A first-of-its kind device that helps people disabled by stroke regain significant control over their arm and hand function by using their minds has received market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The IpsiHand Upper Extremity Rehabilitation System, developed by Neurolutions Inc. – a Washington University in St. Louis startup company – leverages brain-computer interface (BCI) technology licensed from the university.
The IpsiHand system includes a wearable robotic exoskeleton that fits over a patient’s hand and wrist and assists with opening and closing the hand based on the patient’s thoughts. By mentally controlling the IpsiHand exoskeleton with the aid of BCI technology, patients may improve their upper extremity motor function, giving them more purposeful and effective movement of the affected hand, wrist and arm. Designed for use in the home or clinic, the IpsiHand system may assist stroke patients in recovering critical abilities such as feeding themselves, grasping objects and performing other everyday tasks, and is the first stroke-rehabilitation device that relies on a brain-computer interface.
The IpsiHand system has received “Breakthrough Device” designation from the FDA and has been granted De Novo marketing authorization by the FDA as well. The device is not yet available to patients, but Neurolutions is preparing to bring the device to market.
The underlying BCI technology was spearheaded by Eric Leuthardt, MD, a professor of neurosurgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He cofounded Neurolutions in 2007 with Daniel Moran, PhD, a professor of biomedical engineering at the university’s McKelvey School of Engineering, to further develop the technology. Founding CEO Kern Bhugra was brought on board several years later. Early St. Louis-based investors Biogenerator and Ascension Ventures were critical for the company’s development and technical advancement. The company is currently led by CEO Leo Petrossian, PhD, and chairman of the board Fred Khosravi.
IpsiHand is intended for stroke survivors who have chronic difficulty in moving or controlling an arm and hand. Most patients recover some movement in the first few weeks after a stroke, but improvement generally tapers off by six months, leading to stalls in progress.
“Generally, any motor impairments experienced by a patient six months after a stroke have been considered permanent,” said Leuthardt, who is an inventor of the technology that underlies the device. Leuthardt, who treats patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is also a professor of neuroscience, of biomedical engineering, and of mechanical engineering & applied science, as well as section chief of the Division of Neurotechnology in the Department of Neurosurgery. “What we’ve found with this device is that many patients can get a meaningful improvement in recovery of upper extremity movement when we wouldn’t expect them to get any. That’s not really true for any of the current therapies for stroke aimed at restoring function after the initial recovery period. One of the key elements that made it a breakthrough was the innovative use of a brain-computer interface. It’s also what gets us incredibly excited to be able to create a novel solution that may help millions of stroke patients.”
Read more at the WashU School of Medicine News webpage.