AssetID: 55139585
Headline: Scientists invent accordion-inspired exoskeleton that could help stroke patients regain use of their hands
Caption: **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a lightweight robotic exoskeleton that helps stroke patients re-learn how to use their hands. It uses an accordion-inspired structure that makes it both simple and robust enough for everyday use. More than 12 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year, often leaving them with long-term impairments and the need to re-learn basic actions. The inability to grasp objects has a profound impact on daily life, but exoskeletons – external movement aids worn on the body – can restore motor function, supporting independence and recovery. Doctoral student Natalie Tanczak, from ETH Zurich’s Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab), created the new design after recognising that many existing hand exoskeletons were bulky, fragile and uncomfortable. Her device, which has been filed for patent, weighs just 270 grams – about the same as a smartphone – and is powered by two small motors located on the forearm. “Our exoskeleton allows for intensive, individual training after a stroke,” she said. “We can help patients regain their ability to move simply by doing their everyday tasks.” With no hydraulic or pneumatic drive, and only a USB port interrupting the flow of motion, the exoskeleton’s 3D-printed nylon surface is designed for comfort and ease of use. Roger Gassert, co-head of RELab, described the device as “the most elegant and compact design to enable such complex movements”. His colleague Olivier Lambercy added: “The beauty of the new exoskeletal fingers lies in their simplicity. Existing models consist of countless parts. Ours is made up of just two.” One part is a stainless steel leaf spring, rigid enough to provide resistance but flexible enough to allow movement. The other is the accordion-like exterior structure, which serves as the backbone and converts linear motion into grip force, mimicking the natural bend and stretch of a finger. Tanczak explained that the design was inspired by the mechanics of an accordion. Working with engineer Jay Song, she developed the striking structure, enabling the leaf spring to glide through a single component. Using 3D printing, the device can be customised to each patient’s hand size and finger length, improving comfort and support. She spent three years developing the exoskeleton, beginning at the Singapore-ETH Centre before refining it in Zurich, where she tested the device with eight stroke patients over 12 weeks. “As a mechanical engineer, I’m particularly pleased to see the impact the technology had on the users,” she said. “That was huge. And their gratitude is priceless.” The potential of the accordion-inspired structure goes beyond the hand. According to the researchers, it could be adapted for other joints such as the elbow or knee, offering a versatile new tool in rehabilitation.
Keywords: exoskeleton,feature,video,photo,technology,medicine,stroke
PersonInImage: With the aim of simplifying complex mechanisms, Natalie Tanczak developed this user-friendly device to help people regain their grasping ability.