For many people, reaching into a cabinet, brushing their hair or lifting a cup of coffee are simple everyday tasks. But for those living with a disability from conditions such as ALS or stroke, these everyday movements can be difficult, exhausting or even impossible.
Nearly one in five Americans currently lives with a disability, and that number is expected to rise as the current population ages.
Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD
At a recent Mass General Brigham Life-Changing Research Town Hall, researchers demonstrated a wearable robotic device designed to help people move more easily and maintain their independence regardless of disability.
The innovative device, a wearable robotic brace that supports the shoulder and upper arm, features a lightweight vest fitted with sensors and soft, inflatable air pockets.
As a person begins to move, the sensors detect their intended motion and provide just enough assistance to help them complete the task. Recent advances in machine learning have also allowed the team to make the device more responsive, giving it the ability to predict what the user is trying to do and adjust its support in real time.
Conor Walsh, PhD
"It's not just about weakness at the shoulder, it's about difficulties with participating in activities that matter to them," said Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD, an ALS specialist and co-leader of the project. "Whenever we see people in clinic, we don't just talk about their disease, we talk about the things that they care about."
The project also reflects a broader goal of research at Mass General Brigham: Improving patients' lives in meaningful ways.
David Lin, MD
While many research efforts focus on preventing or treating disease, others aim to help people with diseases live more independently and maintain the activities that matter most.
By bringing together clinicians, engineers, physical therapists and patients, including David Lin, MD, who specializes in neurorehabilitation after stroke, teams across Mass General Brigham are developing technologies that translate scientific innovation into practical solutions for everyday life.
For Wesley, one of the participants in the trial who was recently diagnosed with ALS, the difference was immediately noticeable.
"Without the device on, I got really tired after five motions," he said. "But with the device, I was strong after 20 [motions], and I could have kept on going all night."
“We're not trying to make an Iron Man suit. We're really trying to make something as close to clothing as possible” - Conor Walsh, PhD
Researchers emphasized that building a successful supportive device requires more than engineering expertise. People living with disabilities due to ALS and stroke have been involved throughout the design process, testing the technology and sharing feedback that continues to shape its development.
That feedback has influenced how the technology feels and functions, ensuring it addresses the challenges people face in everyday life, not just in a research lab.
"In terms of metrics, as engineers we're thinking, how do we make it faster, how do we make it stronger?", said Conor Walsh, PhD, of Harvard University, whose lab developed the technology. "But when you have these types of technologies that interact so intimately with a person, that person's perspective is more important than the metric."
While the device is currently a bit bulky for everyday use, the team hopes that in the near future, lighter-weight versions can eventually be used in patients' homes, helping people cook meals, get dressed, reach for objects and perform other everyday tasks with greater ease.
For patients like Wesley, even a small increase in independence can be life-changing.
"Before ALS, I could do 100 things by myself. Now, my lovely wife is my caregiver, and does about 95, and I do about five,” Wesley said. “Even if we can just get that up to six things, that makes a world of a difference for us both."
It's a reminder that breakthroughs aren't always measured by curing disease. Sometimes, they're measured by helping someone do just one more thing for themselves.
This project is a multidisciplinary-led effort between various departments across Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, and includes physical therapists, researchers, engineers, neurologists specialized in neurorehabilitation and many more.
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