Novel Soft Haptic Biofeedback-Pilot Study on Postural Balance and Proprioception

The Application of Soft Robotic Gloves in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Wearable robotic devices have been strongly put into use in both the clinical and research fields of stroke rehabilitation over the past decades. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of soft robotic gloves (SRGs) towards improving the motor recovery and functional abilities in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Five major bibliographic databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, were all reviewed for enrollment regarding comparative trials prior to 7 March 2023. We included adults with stroke and compared their rehabilitation using SRGs to conventional rehabilitation (CR) on hand function in terms of the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Assessment (FMA-UE), Fugl-Meyer Distal Upper Extremity Motor Assessment (FMA-distal UE), box and blocks test score, grip strength test, and the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTT). A total of 8 studies, comprising 309 participants, were included in the analysis. Compared to CR, rehabilitation involving SRGs achieved better FMA-UE (MD 6.52, 95% CI: 3.65~9.39), FMA-distal UE (MD 3.27, 95% CI: 1.50~5.04), and JJT (MD 13.34, CI: 5.16~21.53) results. Subgroup analysis showed that stroke latency of more than 6 months and training for more than 30 min offered a better effect as well. In conclusion, for patients with stroke, rehabilitation using SRGs is recommended to promote the functional abilities of the upper extremities.

A 3D-Printed Soft Haptic Device with Built-in Force Sensing Delivering Bio-Mimicked Feedback

Haptics plays a significant role not only in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders, such as stroke, by substituting necessary cognitive information but also in human-computer interfaces (HCIs), which are now an integral part of the recently launched metaverse. This study proposes a unique, soft, monolithic haptic feedback device (SoHapS) that was directly manufactured using a low-cost and open-source fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer by employing a combination of soft conductive and nonconductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials (NinjaTek, USA). SoHapS consists of a soft bellow actuator and a soft resistive force sensor, which are optimized using finite element modeling (FEM). SoHapS was characterized both mechanically and electrically to assess its performance, and a dynamic model was developed to predict its force output with given pressure inputs. We demonstrated the efficacy of SoHapS in substituting biofeedback with tactile feedback, such as gripping force, and proprioceptive feedback, such as finger flexion-extension positions, in the context of teleoperation. With its intrinsic properties, SoHapS can be integrated into rehabilitation robots and robotic prostheses, as well as augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (AR/VR/MR) systems, to induce various types of bio-mimicked feedback.