Robotic FINGER Rehabilitation Device with Computer Game Play for Neurological Injuries

Project Description:
Neurological rehabilitation aims to restore brain functionality in subject’s with impaired brain networks. The heterogeneity present in post-stroke subject’s plays a significant role in a myriad of repetitive movements used in conventional training. Robot completed movement and ongoing modifications in rate, timing, effort combined with virtual reality games have led to significant behavioral gains in robotics therapy (Takahashi, 2007). Robots can calculate optimal training period and can assist in sensorimotor performance which could optimize the current rehabilitation therapy decisions (Reinkensmeyer 2004). Integrating the somatosensory system in post stroke patients leads not only to predicable hand functional gains, but neural correlations of proprioceptive weaknesses found after stroke. The measurement of distal extremities such as the finger could generate predictive models in the motor gains found from robotic assistance.

The goal of this project is to design a robotic instrument that assists post-stroke subjects with finger motions requiring precise timing. The project will integrate a gaming environment in which feedback systems quantify the subject’s finger individuation during game play.

Project Mentor:
Engineering Mentor: David J. Reinkensmeyer PhD, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCI, dreinken@uci.edu
Physician Mentor: None

Team Members:

Shikera Chepkoech Chamndany, Nicky Yan Chow, Nazar Karanurov, John Dinh Luong, Christian Velez