Hand edema, defined as swelling of the hands caused by excess fluid accumulation, is a pervasive condition affecting a person’s range of motion and functional ability. However, treatment strategies remain limited to time-consuming manual massage by trained therapists, deterring a widely accessible approach. We present KnitDema, a robotic textile device that allows sequential compression from distal to proximal finger phalanges for mobilizing edema. We machine-knit the device and integrate small-scale actuators to envelop granular body locations such as fingers, catering to the shape of the hand. In addition, the device affords customizable compression levels through the enclosed fiber-like actuators. We characterize compression parameters and simulate the shunting of edema through a mock fluid system. Finally, we conduct a case study to evaluate the feasibility of the device, in which five hand edema patients assess KnitDema. Our study provides insights into the opportunities for robotic textiles to support personalized rehabilitation.

Introduction: The influence of the cerebellum in poststroke aphasia recovery is poorly understood. Despite the right cerebellum being identified as a critical region involved in both language and cognitive functions, little is known about functional connections between the cerebellum and bilateral cortical hemispheres following stroke. This study investigated the relationship between chronic poststroke naming deficits and cerebello-cerebral resting-state functional connectivity (FC). Methods: Twenty-five cognitively normal participants and 42 participants with chronic poststroke aphasia underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants with aphasia also underwent language assessment. We conducted regions of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analyses to investigate the FC between the right cerebellar Crus I/II (seed ROI; Cereb1r/Cereb2r) and bilateral cortical language regions and compared these results to cognitively normal controls. Single-subject connectivity parameters were extracted and used as independent variables in a stepwise multiple linear regression model associating Boston Naming Test (BNT) score with FC measures. Results: FC analyses demonstrated correlations between the right cerebellar Crus I/II and both left and right cortical regions for both cognitively normal controls and stroke participants. Additionally, aphasia severity and lesion load had an effect on the cerebello-cerebral network connectivity in participants with aphasia. In a stepwise multiple linear regression, controlling for aphasia severity, time poststroke and lesion load, FC between the right Cereb2–left Cereb1 (standardized beta [std B]= −0.255, p < 0.004), right Cereb2–right anterior MTG (std B = 0.259, p < 0.004), and the right Cereb2–left anterior STG (std B = −0.208, p < 0.018) were significant predictors of BNT score. The overall model fit was R ² = 0.786 ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: Functional connections between the right cerebellum and residual bilateral cerebral hemisphere regions may play a role in predicting naming ability in poststroke aphasia.

Current rapid prototyping in medical domains relies on rigid 3D-printed materials, lacking flexibility, customization, and clinician-led input. This paper introduces MediKnit, a novel approach for the fabrication of soft medical devices, addressing critical limitations in existing design processes for medical devices. MediKnit provides a design tool empowering clinicians to personalize fabric-based devices for hand edema. This tool allows clinicians to adapt the design to individual patients' demands, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of therapy. The MediKnit device created by this tool consists of a machine-knit glove with active compression, which is programmable through a custom PCB. This device facilitates the mobilization of edema. To illustrate the practical implementation of our approach, this paper presents case studies involving six patients experiencing hand edema. The results demonstrate the adaptability and feasibility of our process for developing soft medical devices, highlighting its potential to broaden accessibility, facilitate personalized solutions, and empower clinicians as active medical makers.

Tremendous potential for successful medical device development lies in both electrical stimulation therapies and neuronal prosthetic devices, which can be utilized in an extensive number of neurological disorders. These technologies rely on the successful electrical stimulation of biological tissue (i.e. neurons) through the use of electrodes. However, this technology faces the principal problem of poor stimulus selectivity due to the currently available electrode’s large size relative to its targeted population of neurons. Irreversible damage to both the stimulated tissue and electrode are limiting factors in miniaturization of this technology, as charge density increases with decreasing electrode size. In an attempt to find an equilibrium between these two opposing constraints (electrode size and charge density), the objective of this work was to develop a novel iridium-nickel oxide (Ir0.2-Ni0.8-oxide) coating that could intrinsically offer high charge storage capacity. Thermal decomposition was used to fabricate titanium oxide, iridium oxide, nickel oxide, and bimetallic iridium-nickel oxide coatings on titanium electrode substrates. The Ir0.2-Ni0.8-oxide coating yielded the highest intrinsic (material property) and extrinsic (material property + surface area) charge storage capacity (CSC) among the investigated materials, exceeding the performance of the current state-of-the-art neural stimulating electrode, Ir-oxide. This indicates that the Ir0.2-Ni0.8-oxide material is a promising alternative to currently used Ir-oxide, Pt, Au and carbon-based stimulating electrodes

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Recent studies have suggested the feasibility and potential utility of remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation (RS-tDCS) to improve different types of impairments in various neurological conditions. This scoping review provides a critical appraisal of RS-tDCS as an adjunct therapy to enhance recovery after stroke. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was systematically conducted using PubMed through Nested Knowledge software. A supplementary search was conducted in Google Scholar. Two independent authors screened and identified related studies investigating RS-tDCS in patients with stroke from inception to February 2025. Results: Studies showed that RS-tDCS was safe, with only mild side effects. Additionally, it was feasible, with high adherence rates likely due to ease of use. Regarding efficacy, RS-tDCS preliminarily yielded improvements in upper- and lower-limb motor functions and increased language and cognitive performance. However, the studies were underpowered and heterogeneous, limiting generalization of findings. Conclusions: RS-tDCS is safe and feasible, affording beneficial effects in the motor, language, and cognitive functions of patients with post-stroke impairments. RS-tDCS has the potential to improve access and reduce disparities for post-stroke experimental treatments. However, adequately powered randomized trials are needed to further investigate the efficacy.