New thought-controlled robotic systems ‘could aid paralysed patients’

People with paralysis could benefit from the use of new robotic systems that can be controlled using thought processes alone in future, thanks to new research.

A team from ETH Zurich are working on a type of robotic exoskeleton that can train patients to regain some of their hand functions, leaving the palm of the hand free to allow the user to carry out everyday activities.

The system's mechanism for the finger features three overlapping leaf springs, with a motor moving the middle spring to transmit force to the different segments of the finger through the other two springs, allowing the user to grasp objects.

Initially, the integrated motors made the exoskeleton too heavy for patients, but this was solved by removing the motors from the hand and attaching them to the patient's back, with force transmitted to the exoskeleton using a bicycle brake cable.

The team is now seeking to develop a means of communicating the patient's intention to move their hand directly from the brain to the exoskeleton, gradually strengthening neural connections between the brain and the hand with regular exercise.

Roger Gassert, professor of rehabilitation engineering at ETH Zurich, said: "Especially with seriously affected patients, the connection between the brain and the hand is often severely or completely disrupted, so we are looking for a solution that will help patients pass on commands to the robotic device intuitively."

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