Kathleen O Donnell

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

Papers

Total Citations

238

H-Index

About

Kathleen O’Donnell is a leading figure in the field of soft robotics for rehabilitation, with a primary focus on restoring motor function in individuals with neurological impairments. Her major contributions center on the development of wearable, soft robotic devices that are both portable and safe for clinical and home use. Her most-cited work, a 2015 paper on a soft robotic glove for hand rehabilitation (236 citations), introduced a groundbreaking actuator technology that distributes forces along the finger, enabling active flexion and passive extension for task-specific training in patients with functional grasp pathologies. This work has become a cornerstone in assistive robotics, influencing subsequent designs for stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. O’Donnell also advanced gait rehabilitation with her 2017 study on a unilateral ankle-assisting soft robotic exosuit, demonstrating improved post-stroke walking patterns during overground ambulation. Her research bridges engineering and clinical practice, emphasizing human-centered design and real-world applicability. With over 238 combined citations, O’Donnell’s innovations have set new standards for soft robotic interventions, offering scalable, low-cost solutions that empower patients to regain independence and improve quality of life.