I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Robotic Hand Therapy System with Mirror-based Feedback

Award ID: 2628050

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a robotic glove designed to assist hand and finger rehabilitation for individuals recovering from stroke and other conditions that impair hand function. Hand impairment affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly limit independence by making everyday activities such as eating, dressing, writing, and personal care difficult or impossible. Current rehabilitation devices are often expensive, require frequent clinical supervision, or are not tailored to the unique anatomical and therapeutic needs of individual users. This technology combines affordable manufacturing, personalized design, and active rehabilitation assistance in a system that can be used in both clinical and home environments. By expanding access to rehabilitation and enabling more frequent therapy, the technology has the potential to improve functional recovery, reduce long-term disability, and lower healthcare costs. The technology may have application in rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, outpatient therapy centers, home healthcare providers, and direct-to-consumer markets, addressing the growing demand for accessible rehabilitation technologies. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a tension-actuated robotic hand rehabilitation exoskeleton that integrates mirror therapy with active finger assistance. The system consists of a sensing glove and an actuated glove connected through a control architecture that detects movement of the unimpaired hand and assists corresponding movement of the affected hand. The device employs tendon-driven actuation and a modular, 3D-printed structure that can be customized to accommodate variations in hand anatomy and mobility limitations. Unlike many existing rehabilitation systems that focus on wrist-level motion or passive exercise, this technology provides individualized finger-level assistance while encouraging active user participation, an important factor in promoting neurological recovery. Adoption of this technology could improve therapy adherence, increase access to structured rehabilitation outside traditional clinical settings, and advance the development of affordable robotics-assisted rehabilitation solutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman