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Dr Xiaoling Hu and research team develop first-of-its-kind multimodal robot empowering post-stroke ankle-foot telerehabilitation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved another breakthrough in rehabilitation device development. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is the first-of-its-kind multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation specifically designed for stroke patients with hemiplegia, which helps improve the motor function of their lower limb and walking ability. Powered by Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the device enables telerehabilitation for remote management of patients’ rehabilitation progress and allows them to undertake self-help rehabilitation exercises at home. Therapists can remotely monitor the rehabilitation progress of multiple patients. In recent years, Hong Kong has seen around 50,000 new cases of stroke annually, with 85% of patients experiencing varying degrees of impaired physical mobility. Regular, repeated and intensive rehabilitation training is critical for restoring the physical mobility of stroke patients, thereby alleviating post-stroke symptoms such as disability. However, due to overwhelming demand, access to daytime outpatient rehabilitation services in local hospitals and rehabilitation clinics is challenging. Consequently, stroke patients are often unable to undergo timely and routine rehabilitation exercises. Common functional impairments among stroke patients include foot drop and inversion, which significantly disrupt their daily lives. Developed by a research team led by Dr Hu Xiaoling, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is an innovative multimodal wearable robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation that integrates the advantages of exoskeleton, soft pneumatic muscles, tactile sensory feedback and neuromuscular electrical stimulation technology in one system. The device can not only correct foot drop and foot inversion effectively, but also improve the gait of stroke patients. Additionally, it can help improve balance while walking and contribute to rehabilitative neuroplasticity in the long term. Stroke patients with hemiplegia generally have weakened muscle strength and discoordination at their affected lower limb, especially in the foot and ankle. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton can automatically detect patients’ gait events including the standing state, heel strike, heel off and toe off. The multimodal assistance from the device can help a patient stand firm on their affected foot with mechanical support from the exoskeleton and soft pneumatic muscles, learn to balance the plantar pressure and exert propelling force when walking with the vibration tactile feedback and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and improve foot drop with the neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton features a lightweight design weighing about 400g which, together with its sportswear features, makes it more suitable for the hemiplegic patients to wear it unilaterally on their own. This device also has the advantage of low power consumption and can be used continuously for four hours with a 9V rechargeable battery, enabling patients to practice anytime, anywhere – at home, outdoors, or indoors. Other exoskeleton lower-limb robots available on the market, which rely solely on external force to assist patients in walking, they are of very limited value in improving ankle joint and muscle coordination for stroke patients with hemiplegia. These robots are also limited to use in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics due to their high weight and power consumption. As for conventional ankle-foot orthoses, these are prone to causing muscle atrophy and interference to patients regaining voluntary motor control over the ankle of the affected leg. Dr Hu stated, “Combining the research capabilities of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles and Department of Computing, the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is a testament to PolyU’s exceptional strength in interdisciplinary research. This research achievement provides stroke patients a better option for lower limb rehabilitation training, incorporating the training into their daily activities. It also enables therapists to provide tele-supervision of the rehabilitation progress of multiple patients. We hope such flexible self-help training can effectively supplement traditional outpatient rehabilitation services, helping stroke patients achieve more efficient rehabilitation progress.” Dr Hu’s research team is collaborating with several local and Mainland hospitals and rehabilitation clinics to conduct clinical studies on the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton. Research studies have confirmed that rehabilitation training for stroke patients using the device is 40% more effective for stroke rehabilitation than applying external mechanical forces alone. Among the 12 patients participating in the clinical studies who completed a 1.5-month training programme consisting of 20 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, ankle dorsiflexion improved from an initial five degrees to 10 degrees without equipment assistance, approaching the normal level of 15 degrees. In addition, more than 90% of the patients successfully corrected their foot inversion. The research team also utilised IoT technology to record patients’ rehabilitation progress via a mobile app. This approach, incorporating functions such as real-time monitoring and progressive evaluation, as well as personalised guidance and reminders, enables patients to effectively engage in rehabilitation training even without the physical presence of a therapist, thereby improving patient engagement and treatment outcomes. The rehabilitation progresses of multiple patients can be matched to each other via the app for fostering mutual support and companionship throughout their training journey. It also enables therapists to provide remote monitoring and supervision on the progress of multiple patients, ensuring that rehabilitation proceeds smoothly. Dr Hu’s research team plans to commercialise the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton next year. In 2021, she co-founded the startup Thecon Technology (HK) Limited, which has been supported by the Incu-Bio Programme of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. Last year, the startup successfully launched a mobile exoneuromusculoskeleton for upper limb rehabilitation, the “Mobilexo Arm”, onto the market. This product has been adopted by a number of local and Mainland hospitals and rehabilitation clinics.

