Feasibility of Implementing Lifeglov: A Soft Robotic Glove for Hand Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients

Inadequate Upper Limb Recovery Post-Stroke Stroke, a leading cause of death and disability, results in 12.2 million new cases globally each year. In the UK, approximately 118,000 new strokes occur annually, with 950,000 stroke survivors aged 45 and older. The economic burden of stroke is enormous, costing the UK £25.6 billion annually in healthcare, unpaid caregiving, and lost productivity[1]. One of the most common impairments post-stroke is poor hand opening, due to weakness or spasticity[2]. This limitation hampers participation in rehabilitation and is a predictor of poor long-term upper limb (UL) recovery, which contributes to disability and lower quality of life[3,4]. UL impairment affects up to 80% of stroke patients in the acute phase[5], and about 50% of those patients continue to experience limited function at six months post-stroke[6]. The problem is exacerbated by staffing shortages in stroke units, where less than 50% of inpatient services and fewer than one-third of community-based teams meet recommended staffing levels[7,8]. Research supports intensive, repetitive, task-specific training to enhance recovery[9], yet with current staffing, it is difficult to meet the latest UK Stroke Guideline, which recommends at least 3 hours of daily motor/functional rehabilitation[10]. Lifeglov: A Portable Rehabilitation Solution Lifeglov, developed by Bioliberty, is a soft robotic glove designed to restore hand function through assistive technology and targeted exercises in a Virtual Therapy Environment. It uses a pneumatic-powered mechanism housed in the Lifehub control box to assist hand opening, applying controlled force to extend all fingers and thumb joints. Embedded sensors detect patient-initiated movements, providing robotic assistance to complete the full range of motion when needed. This system enables patients to receive the recommended therapy duration with short, frequent sessions with appropriate intensity, all while reducing the need for in-person therapist time. Lifeglov is portable, supporting remote rehabilitation at home. The simple user interface is designed to accommodate patients with cognitive and communicative difficulties. The patented sensing methods and data analytics monitor repetitions, intensity, and difficulty levels, facilitating personalised treatment plans. Currently at Technological Readiness Level 5, Lifeglov is undergoing a small clinical pilot at Mount Sinai Hospital in the US. It is on track to obtain FDA approval and UKCA marking by February 2024. Patient Co-Design Supported by the Health Innovation South East Scotland, NHS Lothian, and NHS Borders, stroke clinicians and Bioliberty engineers conducted two rounds of co-design activities. In July 2023, 9 stroke patients participated, followed by 20 patients in January 2024. These sessions demonstrated Lifeglov s proof-of-concept, showing its ability to open the hand to full range using controlled force and to overcome resistance without joint hyperextension[11]. Patients with only one functioning hand were able to independently don and connect Lifeglov to the Lifehub in just a few minutes, requiring little to no assistance[11]. Further development of the Virtual Therapy Environment is needed to tailor exercises to patient goals, particularly for those with cognitive or communication difficulties.