The prototype wearable is constructed with knitted yarn that encases a single finger and features alloy springs that surround it like a ring. The glove will respond to electrical currents to expand and contract accordingly, which will offer therapeutic effects for the patient. The system could help to support patients who might have trouble accessing traditional therapeutic care.
Kao commented on the inspiration for the ‘KnitDema’ glove saying, “Instead of having to schedule a hard-to-get visit with a therapist for MEM [manual edema massage], we envision this as something that people could take home with them. They would go to their rehab doctor and their occupational or physical therapist once, and at that session they would be able to configure the right amount of compression for daily use, then adjust as necessary.”
Image Credit: Cornell University
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