Affiliations: [a] Newman Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, office 3-137, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. E-mail: hikrebs@mit.edu | [b] Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department | [c] Cornell University Medical College, Department Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research | [d] Veterans Health Administration, Department of Rehabilitation and Development | [e] Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, NY, USA
Abstract: We are applying robotics and information technology to assist, enhance, and quantify neuro-rehabilitation. Our goal is a new class of interactive, user-affectionate clinical devices designed not only for evaluating patients, but also for delivering meaningful therapy via engaging “video games”. Notably, the novel robot MIT-MANUS has been designed and programmed for clinical neurological applications, and has undergone extensive clinical trials for more than four years at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital – White Plains, NY. This paper will review results of the first clinical trial of 20 patients, which showed that: Stroke patients treated daily with additional robot-aided therapy during acute rehabilitation had improved outcome in motor activity at hospital discharge, when compared to a control group that received only standard acute rehabilitation treatment. This improved outcome was sustained after three years. The neuro-recovery process continued far beyond the commonly accepted 3 months post-stroke interval.
