Quadriplegia Patients Try a Life-Changing Hand Exoskeleton

The loss of motor function in the arms and legs is known as Quadriplegia, and until now patients of this condition had little hope of ever performing normal everyday activities without assistance. According to a new paper published in Science Robotics, a new innovation may have changed that for five volunteers.

One of the most exciting new developments has been in the field of bionics, where machines are being used to provide ambulatory ability where once there was none.

Science fiction has long imagined people with machine-made body parts, and this fantasy may soon be a reality. First, we must understand the delicate connections necessary for the human brain to operate a limb.

By understanding that connection, scientists will be able to bring back mobility to those who have lost it. Technologies that can replace limbs are referred to as brain-machine interfaces, or BMIs.Click To Tweet

With BMIs, scientists hope to replace lost ability. One study detailed in the journal Science Robotics shows how five volunteers were fitted with an exoskeleton that they were able to interface with in order to perform what was referred to as an ‘activity of daily living (ADL)‘

Hand Exoskeleton Helping With Everyday Activities

The study was conducted on five test subjects. They are all male and between 14 and 30 years of age. The subjects all suffered from Quadriplegia. The goal was to use a hand exoskeleton in order to give them the ability to perform simple daily activities such as grasping, lifting, and holding objects. These abilities are necessary for eating or drinking independently.

The hand exoskeleton used a BMI that used electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) to make fine hand movements by manipulating the paralyzed hand and fingers. Subjects were fitted with the exoskeleton and asked to perform reaching and grasping actions, and they only had to visualize the action to utilize the BMI and manipulate the exoskeleton, proving the intuitiveness of BMI control.

The testing showed a full restoration of ADL independence, meaning that the subjects were able to write, eat and drink without needing assistance.

To read the paper yourself, check out the original document.

Expanding the Discussion

The results of the study are a good sign for the future of biomechanics. BMIs are proving their usefulness in restoring the independence of patients. Yet, more research is sure to advance this field of study. Like with the hand exoskeleton, this research could potentially recover parts of patients’ lives they thought were lost.

Medicine has made great strides in the last century, and it looks like it will keep its momentum in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. BMIs are changing the way we understand the interaction between our body and our brain. They may even provide a solution for one of the most debilitating conditions humankind has ever had to contend with.