Many clinical exo-suits are designed to improve mobility, but experts at ETH Zurich may have found a way to boost arm strength. They intend to use this technology to assist patients with limited movement in developing upper body endurance and durability.
This article talks more about the new innovative device developed by researchers at Zurich, which, if succeeded, can bring about a revolution.
Scientists at ETH Zurich might have discovered a way to improve your arm strength. They created the Myoshirt, a wearable exo-muscle garment that may compensate for upper-body ailments and injuries.
Exomuscles constructed of breathable textiles have been developed to function as an extra layer of muscles. A combination of sensors in the vests and armbands identifies your intended movement and sends a motor signal to the cable that runs alongside your forces. This leads to stronger tendons, providing extra strength and endurance for your work.
The experts tested this prototype for the first time in a recent trial with 12 participants-10 healthy persons, one with muscular dystrophy and one with a spinal injury. As a result, all individuals could lift their hands and objects for extended periods. This just signifies that the test results are promising.
The company stated that in healthy participants, resistance improved by about a third; in people with muscular dystrophy, it grew by around 60%; and in people with spinal cord injuries, it increased by three times.
The actuator and massive external control box of the Myoshirt weigh around 8.8lbs. The team intends to focus on shoulder support to make the product small and compact enough to use undergarments.
ETH is also collaborating with the spinoff business MyoSwiss to develop the exo-muscle, and the practical implications are obvious. Hospitals could provide Myoshirts to patients who want to undertake workouts at home without using expensive and ineffective therapy instruments. The innovation could also be practical for significantly easing day-to-day tasks.
