Dataset Information

Assisting hand function after spinal cord injury with a fabric-based soft robotic glove.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that can dramatically impact hand motor function. Passive and active assistive devices are becoming more commonly used to enhance lost hand strength and dexterity. Soft robotics is an emerging discipline that combines the classical principles of robotics with soft materials and could provide a new class of active assistive devices. Soft robotic assistive devices enable a human-robot interaction facilitated by compliant and light-weight structures. The scope of this work was to demonstrate that a fabric-based soft robotic glove can effectively assist participants affected by spinal cord injury in manipulating objects encountered in daily living.

Methods

The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Hand Function Test was administered to 9 participants with C4-C7 spinal cord injuries to assess the functionality of the soft robotic glove. The test included object manipulation tasks commonly encountered during activities of daily living (ADL) and lift force measurements. The test was administered to each participant twice; once without the assistive glove to provide baseline data and once while wearing the assistive glove. The object manipulation subtests were evaluated using a linear mixed model, including interaction effects of variables such as time since injury. The lift force measures were separately evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

The soft robotic glove improved object manipulation in ADL tasks. The difference in mean scores between baseline and assisted conditions was significant across all participants and for all manipulated objects. An improvement of 33.42?±?15.43% relative to the maximal test score indicates that the glove sufficiently enhances hand function during ADL tasks. Moreover, lift force also increased when using the assistive soft robotic glove, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the device in assisting hand function.

Conclusions

The results gathered in this study validate our fabric-based soft robotic glove as an effective device to assist hand function in individuals who have suffered upper limb paralysis following a spinal cord injury.

SUBMITTER: Cappello L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6022347 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Assisting hand function after spinal cord injury with a fabric-based soft robotic glove.

Cappello Leonardo L Meyer Jan T JT Galloway Kevin C KC Peisner Jeffrey D JD Granberry Rachael R Wagner Diana A DA Engelhardt Sven S Paganoni Sabrina S Walsh Conor J CJ

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation 20180628 1

<h4>Background</h4>Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that can dramatically impact hand motor function. Passive and active assistive devices are becoming more commonly used to enhance lost hand strength and dexterity. Soft robotics is an emerging discipline that combines the classical principles of robotics with soft materials and could provide a new class of active assistive devices. Soft robotic assistive devices enable a human-robot interaction facilitated by compliant and light-we ...[more]

PMID: 29954401

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Project description:BackgroundSoft-robotic gloves with an assist-as-needed control have the ability to assist daily activities where needed, while stimulating active and highly functional movements within the user's possibilities. Employment of hand activities with glove support might act as training for unsupported hand function.ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effect of a grip-supporting soft-robotic glove as an assistive device at home during daily activities.MethodsThis multicentre intervention trial consisted of 3 pre-assessments (averaged if steady state = PRE), one post-assessment (POST), and one follow-up assessment (FU). Participants with chronic hand function limitations were included. Participants used the Carbonhand glove during six weeks in their home environment on their most affected hand. They were free to choose which activities to use the glove with and for how long. The primary outcome measure was grip strength, secondary outcome measures were pinch strength, hand function and glove use time.Results63 patients with limitations in hand function resulting from various disorders were included. Significant improvements (difference PRE-POST) were found for grip strength (+1.9 kg, CI 0.8 to 3.1; p = 0.002) and hand function, as measured by Jebson-Taylor Hand Function Test (-7.7 s, CI -13.4 to -1.9; p = 0.002) and Action Research Arm Test (+1.0 point, IQR 2.0; p≤0.001). Improvements persisted at FU. Pinch strength improved slightly in all fingers over six-week glove use, however these differences didn't achieve significance. Participants used the soft-robotic glove for a total average of 33.0 hours (SD 35.3), equivalent to 330 min/week (SD 354) or 47 min/day (SD 51). No serious adverse events occurred.ConclusionThe present findings showed that six weeks use of a grip-supporting soft-robotic glove as an assistive device at home resulted in a therapeutic effect on unsupported grip strength and hand function. The glove use time also showed that this wearable, lightweight glove was able to assist participants with the performance of daily tasks for prolonged periods.

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Dataset Information

Assisting hand function after spinal cord injury with a fabric-based soft robotic glove.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Assisting hand function after spinal cord injury with a fabric-based soft robotic glove.

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