A Novel Robotic Glove for Hand Assistance of Older Adults in Activities of Daily Living
PI: Hejrati, Babak (Mechanical Engineering, UMaine)
Sector: Biotechnology, Aging
Partners: Eastern Maine Medical Center
Abstract: One of the major hand functions necessary for performing activities of daily living (ADL) and having independence in life is object manipulation, which is defined as the ability to grasp, lift, and release an object. The ability to grasp and release can deteriorate due to aging or aging-related conditions such as Parkinson disease, stroke, and arthritis. It has been reported that after the age of 60 years, there is a rapid decline in hand-grip strength by as much as 20-25%, and hand response latency increases about three times in older adults. The objective of this proposal is to design and fabricate a novel multi-fingered soft robotic glove for performing ADL by using Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites materials for the first time. The proposed soft robotic glove will be portable, unobtrusive, maneuverable, and capable of generating sufficient power to assist with grasping and releasing tasks in real-world settings such as home and community.