Free Robotic Stroke Therapy to Be Offered at UCI – Clinical Study

This is an interesting study and the first of it’s kind that I am aware of. After a stroke, returning to normal hand and other body movements is a struggle and this is a new robotics device that is being tested to help patients who have been afflicted. To be eligible, you need to have had a stroke within the last 6 months and Steven C. Cramer, is the neurologist at UCI who is co-directing the program. You will also need to be able to have an MRI. Additional information about the robotic programs at UCI is also available for other studies and additional information.

Not too long ago I wrote about another technology that is addressing the same problem, mobility after a stroke. If you are not local to the southern California area and would like to explore the Saebo device, check out the link below. The device is custom designed for each patient and is used at home.

Medical-device maker Saebo Retrains Stroke Patients To Regain Use of Hands and Other parts of the Body

The device for this study at UCI Irvine is called the HWARD and you can read more about it here.

Two UC Irvine researchers are seeking stroke patients for separate clinical studies of robotic devices that are meant help people who suffer weakness in their hands or arms. The therapy will be provided free-of-charge to people accepted into the study.

David Reinkensmeyer, a biomedical engineer, is looking for: “People with a recent stroke to practice arm and hand movement in the clinic. If you are from 18 to 73 years of age, suffered from a single stroke at least 3 months ago and have arm and hand weakness, you might be eligible to participate in Part I and/or Part II of the study …(which) will take place at the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science on the UCI main campus and lasts for two hours. You may be asked to return for up to 4 additional sessions. You will be compensated $30 for each visit.”