PolyU BME Teams snatch awards at 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

Impactful innovations from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won a record-breaking number of accolades at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention.

43 PolyU innovations seized 45 accolades, including two Special Prizes, five Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 18 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medalsand seven Bronze Medals. Among them, two were developed by PolyU BME’s research teams.

PolyU BME’s project “ProRuka — Novel Prosthetic Hand Controlled by Wireless Sonomyography” won the “Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury” and the “Special Award from Taiwan Invention Association”. The project is co-led by Ir Prof. Yongping ZHENG, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of PolyU BME, and Mr Vaheh NAZARI, Research Assistant, PolyU BME.

ProRuka is a novel 3D printed prosthetic powered hand that can move its fingers independently. It is controlled by stump muscle signals collected by wireless wearable ultrasound imaging known as sonomyography. These signals are analysed by AI algorithms in real-time to decode the natural control mechanism of a human hand. The AI model can also classify a specific hand gesture and the degree of action, based on the activation pattern of all muscles combined in the scanning area. ProRuka allows more intuitive control of the prosthetic hand and can predict more complex hand gestures with higher accuracy. The mechanical design is based on the natural dimensions and proportions of the human hand and is lightweight and cost-effective. ProRuka aims to improve the comfort and acceptance of prosthetic hand users, and help them regain quality of life, independence and confidence.

The “Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton” developed by the research team led by Dr Xiaoling HU, Associate Professor of BME and Founder of Thecon Technology HK Ltd. (a PolyU academic-led startup), won the Gold Medal.

The mobile ankle-foot exoneuromusculoskeleton is the first device of its kind to combine the advantages of exoskeletons, soft pneumatic muscles, neuromuscular electrical stimulation and tactile sensory feedback into a single, lightweight wearable system powered by a small rechargeable battery. This unique combination can effectively correct poststroke footdrop and foot inversion, which are common issues faced by stroke survivors. It is also easy to use by non-professionals for self-help telerehabilitation. The device is connected to the Internet of Things, which allows it to connect professionals and multiple poststroke users in different locations. This enables the efficient management of rehabilitation and motivates users to continue their training through incentive schemes, which, in turn, enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of rehabilitation and reduces the burden on professionals. By enabling remote and self-help telerehabilitation, it can also provide quality care to more stroke survivors who need it.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended his congratulations to the University’s winning teams and stated, “I am thrilled about the exceptional accomplishments of PolyU’s research teams at the Geneva Inventions Expo this year. The results are truly encouraging and serve as a testament to the outstanding research capabilities of our scholars and experts. The international recognition will inspire them to continue pursuing excellence, not only in basic research but also in translating their research outcomes into positive impacts for the benefit of Hong Kong, our Nation, and the world.”