HomeProjectsRobotics and Advanced ManufacturingSoft Robotic Hand for Stroke Rehabilitation

Soft Robotic Hand for Stroke Rehabilitation

Project Quick Facts

Principal Investigator

  • Prof. TONG Kai Yu Raymond

    Department of Biomedical Engineering

  • Funding

    Innovation and Technology Commission

  • Collaboration

    Hopebotics Limited

  • Patent

    1 US patent and 1 China patent applications

  • Award

    Second Prize, The 6th China International College Students’ “Internet +”Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

    Third Prize, The 6th China College Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition

    Silver Award, The 47th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

This project provides the portable wearable robotic hand for rehabilitation of patients after stroke. It also integrates the professional rehabilitation guidance and evaluation, enabling the patients to conduct the training at home and complete activities of daily living (ADL) with the device.

The key component of soft robotic hand is our design of Soft-Elastic Composite Actuator (SECA) that includes an elastomer bladder reinforced with fiber wrapping and torque-compensating layers. It is driven by fluidic pressure, which flexion is controlled on fluid pressurization and extension is controlled on depressurization, respectively.

Prototype of the Control System
Prototype of the Soft Robotic Hand
Computer simulation of the Soft-Elastic Composite Actuator

Uniqueness and Competitive Advantages:

  • Light weight (< 20g), fast production (<15 minutes), low cost (<HKD 500) and it supports 3D printing customization.
  • Operation process of SECA is safe and comfortable due to the inherent compliance of soft materials that is like human tissues.
  • The powered flexion and extension of body joints upon the wearing of SECA are controlled actively following patients’ mind, e.g. surface electromyography (sEMG), motion data, etc.

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