KnitDema (glove for treating hand swelling)

2023: Smart Gloves Start

On April 26, 2023, American researchers from Cornell University announced the development of a specialized glove designed to treat hand swelling.

Scientists note that swelling of the fingers and palms can not only cause discomfort and pain, but also significantly worsen the quality of life of patients. In this state, it is difficult to perform the most ordinary actions - especially those related to fine motor skills. Traditionally, massage is used to eliminate swelling: but this takes a lot of time due to the need to visit clinics, and also requires significant financial costs. Attempts have also been made to provide technical solutions such as pneumatic sleeves operating on the same principle as blood pressure cuffs. However, such devices turned out to be bulky and inconvenient to use.

KnitDema (glove for treating hand swelling)

The new development was called KnitDema. It is a machine knitting glove that can be adapted to the individual size and anatomy of the patient's hand through digital manufacturing. Special thread-like springs made of alloy with shape memory are woven into the material: they are successively compressed, receiving commands from the controller, which allows you to effectively remove the accumulated liquid from the edema zone.

The duration and intensity of compression can be adjusted according to the individual needs of the patient. The glove is made of elastic materials, so in addition to active stimulation, passive compression is provided - even when the actuators are not activated. This combined approach improves the effectiveness of therapy. Another advantage of the development is that the glove can be used at any convenient time and anywhere. In this case, the number of sessions is not limited.^[1]

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