A wearable robot that detects small arm motions and helps support the shoulder can make it easier for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients to pick up and carry things, a study showed.
Researchers have been developing so-called wearable robots to help ALS patients and others with movement disorders improve their functionality. The general idea is for the robots is to take cues from the body and help it through its movements.
For their study, the researchers built on previous attempts at making wearable robots to support arm function. They designed a soft device that is positioned on the patient’s arm and along the side of the body. It inflates and deflates to help the patient lift and lower the arm.