2023 Hong Kong Arthritis Day raise public awareness of arthritis

On 15 October, the 2023 Hong Kong Arthritis Day (2023 香港關節健康日) took place on PolyU campus and was attended by over 200 senior citizens and the general public who are concerned about the arthritis-related challenges. Arthritis is a widespread condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing chronic pain and discomfort. Co-organised by PolyU BME and HKU Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, this event aimed to raise public awareness of arthritis and its impacts on individuals, families, and communities. The event began with the welcome speeches from Ir Prof. Yongping Zheng, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing and Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub at PolyU, Dr Lewis Chan, Clinical Associate Professor of HKU Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Dr Chunyi Wen, Associate Professor of PolyU BME. Dr Lewis Chan, Dr Chor-yin Lam, Clinical Associate Professor, and Dr Lawrence Lau, Clinical Assistant Professor of HKU Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology delivered education talks on the introduction to arthritis and the treatment and pain management. Mr Desmond Yeung, Advanced Practising Physiotherapist of MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre, hosted the patient’s sharing session and demonstrated physiotherapy management for osteoarthritis of the knee. Ms Terri Ng, Department Manager (Occupational Therapy) of MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre, demonstrated the Qigong practice with mobile application, and recommended some joint protection and leisure activities. The experts later joined together to answer the questions from the participants at the open forum. Exhibition booths were also set up at the Logo Square which showcased the gerontechnology products and devices, as well as medical devices and equipment.

Dr Dexter Wong admitted as Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials

Dr Dexter Siu-hong Wong, Research Assistant Professor of BME, was admitted as the Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) in recognition for his contribution to “Advancement of Materials to Global Excellence”. Dr Wong was invited to deliver IAAM Fellow Lecture on “Nanobiomaterials for Biomedical Diagnosis, Engineering and Therapy” in the 55th Assembly of Advanced Materials Congress from 28 to 31 August 2023 at Stockholm, Sweden. IAAM is a renowned non-profit international scientific research organization active in the world of advanced materials. The organization works to facilitate a highly interactive community of advanced materials researchers and to stimulate partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures that can translate into the rapid development of the scientific world. The Fellow of IAAM is recognized as a prestigious title that is only conferred upon deserving researchers who have made significant contribution to the world of Advanced Materials Science, Engineering, and Technology. By honouring the researchers and scientific elites with this coveted title, IAAM recognizes their hard work and also hopes to motivate the young and upcoming researchers to take research up as a long-term career. Dr Wong has also recently published the research article “Mechanical manipulation of cancer cell tumorigenicity via heat shock protein signaling” on “Science Advance”.

BME completed the first international service-learning trip in Cambodia

BME hosts the service-learning subject “Reducing the Scientific Divide in Primary and Secondary Students through STEM Projects”, and completed the first international service-learning trip in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 16 to 28 August 2023. Led by Dr Hin-chung Lau, Senior Teaching Fellow and Ms Jessie Kar, Instructor of BME, the trip was joined by 23 PolyU students from 14 academic departments. The service-learning subject aims to raise students’ awareness of the difficulties and challenges faced by children and teenagers studying in underprivileged schools, educate students about the impact of scientific thinking and literacy on young people and the general community, enhance students’ generic competencies of innovative problem solving, communication and teamwork and nurture their sense of social awareness, responsibility and engagement. BME partnered with Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) and Cambodian Organization for Living and Temporary-care (COLT) to organise three main service projects, including (i)the STEM Fun Day with around 100 rural children, (ii)four half-day STEM Workshops for 32 three- to six-year-old underprivileged children from COLT and (iii)a robotic car workshop and competition for 40 COLT students which spent around four half days. In addition to the service projects, community understanding programme, historical programme and team building activities were also included in the 13-day trip. For example, the students visited the garbage dump and slum, the S21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the PBC Norodom. Before they left Cambodia, the PolyU students and their RUPP groupmates conducted final presentations and made videos to recap the service projects and their reflection on understanding the needy, the impact of the project and their learning. Students expressed how meaningful the projects were which allow them to dedicate their time, effort and knowledge to guide and inspire the children at the workshops, and hopefully created a long-lasting positive impact on them to pursue learning in the future.

Fourteen students joined BME Study Tour 2022/23 in Germany

In June 2023, fourteen students from the BME 2021 Cohort embarked on a Study Tour in Germany. They visited the trade fair REHAB to discover the latest advancements in rehabilitation technology and engaged with esteemed institutions like the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Berliner Hochschule für Technik to broaden their engineering knowledge. The students also explored the Berlin Museum of Medical History of the Charité and the Deschutes Museum to gain insights into the evolution of healthcare practice. These immersive experiences have inspired the students enormously and fueled their passion in the continuous pursuit of innovation in the field of Biomedical Engineering.  

Ir Professor Yongping Zheng’s startups listed on Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2023

Three startups nurtured by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been listed in the newly-released Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2023. Two of them - Eieling Medical Limited and Telefield Medical Imaging Limited - were co-founded by Ir Prof. Yongping Zheng, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing at PolyU. This year’s Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list spotlights small companies and startups that are targeting underserved markets or applying new technologies. Thirteen countries and regions are represented across 11 categories, including biotechnology and healthcare, e-commerce and retail, and finance. The PolyU-nurtured companies are among 15 startups from Hong Kong. Established in 2018, Eieling is a technology development company in advanced medical ultrasound imaging devices. Prof. Zheng and his PolyU research team combined transient elastography diagnostic technology with a real-time ultrasound image guided system to develop a solution called Liverscan® for liver fibrosis assessment. Liverscan® is a low-cost, palm-sized, and wireless device, allowing medical staff to perform liver checkups on patients anytime, anywhere. Eieling has been supported by the Incu-Bio Programme of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks and the PolyU Tech Launchpad Fund, as well as secured funding from an industrial partner and several private investors. Clinical trials are now being conducted on the device in several major hospitals in Mainland China and Hong Kong, with a plan for local release this year, registration in Mainland China in 2024 and the United States in 2025, and a full-scale worldwide launch in 2026. Prof. Zheng said, “I have been working in the area of ultrasound for over 30 years, and the innovations in medical ultrasound have the potential to benefit many people in need. I have tried different ways to do technology transfer, including consultancy projects, patent licensing, and collaborative research. I have decided to further engage in technology transfer to enable our university inventions to generate a greater impact and provide more opportunities to my team members through startups. While the process is challenging, we can have better control over the initial development of the product and gain a better understanding of what the real world actually needs, which will guide us in planning for future research and development. I am very happy that our approach fits very well with PolyU’s strategic mission to be an innovative world-class university. Meanwhile, I learned that a start-up needs a CEO with professional experience to operate it when it enters a certain stage, and it is important for further growth.” Founded in 2012, Telefield is a leading global provider of 3D ultrasound imaging technology, equipment and solutions. Prof. Zheng and his PolyU research team have developed a safer and more cost-effective scoliosis assessment system, applying 3D ultrasound imaging technology to generate a radiography-like image of the spine. This breakthrough in assessing spinal deformity, especially in adolescents, is behind the pioneering medical system Scolioscan®. With more than 120 filed or granted patents, Scolioscan® can measure spinal curvature as accurately as X-ray. As the world’s first and only ultrasound scoliosis assessment system, Scolioscan® is currently in use in hospitals and clinics in countries and regions including Australia, Bosnia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Thailand, Romania, Malaysia, Thailand, Mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong, and has helped reduce harmful exposure to radiation for more than 20,000 scoliosis patients worldwide. Telefield has so far secured more than HK$100 million in funding for this innovative project. In April 2023, Telefield achieved the Pre-A round financing totalling nearly HK$40 million, with investors including Fosun Pharma, AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi GBA), PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund and other industry investors. As an innovative world-class university driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”, PolyU is committed to creating societal impact by advancing knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship. The University has been providing staunch support to students, alumni and faculty members, to enable them to pursue interdisciplinary research in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges and nurture impactful innovation, as well as translate PolyU’s research excellence into practical real-world applications. To date, PolyU has nurtured more than 480 startups, including over 60 academic-led initiatives, four unicorns and quite a number of ponies.

Prosthetics & Orthotics practitioners and researchers gather at P&O Forum

With aims to review the developments of prosthetics and orthotics in Hong Kong and the vicinity from different stakeholders (education, service & research), and to nurture more collaboration opportunities with different stakeholders, the Prosthetics & Orthotics Forum was organised by PolyU BME on 18 August 2023 on PolyU campus, and was attended by over 50 P&O practitioners, researchers and research students. Convened by Ir Professor Ming Zhang, Head of Department and Chair Professor of Biomechanics of BME, and Professor M. S. Wong, Professor of BME and President of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Hong Kong, the Forum began by having Prof. Zhang giving an overview of BME and introduction P&O developments in the Department to the participants. Ms Margaret Ho, P&O COC Coordinator of the Hospital Authority (HA), talked about the P&O developments in the public sector, and how it shifted the focus from survival to functional, then to the quality of life. She also introduced the clustering of P&O service in HA, and the advanced service developments in P&O and the advanced biomedical technology. Mr Mario Chan, Chief P&O of the Allied Health Rehabilitation Centre, was not able to join the Forum in person, but presented the P&O developments in the private sector through a vivid video. He shared how he started his career in the Mainland China in 2004 and the challenges he faced. He then moved back to Hong Kong in 2012 and applied his experience and skills to provide efficient services to patients in the private sector, who highly value quality, performance and effectiveness. Mr Wilson Chan, President of the Hong Kong Society of Certified Prosthetist-Orthotists (HKSCPO), talked about the P&O developments in the local professional society. He first introduced the Society, such as the certification requirement, membership growth, professional and academic trainings, CPD schemes, etc. Mr Chan also talked about the development trend in different aspects, including image/data capture, components, scope, manufacturing and materials. He also displayed the current applications of 3D printing in P&O which was regarded as a new trend. At last, Prof. M. S. Wong introduced the P&O developments in the international professional society. The vision, mission and recent activities of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics were introduced. The recent conferences held in Asia via online meetings and the coming physical meetings were also mentioned and promoted. Some trends of P&O developments have been introduced such as application of big data analytics and artificial intelligence to P&O research and services. Close collaborations among different stakeholders have been highly recommended. After the presentations from the speakers, the participants were then engaged in an open discussion regarding the P&O practices in the public and private sectors and how different practices are in different countries and regions. The Forum was concluded with a dinner joined by the speakers and participants.

Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023

The results of the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, Knowledge Transfer and Services 2023 were announced on 14 August 2023. The winners were chosen by a Faculty Assessment Panel, comprising Heads (or their delegates) and chaired by the Dean of Engineering, from amongst a pool of well-qualified nominees put forward by individual departments. The selection was made with reference to the indicative criteria for assessment as laid down by the University for the exercise.   BME is excited that the following colleagues are receiving the awards listed below: MERIT AWARDS Teaching: Outstanding Young Teacher - Ms Jessie KAR, Instructor Research and Scholarly Activities: Outstanding Researcher - Professor Lei SUN, Professor Research and Scholarly Activities: Outstanding Young Researcher - Dr Puxiang LAI, Associate Professor   Each awardee will receive a Certificate of Award and a cash prize. The prizes will be presented at a Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Faculty in February/March 2024.   Congratulations to the awarded colleagues!

BME Summer Camp 2023 attended by secondary school students from Macau

The BME Summer Camp 2023 was held on 3 August 2023 on PolyU campus. Organised by the Hong Kong-Macau Joint Chapter of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) (“the Chapter”), the summer camp was attended by 46 guests, including the members from the Chapter and 37 Macau secondary school students. As the Vice-Chairperson of the Chapter, Dr Xiaoling Hu, Associate Professor of PolyU BME, together with her research team members Dr Sa Zhou, Ms Eva Qin and Mr Legeng Lin, welcomed and accompanied the guests the whole day. The guests had a tight schedule, starting with an introduction session delivered by Dr Hu, followed by the BME laboratory tour in the morning and the afternoon. Students visited 11 laboratories in total and they showed a lot of interests in different labs by raising many questions. BME looks forward to welcoming more students in the summer camp next year!

BME PhD student awarded Champion at Faculty of Engineering 3MT® Competition

Yizhou Jiang, PhD student of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was selected as the Champion at the Faculty of Engineering Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®), which was held on 16 June 2023 on PolyU campus. Jiang took home the Champion by presenting the research topic “Tracking Living Therapeutics with Ultrasound Imaging”. All participants were nominated by their departments of the Faculty of Engineering. Each department could nominate three students at most. Their performance was rated by the Judging Panel, chaired by Prof. X.W. Fu, Associate Dean (External Engagement) and comprising departmental representatives. Developed by the University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT® cultivates the academic, presentation, and research communication skills of research students and supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes in a language appropriate to non-specialist audiences. The competition is a globally recognized competition which are now held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.