A high-tech knitted glove has been developed to treat hand edema – swelling of the fingers and hands caused by a build-up of fluid.
The massaging KnitDema glove is made of a yarn through which thread-like feathers are woven.
These wrap around a finger and, once activated by a mild electrical current, expand and contract in sequence, draining excess fluid from them.
In a recent US trial of five patients, the glove reduced hand moisture by up to 10 percent after a 30-minute session, the journal Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems reported last month.
The gloves have been developed for chronic hand oedema. While the hands can often temporarily swell due to things like hot weather or being sedentary, for thousands of people it is a chronic problem that causes pain and limits joint mobility.
The massaging KnitDema glove is made of a yarn through which thread-like feathers are woven
The condition can result from a physical injury or be a complication of hand surgery. This is because the body’s natural response is to send fluid to an affected area to start the healing process, and this fluid can then build up.
Hand edema can also be a symptom of thyroid, liver or kidney disease, as these can disrupt the body’s natural moisture balance.
It can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or depression, and contraceptives (again, as they can upset the balance of water and salts in the body).
The main treatment is physiotherapy, which involves massaging the fingers from head to toe to “push” the fluid out of the hand. This is then absorbed by the body.
Although effective, this treatment is time consuming, expensive and requires frequent hospital visits. There may also be a waiting list.
The new glove, developed at Cornell University in the US, mimics physical therapy.
It has wire-like alloy springs that fit around the fingers like rings, as well as a small built-in battery: once activated, it sends an electric current to each spring, starting at the fingertip.
The current generates mild heat – about 45c – causing the spring to change shape and contract.
When the current stops, the spring cools and ‘remembers’ its original shape and expands again.
Each spring is activated in turn, with each finger moving down like a wave, forcing the fluid out of the tissue.
The glove is designed for home use and both the duration and intensity of the compressions can be adjusted by the user according to their needs, using a remote control.
Commenting on the technology, Mike McNicholas, an orthopedic surgeon at Liverpool University Hospitals said: ‘This is a truly innovative use of the material properties of a memory metal by incorporating it into smart clothing to address a problem that is very is invalidating.
‘It is wonderful to see that this is being well researched to introduce it into patient care in a safe way.
“Other applications of such technology will follow, I’m sure.”
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