TIP develops own version of hand rehabilitation device for stroke patients

WHAT STARTED as a thesis project for a group of Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) electronics engineering (ECE) graduates turned into a promising rehabilitation device that seeks to aid recovering stroke patients.

TIP Quezon City alumni Joanna Keith Ildefonso, Orwell Orit, Liezl Lalaine Patrimonio, and Keanu Readova developed their project called “HandMATE,” which recently won “Best Project of the Year” at the 2023 BPI-DoST Innovation Awards.

Collectively known as “RAD Tech,” the team worked with their adviser ECE faculty member Engr. John Joel Martinez to create a glove-like device made of light materials that uses a network of cost-effective internetbased technologies to facilitate the therapy of patients.

“The HandMATE has been specifically designed to address the extended healing period associated with hand rehabilitation, a process influenced by limited blood circulation,” the team wrote in the abstract of their study.

“By leveraging neuroplasticity, it aims to reestablish connections between nerve cells, restore lost motor skills, and meticulously monitor the healing progress, thereby contributing to an enhanced quality of life for post-stroke patients,” they added.

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of our nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after a stroke or other types of traumatic brain injuries, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Engr. Martinez said his students worked on the “HandMATE” project for one and a half years. They also tested the prototype “numerous times with satisfactory results,” which notably became their competitive edge.

“This device stands out for its capacity to facilitate both passive and active exercises, prioritizing rehabilitation, integrating IoT (internet of things)based control and data retention functionalities, and providing an affordable solution,” Team RAD Tech noted.

The team accepted their award in a ceremony organized by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Science Education Institute last Dec. 11 at the Makati Diamond Residences.