Cognitive-based Prosthetics to Improve Grasp and Reaching After SCI

Summary

Rehabilitation of functional movements after spinal cord injury (SCI) requires commitment and engagement to the processes of physical therapy. Outcomes may be improved by techniques that strengthen cognitive connections between users and physical therapy exercises.

The investigators will investigate combinations of virtual reality and innovative wearable technology to accelerate rehabilitation of hand grasp and reach. These devices use multi-sensory feedback to enhance the sense of agency, or feelings of control, and better train movements during physical rehabilitation exercises. The investigators will measure the effect of these devices on improving the speed, efficiency, and accuracy of performed movements in Veterans with SCI.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Hand Weakness

Interventions

DEVICE

Cognition glove

The investigators have developed and tested a functional prototype of an instrumented glove to alert the user about secure grasp of objects. Onboard force and flex sensors provide inputs to a machine learning algorithm (artificial neural network, ANN) to estimate secure grasp based on previously collected training data. The glove enhances agency by alerting the user to secure grasp through sensory feedback modules (visual - LED, audio - beeper, tactile - vibrator).

DEVICE

Sensory brace

A a size- and position-adjustable arm brace with weight-support capability and housing for vibration motors and EMG sensors. Position adjustment allows for physical therapists to find and recommend arm postures that are clinically relevant to each person. The participant can then isometrically push/resist against the brace to strengthen target muscles while performing VR reach-to-touch. The person will receive visual feedback from the virtual environment to train movement performance and vibrotactile feedback at tendons to subconsciously adjust their muscle activation patterns

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stevens Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Noam Y. Harel, MD PhD · James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DEVICE_FEASIBILITY

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-05-17

Primary Completion

2023-10-17

Completion

2023-11-30

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations