The EsoGlove is made of soft materials rather than the heavy, uncomfortable rigid electromechanical components used in traditional devices. It also features sensors to detect muscle signals and conforms to the natural movements of the human hand, reducing discomfort and risk of injury. This robotic glove is also compact and portable, so patients who are recovering at home or are bedridden could carry out rehabilitation exercises in comfort.
Assistant Professor Raye Yeow from the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering explained: “EsoGlove is designed to enable patients to carry out rehabilitation exercises in various settings – in the hospital wards, rehabilitation centres and even at home.”
A pump-valve control system modulates the air pressure which directs the soft actuators in the EsoGlove. When the actuators are pressurised by air, they apply distributed forces along the length of the finger to promote finger movements, such as bending, extending and twisting, to support different hand motions. This method does not constrain the finger’s natural movements. Each actuator also functions independently, providing assistance to each finger separately.
The robotic glove can be applied in a table-top version for bedridden patients, as well as a waist-belt version for patients who are mobile and recovering at home.
EsoGlove uses an intuitive control mechanism that involves the coupling of electromyography and radio-frequency identification technologies. With this feature, the glove can detect a patient’s intent to perform a hand action, such as picking up a pen or holding a mug. By interpreting the muscle signals of the wearer, the robotic glove can help the patient move the fingers to accomplish the specific tasks, involving objects of various shapes and sizes.
Dr Lim Jeong Hoon from the NUS Department of Medicine said: “With this unique approach, we can develop therapeutic tools using safe and wearable robotic technology. Patients can take the initiative in their own rehabilitative process, rather than being passive recipients of therapists’ intervention.”
Prof Yeow’s team plan to start pilot clinical studies at the National University Hospital in February 2016 to validate the device’s performance, as well as to obtain patient and clinical feedback so as to further refine the design of the device.