228. Harvard’s Soft Robot Gives Movement Back to ALS & Stroke Patients
The hosts discuss a wearable soft robotic sling developed by Harvard’s Walsh Biodesign Lab to assist ALS and stroke patients with shoulder and arm mobility. The device uses a personalized intention detector model and a hysteresis physics model to provide just enough pneumatic support for natural movement, avoiding the over-assistance of previous rigid exoskeletons. Patient Kate Nicks, who has ALS, reported regaining the ability to perform daily tasks like combing her hair using her dominant right arm after years of relying on her left.