Evidence mapPaperPMID 42319932Full record

ArticleScience advances2026

Merging neural stimulation and exoskeletons to enhance sensorimotor hand functions after brain or spinal cord injury.

Andrea Cimolato, Dunja Cekić, Natalija Katić Šećerović, Margerita Razzoli, Francesco Missiroli, Jan Dittli, Pietro Palopoli, Sara Bellomo, Julia Kenel, Suzana Dedijer Dujović and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Andrea CimolatoCenter for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4095-0233
Dunja CekićNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Natalija Katić ŠećerovićCenter for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-5097-4119
Margerita RazzoliNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0004-4304-6778
Francesco MissiroliMunich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence, School of Computation Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jan DittliRehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-9889-0886
Pietro PalopoliNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sara BellomoNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Julia KenelNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0002-7543-5335
Suzana Dedijer DujovićClinic for Rehabilitation "Dr Miroslav Zotović," Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-2990-2433
Sebastian FreseTechnology and Innovation Unit and Department of Research, ZURZACH Care AG, Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-1715-0454
Lorenzo MasiaMunich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence, School of Computation Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2402-7139
Olivera DjordjevicClinic for Rehabilitation "Dr Miroslav Zotović," Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-9534-7781
Olivier LambercyRehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-0760-7054
Giacomo ValleNeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-2637-8007
Ljubica KonstantinovicClinic for Rehabilitation "Dr Miroslav Zotović," Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-5906-1594
Stanisa RaspopovicCenter for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-0567-9051

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sophisticated hand movements are essential for daily activities, but central neurological impairments often compromise them. Since full recovery through conventional physiotherapy is rare, assistance is crucial. While neural implants show promise, clinical use remains distant, urging immediate assistive alternatives. Current exoskeletons and neurostimulation garments lack sufficient motor support and sensory feedback, limiting dexterity. We developed a neurorobotic system combining portable exoskeletons with targeted neurostimulation via custom-made e-sleeve and tested it in 14 individuals with central neural injuries. We provide evidence of restored finger mobility and tactile perception, even in patients with clinically complete sensory loss, by recruiting residual peripheral pathways. Eight participants completed functional assessments, in which they exploited neurostimulation to improve grasp precision and enhance strength. This enabled manipulation of fragile and cumbersome objects, essential for everyday activities. Personalized assistive technologies have clinical potential to promote independence and support the reintegration of people with neurological impairments into society.

Indexed as

Brain InjuriesExoskeleton DeviceHandSpinal Cord InjuriesAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID42319932
PMCPMC13281789

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.