Berna Salman

Simon Fraser University, Imperial College London

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Berna Salman is a leading researcher in the field of rehabilitation robotics, with a primary focus on developing innovative robotic systems to restore hand and finger function after neurological injury, particularly stroke. Her major contributions center on the design and clinical validation of novel cable-driven and haptic robotic interfaces. She pioneered the **Haptic Knob**, a two-degree-of-freedom device that trains wrist and hand movements for activities of daily living, and the **HandCARE** (Hand Cable-Actuated REhabilitation) system, which specifically targets finger coordination and independence. A hallmark of her work is the emphasis on adaptable, patient-specific mechanical designs, such as cable systems that accommodate various hand sizes and orientations. Her most cited paper (29 citations) evaluates the Haptic Knob’s robotic-assisted therapy, while her 2010 work on the HandCARE introduces a technique to retrain the fine motor control often lost after stroke. Salman’s research bridges mechanical engineering and neurorehabilitation, offering tangible tools to improve quality of life for stroke survivors. Her work is foundational for anyone studying assistive robotics or post-stroke motor recovery.