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Research Highlights
Robot-aided stroke therapy to be tested at four VA medical centers
September 22, 2005
A robot that therapeutically helps stroke patients move their affected upper limbs will take center stage in a VA clinical trial involving up to 160 patients at four VA medical centers. The trial, which will begin recruiting patients in mid-2006, will feature a robot called the MIT-Manus, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Users sit at a table with their arm attached to the robot. A video screen instructs them to perform a task with their arm, such as connecting some dots. If they are unable to do it, the robot assists. As patients initiate more movements on their own, the robot adjusts its support accordingly. Researchers believe this type of therapy can be effective in helping the brain "rewire" itself to compensate for lost function.
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