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IIT Madras & CMC Vellore Develop Affordable Robot for Hand Rehabilitation

Written by : Dr. Aishwarya Sarthe

January 20, 2025

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The technology, named PLUTO (Plug and Train Robot), addresses the critical need for accessible rehabilitation devices in India, particularly for stroke and spinal cord injury patients.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC Vellore) have unveiled an affordable and portable robot aimed at enhancing hand rehabilitation.

The technology, named PLUTO (Plug and Train Robot), addresses the critical need for accessible rehabilitation devices in India, particularly for stroke and spinal cord injury patients.

PLUTO, which has been commercialized by Thryv Rehab Solutions, offers an innovative solution for patients requiring hand rehabilitation. The technology has been developed to provide precise therapeutic movements and real-time feedback to improve patient outcomes.

This is especially important for individuals recovering from conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and post-surgery hand recovery.

PLUTO is designed to be a portable and user-friendly device, allowing patients to use it in both clinical settings and at home.

The device has been tested across Indian homes and clinics, showing that it can provide intensive therapy with consistent results. It is the first indigenous robot of its kind to undergo such testing in domestic environments.

Prof Sujatha Srinivasan, Principal Investigator at IIT Madras, emphasized the device’s impact on hand rehabilitation.

“PLUTO revolutionizes hand rehabilitation by providing an affordable and accessible solution for patients with post-stroke conditions. Its portability enables timely and consistent therapy at home or bedside, improving recovery outcomes and reducing dependency on caregivers,” she said.

PLUTO’s modular design uses recyclable materials, and its affordability makes it a feasible option for wider adoption, thus reducing financial barriers for patients and healthcare systems alike.

In addition, the device’s adaptability means that multiple functions can be performed using a single unit, simplifying the rehabilitation process.

Meeting the Growing Demand for Rehabilitation Solutions

The device has already been utilized by over 1,000 patients in the past four years, including routine use in clinics across India.

Prof Sivakumar Balasubramanian from CMC Vellore noted, “As part of research and development by CMC Vellore and IIT Madras, PLUTO has been set up for routine clinical use across 11 different clinics across India. Over 1,000 patients with hand impairments have used the device for therapy; at least 15 patients per week use PLUTO for routine hand therapy at CMC Vellore.”

The development of PLUTO is part of a larger effort to provide efficient, low-cost rehabilitation solutions in India.

Dr Aravind Nehrujee, a key inventor of PLUTO, highlighted the challenges with conventional rehabilitation robots.

“In the present era, conventional rehabilitation robots for hand therapy are either complex and expensive systems capable of training multiple hand functions or simple and singular-function devices requiring multiple units for comprehensive therapy. These systems lack portability and adaptability, making them unsuitable for bedside, wheelchair-based, and home-based use,” he said.

PLUTO addresses these issues with its modular design, which allows therapists to train multiple hand functions such as wrist flexion/extension, forearm pronation/supination, and hand opening-closing using a single actuator and interchangeable mechanical handles.

“The collaboration between IIT Madras and CMC Vellore will pave the way for many more interesting innovations with respect to assistive devices. With technology commercialization and industry implementation being one of the key directives of IIT Madras, we will aim to work towards more such technology adaptations,” he said.


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