Bioservo opens sales of Carbonhand grip-strengthening, assistive robotic glove to all in the US

Bioservo Technologies has opened sales of its Carbonhand grip-strengthening glove to all in the US. The powered wearable gives users additional grip strength by using artificial tendons and motors, compensating for medical conditions such as stroke or spinal cord injury. Anyone with qualifying impaired hand function now can buy a Carbonhand glove.

Strokes, arthritis, and nerve and physical injuries can interfere with proper hand use due to poor grip strength. For example, simply picking up and holding a cup of tea can be difficult or impossible. The Carbonhand adds 20 Newtons of strength to each of the three powered fingers, which is roughly the combined strength needed to lift a bag of 20 large apples.

The Carbonhand uses feedback from touch sensors in the glove to determine the amount of needed grip, then activates the artificial tendon motors to apply the proper force. Readers can build their own robotic hand kit (like this one on Amazon) to better understand how such gloves work. The thumb, middle, and third fingers are augmented by the glove. Various glove sizes are available for the proper fit. Power comes from a wired power unit that can be worn on ­­­the back or waist.

A wrist-mounted control pad allows the user to activate different grip strength settings to adapt to a variety of situations. Different profiles can be created in a smartphone app, then downloaded to the glove. For those with minimal hand control, the glove can be set to make and hold a grip with the other hand.

The Carbonhand was previously available to US Veterans with qualifying conditions, and the first veteran was prescribed the assistive glove earlier this year. Interested readers can buy a Carbonhand glove once qualified as detailed here. Veterans can contact their local Veterans Affairs medical center because it is fully covered by the VA for qualifying conditions. Prices of assistive devices can vary due to patient customization, but prior sales in Sweden put the approximate price of the Carbonhand around $7,000.

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