Innovative Prototype Revolutionizes Upper Limb Paralysis Recovery for Patients

There are several conditions that lead to paralysis of members of the human body, whether neuromuscular diseases or accidents, and medicine must join forces with other areas of knowledge to be able to develop better ways of treating a paralyzed patient. In this sense, the project by Zilda de Castro Silveira, professor at the São Carlos School of Engineering at the University of São Paulo, combines engineering and medicine to help provide psychotherapeutic assistance and rehabilitation for patients who have some type of superior paralysis.

Sling prototype

Zilda de Castro says that the development of the sling prototype began with contact with occupational therapists, who helped define the function and develop the parameters for building the project. The unique feature of the device is that it is modular and allows patients recovering after paralysis to gradually open their arms up to 180º.

The equipment also supports the elbow, wrist and thumb, which should help a lot in monitoring and assisting patients who have suffered a stroke. While the focus of this first version is mainly to help improve the mental health of patients affected by paralysis, a new prototype focused on rehabilitation is already being developed, says Zilda. The prototype has already been tested in the Occupational Therapy Department of Hospital das Clínicas at FMUSP and the patient found comfort and stability while gaining small ranges of movement.