SqueezAble: Combining novel soft-sensing technology and interactive gamification to revolutionise upper-limb therapy for paediatric cerebral palsy patients

在英国，估计有187，000名儿童患有手臂残疾，全世界有8500万。如果没有定期的上肢和手部力量、灵活性和运动范围的职业治疗，儿童的病情可能会恶化，并影响他们成年后功能独立生活的能力。儿童必须学会独立完成单手和双手的日常生活活动（ADL），要求他们单独使用双手或双手同时使用，以便能够完成日常任务，如吃饭，写作和洗涤。许多手臂残疾与神经系统疾病有关，如脑性麻痹（CP），它影响运动的协调性，精确性和时间。在这个项目中，我们将与一组患有小儿CP的儿童合作，测试，开发和测量一种新的治疗设备对儿童健康的影响，SqueezAble。SqueezAble将使用正在申请专利的软传感器技术来创建康复技术的新范式，为Thera-putty等常见的软治疗对象提供新的替代方案。SqueezAble将采用模块化设计，并通过用户运动激活感官输出，通过精确的数据捕获驱动职业治疗练习。我们的目的是证明SqueezAble用于上肢和手部训练时是有效的，特别是完成单手和双手活动。该项目将包括正在进行的可用性研究，以提供对设计，游戏动机和支持儿科OT功能相关练习的能力的见解。项目后，我们打算通过临床可行性研究验证疗效。SqueezAble建立在GripAble迄今为止的工作基础上，其中包括开发新的硬件来训练、监测和测量握力（GripAble Flex）。GripAble Flex已被证明可增强治疗效果，并已在临床研究中得到验证，并发表在六种同行评审期刊上。该项目借鉴了伦敦帝国理工学院的专业知识，该学院是生物工程系内软传感器技术和可再生材料创新方面的世界领先专家。虽然该项目侧重于儿科CP的应用，但二级市场潜力巨大。SqueezAble将在上肢和手部职业和物理治疗中具有一般应用，不考虑残疾，障碍或年龄组，例如拇指损伤的屈肌腱康复。

In the UK there are an estimated 187,000 children living with an arm disability, and 85m worldwide. Without regular occupational therapy for upper limb and hand strength, dexterity and movement range, a child's condition is likely to deteriorate and impact their ability to live in functional independence in adulthood. A child must learn to independently complete unimanual and bimanual activities of daily living (ADLs), requiring them to use their hands individually or both hands simultaneously, to be able to complete everyday tasks like eating, writing and washing. Many arm disabilities are linked to neurological disorders, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), which affects coordination, precision and timing of movements. In this project, we will work with a group of children with Paediatric CP to test, develop and measure the impact of a new therapeutic device for children's health, SqueezAble. SqueezAble will use a patent-pending soft-sensor technology to create a new paradigm in rehabilitation technology, providing a novel alternative to common soft therapy objects like Thera-putty. SqueezAble will feature a modular design and sensory outputs activated by user movement, driving occupational therapy exercises through precise data capture. Our aim is to demonstrate that SqueezAble is effective when used for upper limb and hand training, specifically to complete unimanual and bimanual activities. The project will include ongoing usability studies to provide insight on design, motivation to play and ability to support functionally-relevant exercises for paediatric OT. Post-project we intend to validate efficacy via a clinical feasibility study. SqueezAble builds on GripAble's work to date, which includes developing novel hardware to train, monitor and measure hand-grip (GripAble Flex). GripAble Flex has shown to enhance therapy and has been validated in Clinical Studies and published in six peer-reviewed journals. The project draws on the expertise of Imperial College London, world-leading specialists in soft-sensor technology and innovation in electroconductive material, within the Department of Bioengineering. While the project has a focus on applications for Paediatric CP, there is significant potential for secondary markets. SqueezAble will have general application in upper limb and hand occupational and physiotherapy, agnostic of disability, disorder or age group e.g flexor tendon rehabilitation for thumb injuries.