Karen L. Andrews

Mayo Clinic in Florida, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Karen L. Andrews is a leading researcher in the field of rehabilitative and assistive robotics, with a primary focus on advancing prosthetic hand technology. Her work uniquely bridges soft robotics and human motor control, aiming to create more functional, intuitive, and user-accepted prosthetic devices. Dr. Andrews’ major contributions center on the development and clinical validation of the SoftHand Pro (SHP), a novel prosthetic hand that synergistically combines soft, compliant materials with the principles of hand postural synergies. Her foundational 2016 paper, "The SoftHand Pro: Translation from Robotic Hand to Prosthetic Prototype" (13 citations), and her pivotal 2017 pilot study (11 citations) demonstrated the feasibility of this approach, showing that the SHP can significantly improve grasp performance and versatility compared to traditional rigid prosthetics. More recently, her 2023 work (4 citations) has explored the critical role of non-invasive force feedback in helping users—both with and without limb loss—modulate grasp force more naturally. By addressing the high rejection rates of current prosthetics through innovative design and sensory feedback, Dr. Andrews is paving the way for the next generation of prosthetic limbs that feel more like a natural extension of the body.