Helping brain recovery for people with severe paralysis after a recent stroke
Facilitating neuroplastic changes of acute stroke survivors with severe hemiplegia
This project builds a wearable in-bed robot to give gentle movement and sensory training to adults with severe weakness right after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabtek, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Linthicum Heights, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11365604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a small robotic device while still in bed in the hospital that moves and stimulates your arm and leg to mimic normal motion and touch. The device is designed to detect tiny signals even when there is no visible muscle movement (MMT=0) so it can deliver early, frequent training during the brain's critical plasticity window after stroke. The team will develop and test the robot for safety, comfort, and its ability to promote neuroplastic changes, starting with feasibility work and progressing to early patient use. The aim is to provide more active therapy during the long hours patients are often left alone in the acute hospital stay.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with a recent acute stroke who have severe hemiplegia and little or no voluntary movement (MMT=0) and who are medically stable in the hospital.
Not a fit: People with chronic stroke long after the acute window, those with only mild weakness, or those not in an inpatient setting are unlikely to benefit from this in-bed approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could help speed recovery of movement and reduce long-term disability by delivering early intensive sensorimotor training.
How similar studies have performed: Robotic and early intensive rehabilitation approaches have improved motor recovery in some stroke studies, but few devices are designed specifically for in‑bed use in patients with no voluntary movement, so this work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Linthicum Heights, UNITED STATES
- Rehabtek, LLC — Linthicum Heights, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oppizzi, Giovanni — Rehabtek, LLC
- Study coordinator: Oppizzi, Giovanni
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.