A Low-Cost Portable/Wearable Device for Intelligent Stretching and Movement Training Hypertonic Forearm in Stroke with Outcome Evaluation

This project develops a wearable/portable robotic device, IntelliStretch, to perform therapeuticrehabilitation of the arm with the following three integrated steps: (1) stretching a spastic/stiff jointto its extreme position under intelligent control to loosen the stiff joint, (2) voluntary movement training using virtual reality games interfaced with assistance/resistance control when needed, and (3) quantitative outcome evaluation. The device is low cost and portable so that patients can use the device conveniently and frequently in a local clinic under monitoring of a clinician or at home with initial instruction/training from a clinician. IntelliStretch is first modified for wearable design to improve portabilityand functionality. Second, in order to motivate/facilitate patients in motor-function recovery, voluntarymovement training by playing virtual reality games is added. Finally, the outcome of the robotictreatment is evaluated quantitatively in terms of the biomechanical and neuromuscular properties of thejoint.