Brain-Computer Interface-Based Soft Robotic Glove Rehabilitation for Stroke

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering 2020-12, Vol.67 (12), p.3339-3351
• Main Authors: Cheng, Nicholas, Phua, Kok Soon, Lai, Hwa Sen, Tam, Pui Kit, Tang, Ka Yin, Cheng, Kai Kei, Yeow, Raye Chen-Hua, Ang, Kai Keng, Guan, Cuntai, Lim, Jeong Hoon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Brain; Brain-computer interface; Computer applications; EEG; Electroencephalography; Feasibility studies; glove; Human-computer interface; Imagery; Implants; Intervention; Medical treatment; Mental task performance; motor imagery; Rehabilitation; Robotics; Soft robotics; Stroke; Stroke (medical condition); stroke rehabilitation; Task analysis; Visualization
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2020.2984003

Objective: This randomized controlled feasibility study investigates the ability for clinical application of the Brain-Computer Interface-based Soft Robotic Glove (BCI-SRG) incorporating activities of daily living (ADL)-oriented tasks for stroke rehabilitation. Methods: Eleven recruited chronic stroke patients were randomized into BCI-SRG or Soft Robotic Glove (SRG) group. Each group underwent 120-minute intervention per session comprising 30-minute standard arm therapy and 90-minute experimental therapy (BCI-SRG or SRG). To perform ADL tasks, BCI-SRG group used motor imagery-BCI and SRG, while SRG group used SRG without motor imagery-BCI. Both groups received 18 sessions of intervention over 6 weeks. Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA) and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores were measured at baseline (week 0), post- intervention (week 6), and follow-ups (week 12 and 24). In total, 10/11 patients completed the study with 5 in each group and 1 dropped out. Results: Though there were no significant intergroup differences for FMA and ARAT during 6-week intervention, the improvement of FMA and ARAT seemed to sustain beyond 6-week intervention for BCI-SRG group, as compared with SRG control. Incidentally, all BCI-SRG subjects reported a sense of vivid movement of the stroke-impaired upper limb and 3/5 had this phenomenon persisting beyond intervention while none of SRG did. Conclusion : BCI-SRG suggested probable trends of sustained functional improvements with peculiar kinesthetic experience outlasting active intervention in chronic stroke despite the dire need for large-scale investigations to verify statistical significance. Significance: Addition of BCI to soft robotic training for ADL-oriented stroke rehabilitation holds promise for sustained improvements as well as elicited perception of motor movements.