Professor's smart glove design helping to improve stroke rehabilitation

An electronic glove that enables movement in the paralysed hand of stroke survivors – supporting their rehabilitation – has been invented by a team from the University of Southampton.

The glove has electrodes printed on the sleeve that make contact with the skin. The electrodes send electronic impulses to stimulate the nerves and muscles to produce an artificial movement. It enables stroke survivors to achieve movement in their weak side, helping them to regain muscle strength and function.

The glove has been designed and made by Kai Yang, Professor of E-textiles in Healthcare, and her team based at Winchester School of Art.

Professor Yang explained: “I wanted to develop something easy for stroke survivors to use at home. People who have suffered a stroke get fatigued easily, so engaging in long rehabilitation sessions is very challenging. This glove enables them to work on their rehab in small blocks of time when it suits them. With stroke rehabilitation, the more you practice movement, the more you regain muscle strength and mobility.”

The prototype glove has been developed and made at Winchester School of Art, using the school’s industrial knitting machines. The electrodes are printed inside the sleeve and connected to an electronic control unit, allowing the user to vary the level of stimulation as required.

Professor Yang has worked with Different Strokes Southampton, a charity run by stroke survivors for stroke survivors, to develop the glove.

Professor Yang is now looking to refine the design of the prototype glove by working with more stroke survivors, and then conduct a home usability test with stroke survivors using the glove multiple times every day. Following this, she intends to seek regulatory approval and then work with a manufacturer to scale-up the production of the glove.

“We are delighted with the prototype and would like to see this become a product that’s available to all stroke survivors, to help improve their recovery and their quality of life,” she said.