Design of a robotic upper extremity repetitive therapy device

Intensive repetitive therapy shows promise to improve motor function and quality of life for stroke patients. Intense therapies provided by individualized interaction between the patient and rehabilitation specialist to overcome upper extremity impairment are beneficial, however, they are expensive and difficult to evaluate quantitatively and objectively. The development of a pneumatic muscle (PM) driven therapeutic device, the RUPERT/spl trade/ has the potential of providing a low cost and safe take-home method of supplementing therapy in addition to in the clinic treatment. The device can also provide real-time, objective assessment of functional improvement from the therapy.