Intelligent Pediatric Glove for Hand and Wrist Positioning and Prompting

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Summary/Abstract It has been estimated that in the United States spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy occurs in 1 out every 1000 births. Affected children typically have one hand with compromised positioning and limited function. While they frequently have the ability to initiate grasping and open the fingers, the affected hand is often maintained with a thumb-in-palm pose, compromising their ability to grasp successfully. The longer this situation persists the less the hand is used due to the lack of a learning loop incorporating feedback from successful attempts at grasping. The pattern of disuse contributes to a lack of development of strength and agility for the hand. The inability to successfully use one hand cascades into other issues, including difficulty using mobility devices and performing activities of daily living. The product proposed for development funding is an intelligent active glove orthosis designed to provide wrist, finger and thumb positioning to in