete spinal cord injury, the invention could improve daily independence through robotic glove–assisted hand functions. The team is also working to improve glove control strategies, including surface electromyography, to allow the system to detect the wearer's intent.
