Intelligent gloves help stroke patients recover

After the father and two uncles had a stroke, Hoyoung Ban decided to develop a device that would help them restore their hands.

Named Raphael Smart Glove , Neofect's white gloves surround the patient's hand and have position sensors, finger movements, wrists. The Bluetooth-enabled Android app helps users play games, participate in activities that increase the strength of the muscles in the hands and arms.

Hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Europe, Asia and the United States have used gloves to treat patients. At CES 2017, Neofect launches Rapael for outpatient treatment. At $ 99 per month, people can rent gloves that have been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration and an Android tablet for self-restoration of the hand, arm at home. .

After a stroke or brain injury, people lose control of their limbs or other muscles. About 795,000 people in the United States stroke each year, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which causes long-term disability. Some stroke patients lose their ability to move. Rapael gloves apply only to the person who has the least movement on the hands.

"I have seen the recovery process, it is really painful for both patients and their families , " Ban said. He started developing the device in 2010 and sold it to medical facilities from 2014. The recovery time depends on the type of stroke. Patients can simply rent a glove for several months or need additional support.

Gloves help the person to perform finger movements, wrists, and arms through activities such as playing cards, pouring wine, and throwing balls (on the tablet). The application tracks the playing time, the process and the success rate for the doctor and the patient themselves to see how it changes.

In response to CNN, Ban said his company is also researching gloves for stroke patients with small hands. The idea of recovery gameplay can be applied to other traumas.