This was important for two reasons, said Prof. Hogan. The main purpose of our first study was to test the hypothesis that passive movement does improve recovery. This fits very well with what we know about the normal functioning of the brain. For instance, when the high cortical regions are affection, the patient's aim is off, but the vigor of his movement is unimpaired. So far, everything confirms the results of the first study.
Hogan is optimistic.
Although the technology is not currently configured for distance healthcare applications, there is no reason it can't be adapted. First of all, size isn't a problem, he said. It's quite small even now. We set out to design a machine that is small and fairly benign-looking. It weighs 80 pounds, so, technically, it' s portable.