Revolutionizing Patient Rehabilitation with Harmonic Bionics' Harmony SHR

The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions of people suffer from over 600 different neurological disorders, including strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. In 2017, the global prevalence of strokes alone was 104.2 million. For survivors, the road to recovery is challenging and requires extensive rehabilitation with the continued assistance of therapists, doctors, and clinicians. To regain motor functions after suffering strokes or other sudden onset conditions that can cause brain or spinal cord injuries, repetitive motions are essential to help patients regain neuroplasticity. However, this task is daunting for both therapists and patients, requiring a significant amount of time and effort.

Harmonic Bionics is an Austin, Texas-based company that develops intelligent robotics for patient rehabilitation. Their flagship product, Harmony SHR, is designed to optimize upper extremity therapy by enabling early intervention, increasing intensity, and employing patient-specific intent-based therapy through novel exercises. The company was founded by Clinical Research Officer Dr. Ashish Deshpande and Chief Technology and Operating Officer Dr. Youngmok Yun at the University of Texas at Austin’s ReNeu Robotics Lab in 2016. The company is currently working on making Harmony SHR commercially available for use in hospital systems, rehabilitation clinics, and out-patient treatment centers.