PLUTO – Stroke Rehab Robot
Delivering timely and effective physical and occupational therapy is critical for stroke recovery.
However, many stroke survivors in India struggle to access the necessary neurorehabilitation due to challenges such as the high cost, time commitment, and repetitive nature of therapy, along with the logistical difficulties of frequent hospital visits and the heavy workload on clinicians.
To address these issues, the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have jointly developed an innovative, portable, and affordable robotic solution for hand movement therapy: the Plug-and-Train Robot for Hand Neurorehabilitation, or PLUTO. Inspired by the design of a mixer grinder, where a single motor drives multiple attachments, PLUTO employs one motor and a variety of attachments to train different hand functions.
This project was led by Prof. Sivakumar Balasubramanian from the Department of Bioengineering at CMC Vellore and Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras.
It was developed in collaboration with the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurological Sciences at CMC Vellore. Initial funding came from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, with additional support from CSR grants provided by Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited ( TBAL) and Tata Elxsi Limited, which further enhanced PLUTO’s technological readiness.
The innovation has secured an Indian patent, with patents pending in the US and Canada.
Through extensive usability testing, PLUTO has evolved into a compact, portable tabletop device that fits into a suitcase smaller than regular check-in luggage. This robust version is currently being evaluated across nine clinics in India.
Over the past 30 months, PLUTO has been used by over 1,000 patients and 100 clinicians. Notably, it facilitated India’s first home-based robot-assisted therapy study, where five stroke survivors successfully used the device for four weeks, with promising results.
The focus now is on conducting large-scale home-based clinical studies to assess PLUTO’s effectiveness. Its simplicity, versatility, and durability make it ideal for use in various settings, including hospitals, small clinics, community centers, and even in patients’ homes.
CMC Vellore and IIT Madras have licensed the technology to Thryv Rehab Solutions, which will commercialize PLUTO and introduce it to the Indian market. This groundbreaking development has the potential to significantly enhance neurorehabilitation care in India and beyond.
The launch of Technology Transfer Office (TTO) by CMC Vellore on 15th March 2024 marks a significant step forward in transforming medical breakthroughs into tangible benefits for patients.
The Technology Transfer agreement was officially signed on 14th August 2024 at CMC Vellore by Dr. Vikram Mathews, Director of CMC Vellore, and Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean IC&SR, Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
