The Japanese Darwing Power Assist Glove (PAG) is a home use or clinical setting rehabilitation device, especially for brain trauma or stroke patients, to train their hand flexion and extension with advanced pneumatic technology. Different from other conventional pneumatic gloves which are with Z-fold connecting pipes attached on the gloves to control movement of fingers, Darwing PAG is with a rubber air canister acted as “artificial muscle” embedded in the PAG along with each finger. Thanks to the interchange of compressed air to the canisters of all fingers, the “artificial muscles” contract and extend fingers like human does. The repeated movements can enhance the neuroplasticity which assist stroke patients recovering range of motion of finger joints.
The design of “artificial muscles” benefits the patients with a suitable extension force to open the hypertonia hand. The compressed air pressure out from the controller is with 17Newton/cm2 or 0.17MPa.
Another advantage of the PAG is that users can, depending on individual need, customize their treatment by adjusting the hand open time, close time and time interval.
The PAG with wrist support weighs only 243 grams and is made of soft material. Patients feel comfortable to wear it.