Medical Design Briefs - March 2024 - 28

n Robotic Rehab Helps Stroke
Patients Regain Hand Dexterity
An assistive planar robot includes
a cutting-edge closed-loop
feedback system to monitor the
muscle and brain activity of the
user in order to trigger the execution
of reach and grab in an adaptive way.
The project, which aims to make significant strides in rehabilitation
methodologies, will advance the rehabilitation of upperextremity
motor functions for post-stroke patients. Usergenerated
feedback will tailor the device to each user. The use for
post-stroke patients could be immediate.
Users will be able to more quickly recover neural plasticity, improving
their brain capacity to continue growing and evolving,
adapting and changing through the creation of new neurons and
networks. The user-centered robotic device can also provide occupational
therapy in the patient's own home. Having a device at
home, outside of the clinical setting, would mean more integration
into daily life and more physical therapy for patients.
The project focuses on developing a user-friendly wearable exoskeleton
for adaptive assistance. Through a portable robotic training
platform, the team aims to overcome barriers, accelerate recovery,
and advance the understanding of post-stroke upper arm
extremity rehabilitation. (Image credit: University of Rhode Island)
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0324/rehab-robot.
Asahi_2023_MDB_printer.pdf 1 7/12/2023 3:31:35 PM
n Metamaterial: Stretchable Wearable
Thermoelectric Energy Harvester
A team has developed a technology that can
increase the flexibility and efficiency of a thermoelectric
generator to the world's highest level
by using mechanical metamaterials that do not exist in nature.
Mechanical metamaterials, unlike materials in nature, are artificially
designed to expand in both the horizontal and vertical directions
when it is stretched in the horizontal direction. Metamaterials
have a negative Poisson's ratio. The researchers
succeeded in increasing the stretchability of thermoelectric generators
by up to 35 percent, using a gasket with the metastructure.
A thermoelectric generator converts the temperature difference
between two ends into electrical energy. It is called a
next-generation eco-friendly energy harvesting device because it
can utilize heat wasted in daily life as electricity.
The deformable gasket has a metastructure, which greatly increases
the structural stability of the thermoelectric generator. It
can be transformed into various shapes, stretches well like human
skin, and is easy to attach anywhere. In addition, the partial airgap
inside the gasket has excellent insulating properties, preventing
heat loss and securing the efficiency of the thermoelectric generator
by increasing the temperature difference by up to 30 percent
compared to existing flexible thermoelectric generators. (Image
credit: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute)
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0324/metamaterial.
Best in Class, High Performing Components for Your Medical Devices
Drawing from our IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCE in the medical device field, our in-house wiredrawing, wire-forming,
coating, torque and assembly technologies provide a BROAD RANGE of OPTIONS for your device.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CABLES
CMY
K
CABLE TUBESABLE TU
COILS
MACHINING &
ASSEMBLY
PTFE LINERS
+ COATINGS
TUBING &
BRAIDING
Product Design & Development / Contract Manufacturing of Finished Devices
ISO 13485 * 9001
CDMO / CMO Services
Minimally Invasive
Device Solutions
Co-development Opportunities
Access, Delivery, & Retrieval Systems
Wire & Catheter Based Devices
Contract Manufacturing
Vascular Access Devices
Guidewires, Therapeutic & Diagnostic
Braided & Coiled Catheter Shafts
Class 8 Clean Room
Filmecc USA, Inc.
S
| 3002 Dow Avenue, Suite 216 | Tustin, CA 92780 | Phone: 949.756.8252 | filmecc-us.com
28
www.medicaldesignbriefs.com
Medical Design Briefs, March 2024

http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/roundup/0324/rehab-robot http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/roundup/0324/metamaterial http://info.hotims.com/86253-741 http://info.hotims.com/86253-741 http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

Medical Design Briefs - March 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs - March 2024