Stroke affects more than 15,000 Veterans each year, with upper limb paralysis being the most common deficit after stroke. The VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology is a unique collaboration between Providence VAMC, Brown University, Butler Hospital, Lifespan, and Massachusetts General Hospital that unifies researchers and clinicians with the goal of advancing and translating neurotechnology to restore lost function. Through this Shared Equipment Evaluation Program application, we intend to upgrade the InMotion Arm/Hand Interactive Therapy System (formerly the MIT-Manus robotic system) to develop new insights that will improve the recovery of function for Veterans with stroke. The current version of the device at Providence VAMC is significantly outdated (more than 10 years old) and not suitable for clinical or research use. The upgraded device would be used in a new thrust of CfNN research to develop, test, and translate novel neurotechnologies in order to facilitate rehabilitation for Veterans with stroke. Major uses of the upgraded device would include (1) deploying robotic technology to measure upper extremity kinematics in Veterans and others with stroke across the continuum of care (Dr. Hochberg) (2) integrating cortically-controlled brain-computer interfaces with rehabilitation robotics to enable future development of intracortical BCI-enhanced neurorehabilitation for Veterans with upper extremity weakness due to stroke (Dr. Simeral), and (3) using upper extremity robotics to quantify functional effects of transcranial neuromodulation in chronic stroke and combining neuromodulation with robotic behavioral therapy for chronic stroke patients with motor impairment (Dr. Philip). Support to upgrade this device would enable the collection of novel data, integrate and further collaboration around existing neurotechnologies at CfNN, and support the development of novel technologies for neurorestoration within the VHA System.
This Shared Equipment Evaluation Program application is submitted to improve research relevant to Veterans Health by upgrading currently outdated and out-of-use rehabilitation robotics equipment at Providence VAMC. The upgraded the InMotion Arm/Hand Interactive Therapy system, formerly the MIT-Manus robot, will support several active lines of VA research and the development of new research programs at the VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology. This device has the capacity to objectively measure kinematics during upper limb movement and to serve as a platform for novel neurotechnology development, specifically toward new and effective treatments for Veterans with stroke. It will be used by VA neuroscientists, neurologists, and neuroengineers, and the data generated will elucidate fundamental mechanisms of stroke recovery and provide new insights into improving upper limb function after stroke.
