Tactile stimulation is a primary component in motor therapy for children with lower limb disabilities. The therapy that includes this type of stimulus is called sensory therapy. This type of therapy seeks to stimulate the nerve terminals located in the skin of the person in order to regenerate the sensations. In this project, a haptic device capable of performing rotational stimuli using soft materials such as silicones is developed. With this type of stimulus, the aim is to emulate the movement performed by physiotherapists during therapy sessions for infants.

The aim of this haptic device is to complement the sensory therapy that children with lower limb paralysis receive, so that these children can regain sensation in their legs, where haptic stimuli will be applied. This project is developed through the Harvard – UTEC Research Seed Fund. Having Dr. Emir Vela and mechanical engineering student David Huemura from UTEC University and Dr. Katia Bertoldi from Harvard University.

Researchers

• Emir Vela, Ph.D. – Principal investigator UTEC
• David Huemura – UTEC
• Katia Bertoldi, Ph.D. – Harvard Co-PI

More projects