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About

Kazutoshi Hatakeyama is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation robotics, specializing in soft robotic systems and functional electrical stimulation (FES) for restoring mobility after spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke. His major contributions include the design and prototyping of a soft robotic rehabilitation glove using thin McKibben muscles—a lightweight, flexible alternative to conventional rigid exoskeletons that enables continuous passive motion for hand assist and rehabilitation (30 citations). He has also advanced gait rehabilitation by developing hybrid robots that combine exoskeletons with FES, demonstrating in a pseudo-paraplegic model that FES can significantly reduce the torque required from the robot (11 citations). His work on a hemiplegic gait robot controlled by the non-affected lower extremity showcases a real-time feedback system that mirrors healthy limb movements (9 citations). Hatakeyama has also contributed a comprehensive review on neurorehabilitation equipment for SCI, tracing historical developments and future directions (6 citations). His innovations in soft, FES-integrated robotics are paving the way for more effective, patient-friendly rehabilitation technologies that leverage neural plasticity to improve outcomes for individuals with paralysis.