Advanced Rehabilitative Technologies (ART)

To learn more about the Advanced Rehabilitative Technologies program, call
612-863-7642.

Creating the future of rehabilitation

For more than 15 years, Advanced Rehabilitative Technologies (ART) has united state-of-the-art, computer-based technologies with the world renowned clinical expertise of Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and the talents and resources of technology partners from all over the world.

ART has moved the laboratory into the real world, making available a new generation of therapies that benefit patients, payers and the community by improving patient functionality, lowering health care costs and making lives work.

A new generation of therapies

Biorehab

Biorehab is a biofeedback system that takes electrical signals from muscles and processes them through the computer to control the computer's cursor movements, allowing play of video games.

Biorehab has made rehab fun, while helping patients achieve higher levels of achievement than ever before.

Driving simulator

The virtual reality driving simulator uses breakthrough interactive software programs and consists of a series of computers and monitors where patients get the opportunity to see how their current cognitive, visual and motor skills correlate to driving.

Hand Mentor Robot

The Hand Mentor™ robot is used for intensive rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke or brain injury who need rehabilitation to help restore range of motion and strengthen muscles of their wrist and fingers. The Hand Mentor actively involves the patient in their rehabilitation by encouraging self-initiated motion in the wrist and fingers and assisting movement only when necessary.

InMotion2 Robotic Arm

The robotic arm is used to help patients regain movement after a stroke or brain injury.

The robotic arm sits on a desktop, along with a computer monitor. The patient's arm is positioned in a trough connected to the robotic arm. The computer prompts the patient to perform a task such as connecting the dots or drawing the hands of a clock, which is visually tracked on the screen.

If the patient does not have the ability to move the upper extremity for part of the range of motion, the robot moves the arm for the person. If the patient can initiate the movement on his/her own, the robot turns itself off and allows the patient's movement to continue.

NESS L300™ Foot Drop System

The NESS L300 is an advanced functional electrical stimulation system that delivers electrical stimulation to activate and contract specific leg muscles in a precise sequence.

People who have experienced a central nervous system injury or disease may benefit from the NESS L300.

Lokomat® treadmill

Lokomat is a robot-assisted treadmill that supports a patient in an upright position while moving the legs through a normal walking pattern – even if a patient is unable to move his or her legs independently.

Patients who can benefit the most from early gait therapy are those with significant disability due to stroke, brain injury or spinal cord injury.

However, patients can benefit from the intensive training that Lokomat provides even years after their injury

Wii-hab

Therapists use the Nintendo® Wii game system as part of rehabilitation for patients with brain injury or stroke.

The Wii uses a motion-sensing controller that allows the player to compete against a computer-controlled player. While using the Wii, patients work on strength, range of motion, dexterity and balance.

Therapies that encourage frequent and repetitive motions like using the Wii help take advantage of the brain's neuroplasticity. That's the capacity of the brain to adapt to the injury and train other areas of the brain to take over functions that may otherwise be lost or reduced.

Sister Kenny Research Center

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute has a long history of conducting innovative research. The Sister Kenny Research Center serves as a learning laboratory for innovations in rehabilitative care and treatment with the ultimate goal of optimizing the care and service to patients at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.

Sister Kenny Research Center faculty conduct research in:

• brain injury
• injury/fall prevention
• spinal cord injury
• stroke rehabilitation
• technology/device development and commercialization.