Improving Post-Stroke Mobility With the IpsiHand Stroke Rehab System: Eric Leuthardt, MD

"When the signal fires off, it is controlling that robotic exoskeleton, which is giving sensory feedback to the individual, concurrent with those brain signals that’s going to fundamentally lead to a rehabilitation effect and enable the brain to better control that paralyzed hand.”

In April, Neurolutions’ IpsiHand Upper Extremity Rehabilitation System became the first FDA-approved device leveraging brain-computer interface technology for rehabilitation of patients with chronic stroke. Indicated for patients 18 years and older, the device also received breakthrough device designation at the time.

Designed for in-home or clinic use, the IpsiHand system includes a robotic exoskeleton that is worn over the patient’s hand and wrist, an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based headset, and a tablet. The wireless EEG electrode device is worn on the head and used to measure the patient’s brain signals, which are then analyzed by the same system to determine the patient’s intent to move their affected hand.

Eric Leuthardt, MD, founder and chief scientific officer, Neurolutions, explained that in patients with mobility deficits from stroke, we have to try to retrain the brain to recalibrate circuits to optimize function. Leuthardt, who is also division chief of neurotechnology, professor of neurosurgery, neuroscience, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering and materials science at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, sat down with NeurologyLive to discuss the design behind the rehab system and the capabilities it has.

REFERENCE

Neurolutions receives US Food and Drug Administration de novo market authorization for IpsiHand Upper Extremity Rehabilitation System. News Release. Neurolutions. April 26, 2021. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/26/2216682/0/en/Neurolutions-Receives-U-S-Food-and-Drug-Administration-De-Novo-Market-Authorization-for-IpsiHand-Upper-Extremity-Rehabilitation-System.html