Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive and degenerative neurological disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to muscle weakness and atrophy, eventually resulting in the inability to move, speak, and breathe.
One of the major symptoms of ALS is the loss of arm function, which significantly affects the daily lives of individuals with the condition. However, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a wearable device that uses soft robotics to restore arm function in people with ALS.
The device is a lightweight exoskeleton that fits over the wearer's arm and hand, an is controlled by a computer algorithm that interprets the wearer's intention to move. Soft robotic actuators, made of a flexible material called elastomer, are embedded in the exoskeleton and provide support and assistance to the wearer's arm and hand movements.
In a recent study published in the journal Science Robotics, the researchers tested the device on nine individuals with ALS who had varying levels of arm impairment. The participants were asked to perform a series of tasks, such as drinking from a cup, with and without the exoskeleton.
The results showed that the device significantly improved the participants' ability to perform the tasks, with some individuals able to complete them independently for the first time in years. The device also reduced the effort required to perform the tasks, as well as the time it took to complete them.
The researchers believe that the device has the potential to improve the quality of life for individuals with ALS by enabling them to perform daily tasks more independently and with less effort. They also suggest that the device could be adapted for use in other conditions that affect arm function, such as stroke and spinal cord injury.
While the device is still in the experimental stage and further testing is needed, the results of the study are promising and provide hope for individuals with ALS and other conditions that affect arm function. The development of soft robotics wearable devices has the potential to revolutionize the field of assistive technology and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.