For those who have suffered from strokes, it is essential to regain their fine motor skills in order to regain their independence and overall quality of life. However, it can be difficult and costly to receive the intensive, regular rehabilitation therapy that is needed. Fortunately, researchers are working on a new technology that could make it possible for stroke survivors to do rehabilitation exercises at home. This technology involves using a smartphone strapped to the forearm and a low-cost gaming controller called the Novint Falcon to track wrist movements. This innovation could greatly improve the accessibility and affordability of rehabilitation for stroke patients.
Strokes affect nearly 800,000 Americans every year, making it crucial for survivors to regain skills like writing and using tools.Rehabilitation after a stroke is crucial for regaining independence and quality of life. However, receiving frequent and intensive therapy can be difficult and costly.
Now, scientists at NYU Tandon School of Engineering are creating a new technology that could enable stroke patients to do rehabilitation exercises at home by monitoring their wrist movements using a simple setup: a smartphone attached to the forearm and an affordable gaming controller called the Novint Falcon.
The Novint Falcon, a desktop robot commonly used for video games, can lead users through specific arm movements and monitor the path of iThe Falcon device is designed to monitor the force and torque applied by the user’s wrist during rehabilitation exercises. However, it does not have the ability to directly measure the angle of the wrist, which is crucial information for therapists who are providing remote rehabilitation. In a study presented at SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation 2024, the researchers suggested using the Falcon in combination with the motion sensors built into a smartphone to accurately track the angles of the wrist during rehab exercises. Maurizio Porfiri, who is the senior author of the paper and the director of the Center for Urban Science + Progress at NYU Tandon Institute, explained that patients would attach their phone to their forearm and manipulate the Falcon robot. The data from the phone’s sensors would then be used to keep track of the wrist angles.inertial sensors can be combined with machine learning to interpret the patient’s wrist angle using the robot’s measurements. The researchers gathered information from a healthy individual using motion sensors on the forearm and hand while performing tasks with the Falcon to determine the actual wrist angle. They then developed a program to estimate the wrist angles based on the sensor data and Falcon controller movements. The program was able to accurately predict wrist angles with more than 90% accuracy, showing potential for remote therapy with immediate feedback without the need for an in-person therapist.
“The technology has the potential to enable patients to do rehab exercises at home while giving therapists detailed data to assess their progress remotely,” said Roni Barak Ventura, the main author of the paper and a former NYU Tandon postdoctoral fellow. “It’s an affordable and user-friendly way to improve access to important post-stroke care.”
The researchers aim to improve the algorithm further by using data from more participants. Ultimately, they envision the system helping stroke survivors adhere to intensive rehab routines from the comfort of their homes.
“Having the ability to conduct rehabilitation exercises at home can greatly benefit stroke survivors,” Ventura said.”Home-based exercises with automatic tracking could greatly enhance the quality of life for stroke patients,” Barak Ventura explained. “This portable and affordable technology has the potential to make the challenging recovery process more accessible.”
This research contributes to the ongoing efforts at NYU Tandon to enhance stroke recovery. In 2022, NYU Tandon researchers partnered with the FDA to develop a regulatory science tool that uses biomarkers to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation devices for post-stroke motor recovery and provide guidance on their optimal usage. A recent study also revealed technological advancements earlier this year.A new technology has been developed that uses brain implants to recreate the speaking voice of individuals who have lost the ability to speak, often due to stroke.