Device Helps Stroke Patients Increase Mobility

Paul Cordo has created a device that has shown great promise in improving mobility of stroke patients. Cordo’s device works by surrounding the flexor and extensor sides of the affected muscle and assisting in the movement of the muscle by passively shortening and stretching it. While the affected muscle is being flexed, a vibrator on the extensor side is turned on and the opposite is done for the flexor side. A computer also gives the patient visual feedback on what part of the muscle the device is moving. The goal with this setup is to improve the communication between the brain and the muscle by creating what Cordo called, “…an ‘exaggerated perception of movement’ in the central nervous system”. In doing this, the brain will be able to differentiate between voluntary and motorized movement, and keep track of the nerves recruited for each movement.  

            I chose this article because I liked how the topic integrated information from both neurophysiology and muscle physiology to come up with a solution to an important health problem we face today. I also enjoy reading about how different aspects of physiology that we have learned about are being coupled with today’s technology in order to help others, and this article is a great example of that.

https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/bioengineering/different-strokes?cm_sp=Bioengineering-_-Feataured%20Articles-_-Different%20Strokes