People with hand motor deficiencies, as a result of illnesses such as Parkinson's , strokes, or advanced arthritis, have trouble doing basic tasks needed for daily living. Consequently, their quality of life is negatively impacted.
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According to the Book "Ending Parkinson's Disease" published last year and written by Ray Dorsey, MD; Todd Sherer, PhD; Michael S. Okun, MD, and Bastian R. Bloen, MD, PhD, Parkinson Disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past twenty-five years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. "By 2040, the number will likely double again", the authors estimated. Among other things, the book points out the urgency of treating the condition with innovative therapies, and using innovative technological devices. Developing my "Helping Hand soft-robotics prototype" could help in this regard; and, could also help to improve the life quality of Parkinson patients and many others. For example people who are recovering from strokes frequently present hand motor deficiencies, as well as people who present advanced cases of arthritis.
Inspired by a Harvard Wyss Institute research, I built some inflatable mechanisms (pneumatic actuators) that can help people suffering hand motor deficiencies to move their fingers/ facilitating flexion and extension movements. Consequently, they could get the support needed to more firmly bend the fingers, and more firmly grab things. In addition, I built a hand-palm-shaped mold made with Dragon Skin 10 (silicone) in order to connect tubes that could pump air into the balloons (shaped us fingers) that would help them bend/provide pressure and movement support. Using the tube mechanism's structure it would be possible to simultaneously pump air toward all the fingers/ bend them. I also carefully installed strings that went from the top of each finger toward the wrist. I used tape that separately positioned the strings and allowed them to be pulled. When pulled, the strings can also provide support/facilitate the fingers' movements, and consequently make it possible to more firmly grab things. This, as the strings (that I rolled around a wheel connected to a battery activated motor) can be pulled simultaneously too. I attached the motor to a wrist band. With the idea of helping the fingers to firmly grab things, I put a scratchy Velcro sticker on the top of each of the gloves' fingers. My prototype is still a work in progress. I am planning to continue working to develop/refine the prototype that I designed. |
The Journal of Neuro-Engineering and Rehabilitation (February 17, 2018) notes that although groups have begun designing devices oriented to help people with mobility issues associated with their hands, there are few devices that have progressed to provide clinical evidence of their design’s therapeutic abilities. Hopefully the development of my prototype could do so in the short to middle term. I am already working on a new prototype using materials that are more flexible, elastic and functional.
My invention uses a combination of the string mechanism that I designed and the inflatable mechanism (described in my video) while using low cost materials. The goal of simultaneously using those mechanisms is to help people with hand motor deficiencies to have the opportunity to rehabilitate their hands. This, while frequently using the soft robotics device at home. The goal is that by doing so, they could improve their quality of life. The low cost of the materials used for my prototype could make this soft-robotics "helping hand" accessible: With the development of my prototype, hopefully it would be possible to provide a low cost soft robotics alternative (device) to the millions of people who suffer from hand motor deficiencies.
My invention uses a combination of the string mechanism that I designed and the inflatable mechanism (described in my video) while using low cost materials. The goal of simultaneously using those mechanisms is to help people with hand motor deficiencies to have the opportunity to rehabilitate their hands. This, while frequently using the soft robotics device at home. The goal is that by doing so, they could improve their quality of life. The low cost of the materials used for my prototype could make this soft-robotics "helping hand" accessible: With the development of my prototype, hopefully it would be possible to provide a low cost soft robotics alternative (device) to the millions of people who suffer from hand motor deficiencies.