Motorized exoskeleton glove for hand paralysis rehabilitation
This is a motorized glove system that physically assists a person's hand through grasping and finger movements. It fits over the hand like a brace, with mechanical linkages on each finger driven by small actuators. A smart control system reads the difference between two sensors — one on the motor and one on the finger — to detect how much force is actually being applied, then automatically adjusts the grip in real time to avoid over-squeezing or under-gripping. The system also handles thumb movement and finger spreading, making it capable of supporting a broad range of natural hand functions.
What you could build
A prescription rehabilitative and daily-living assistive glove sold through durable medical equipment channels and occupational therapy clinics, targeting stroke survivors and SCI patients; a second market exists in rehabilitation hospitals using the device for guided motor retraining.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based rehabilitation hospitals, MedTech device companies near the Northern Virginia/DC corridor, and defense-adjacent prosthetics suppliers serving veteran populations at facilities like the Richmond VA Medical Center would be natural partners or buyers.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Pinhas BEN-TZVI, Bijo SEBASTIAN, Eric M. REFOUR, Wenda XU, Sarthak PRADHAN, Yunfei GUO
- Granted
- May 21, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11986033
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.