# Patient-centered rehabilitation and dexterous assistive devices for stroke patients using bionic exoskeletons controlled by non-invasive electromyography

> **NIH NIH DP5** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2020 · $327,385

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and the most common stroke-related impairment is
upper-limb hemiparesis, affecting 80% of stroke patients acutely and 40% chronically. Full recovery is unlikely
with current rehabilitation approaches, and as a result, stroke reduces quality of life, increases healthcare costs,
and burdens caregivers. The long-term goal of this project is to leverage assistive bionic devices to restore
motor function and promote long-term neuro-regeneration, ultimately replacing more expensive and less
effective rehabilitation approaches with a patient-centered rehabilitation strategy. The objective of this proposal
is to control assistive bionic exoskeletons and quantify stroke recovery with electromyographic (EMG) recordings
of residual muscle activity from the paretic arm. Our central hypothesis is that an EMG-controlled powered
orthosis – that assists individuals in activities of daily living – can be used as a patient-specific rehabilitative tool
that improves stroke recovery. Aim 1 will adapt dexterous EMG-control algorithms for upper-limb orthoses, and
then demonstrate improved hand dexterity and functional mobility for stroke patients. Aim 2 will utilize large EMG
datasets over time to precisely quantify changes in muscle strength and spasticity throughout recovery and to
provide robust long-term control of assistive devices via deep learning. Aim 3 consists of a pilot study to
determine the feasibility of patient-specific assistive-device-driven rehabilitation. The proposed research is
innovative because it will address gaps in knowledge critical to merging assistive and rehabilitative devices.
These findings are significant because they will enable devices that can immediately and simultaneously
promote usage, strengthen muscles, and provide closed-loop visual feedback – thereby merging multiple
effective rehabilitation strategies into a single holistic approach. This proposal will have a positive impact on
society by increasing rehabilitation compliance, promoting independence and improving recovery outcomes for
stroke patients, ultimately reducing healthcare costs and improving patients’ quality of life.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017601
- **Project number:** 1DP5OD029571-01
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacob Anthony George
- **Activity code:** DP5 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $327,385
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-10 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017601

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017601, Patient-centered rehabilitation and dexterous assistive devices for stroke patients using bionic exoskeletons controlled by non-invasive electromyography (1DP5OD029571-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017601. Licensed CC0.

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