NeuroExo

The NeuroExo project develops a low-cost, noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI) system paired with an upper-limb robotic exoskeleton for at-home stroke neurorehabilitation. The goal is to democratize access to safe and effective robotic rehabilitation — not only in clinics, but in the comfort of patients’ homes.

The Challenge

Stroke survivors often lack access to consistent, long-term rehabilitation therapy. Traditional clinic-based approaches are costly and require physical therapists or technicians. NeuroExo addresses this by providing a portable, easy-to-use system that patients can operate independently at home.

How It Works

The NeuroExo system uses scalp EEG to decode movement intent from the brain and translates those signals into commands that guide a robotic exoskeleton to assist upper-limb movement. Key features include:

No surgery required — fully noninvasive EEG-based BCI
At-home use — designed for patients to operate without assistance
Real-time feedback — visual GUI shows electrode signal quality and guides setup
Low-cost design — built from commercial off-the-shelf components for accessibility

Early Feasibility Study

An early feasibility study consisted of a six-week protocol: an initial training and calibration phase at the clinic, followed by 60 sessions of neuromotor therapy at home. Participants achieved a compliance rate between 21% and 100% (average 69%), while maintaining adequate signal quality and positive perceived BCI performance.

Publication

González-España, J.J., Sánchez-Rodríguez, L., Pacheco-Ramírez, M.A., Feng, J., Nedley, K., Chang, S.-H., Francisco, G.E., & Contreras-Vidal, J.L. (2025). At-Home Stroke Neurorehabilitation: Early Findings with the NeuroExo BCI System. Sensors, 25(5), 1322.

Read the paper

Collaborators

UH BRAIN Center — Dr. Jose L. Contreras-Vidal
TIRR Memorial Hermann — Dr. Gerard E. Francisco, Dr. Shuo-Hsiu Chang
UH College of Architecture and Design — Jeff Feng

Learn More

Visit the official project website: neuroexo.com