IIT Madras, CMC Vellore develop portable robot ‘PLUTO’ for hand rehabilitation

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore have collectively developed a portable plug-and-train robot for hand rehabilitation. The newly developed design is called ‘PLUTO’ (Plug and Train Robot) which offers therapeutic movements and real-time feedback.

PLUTO will provide better outcomes for patients with conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and post-hand surgery, among others, IIT Madras said.

The technology was commercialised by Thryv Rehab Solutions and it addresses a ‘significant’ gap in the current rehabilitation market, the institute added. This innovative device is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for affordable and adaptable rehabilitation solutions in clinical and home settings, it said.

IIT-M, CMC Vellore: PLUTO clinical use

Stressing the need for better medical technology in India, Aravind Nehrujee, a PhD student who developed PULTO along with CMC Vellore, said: “In the present era, conventional rehabilitation robots for hand therapy are either complex and expensive systems capable of training multiple hand functions or simple and singular-function devices requiring multiple units for comprehensive therapy. These systems lack portability and adaptability, making them unsuitable for bedside, wheelchair-based, and home-based use... Hence, there is a need for an efficient and cost-effective solution.”

“...PLUTO has been set up for routine clinical use across 11 different clinics across India. Over 1,000 patients with hand impairments have used the device for therapy; at least 15 patients per week use PLUTO for routine hand therapy at CMC Vellore. PLUTO was also the first and only indigenous robot to have been tested in Indian homes, demonstrating that PLUTO can deliver intense therapy and make therapy accessible,” Sivakumar Balasubramanian, department of bioengineering, CMC Vellore, added.

The device can easily be used in rehabilitation centres, clinics, hospitals, and even patients’ homes. The innovation’s cost-effectiveness and portability make it a transformative tool in the healthcare industry, the official statement added.

PLUTO is invented by a group of researchers such as Sujatha Srinivasan (principal investigator), department of mechanical engineering, IIT Madras; Aravind Nehrujee, (PhD scholar) of department of mechanical engineering, IIT Madras and the Department of bioengineering, CMC Vellore and Sivakumar Balasubramanian, department of bioengineering, CMC Vellore.

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IIT Madras, CMC Vellore: PLUTO features

Researchers from both the technology institutes have co-developed a tech whose features are below.

• A compact, portable design that allows bedside or wheelchair-based therapy, making it accessible for home or clinical use.
• A plug-and-train mechanism with various therapy tools for diverse hand functions, improving usability and flexibility.
• A gearless DC motor with a plug-in mechanism enables seamless connection and operation of therapy tools.
• High modularity and low-cost fabrication ensure adaptability and affordability for healthcare providers and patients.
• Scalability for mass production, supporting widespread adoption across clinical, rehabilitation, and home settings.
• A design that addresses early rehabilitation stages for conditions like stroke or hand paralysis, promoting faster functional improvement.