Canadian engineer's device helps patients with limited hand mobility paint and draw  

In North America, there are over 58 million people of all ages experiencing limited hand mobility, hand and arm weakness and difficulty grasping and controlling objects, because of a medical condition or injury. This includes people living with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and even those recovering from spinal cord injuries and strokes. Performing daily activities like writing, drawing, painting, and accessing technology become very difficult or even impossible. As a result of the physical limitation these individuals experience a loss of independence, self-expression, social exclusion, and frustration.

McMaster University biomedical and mechanical engineering student Lianna Genovese was inspired to innovate towards solving a real human problem and directed her energy into creating solutions that supported people with limited hand mobility in their hobbies and passions.

At 18 years old, Lianna channelled her natural entrepreneur spirit and engineering knowledge to develop Guided Hands™: a mechanical assistive device that enables anyone living with limited hand mobility to write, paint, draw and use a touch-screen device. This innovation has been awarded the national James Dyson Award, an design award that seeks to celebrate and inspire the next generation of engineers.

Inspired by the mechanics of a 3D printer, Guided Hands™ uses a simple sliding system composed of linear shafts and ball bearings. The unique system promotes controlled and guided hand movements in all directions (horizontal, vertical and swivel hand motions), as the user holds a handpiece custom to the size of their hand and level of hand impairment. The handpiece is connected to an arm attachment that holds various writing utensils (paintbrush, pen, marker, stylus, etc.) and is designed to use the patient’s gross motor skills in their shoulder to perform activities rather than relying on fine motor skills in the hand which are often compromised.  

The first prototypes of Guided Hands™ consisted of pipe cleaners, straws and a sponge. Lianna immediately had Elissa test the prototype and provide feedback to inspire many iterations. Over the past two years, Lianna has connected with over 150 patients of varying medical conditions, neurologists, and occupational therapists across Canada to help inform her design and perfect the device.

Existing devices to assist with fine motor skills do not support controlled and guided hand movements, focusing instead on only allowing the user to hold a writing utensil or reduce tremors. The Guided Hands™ design is the only product that offers multiple ambidextrous handpieces and uses a unique sliding system to glide the hand seamlessly during an activity.

Today, at 21 years old, Lianna is the CEO & Founder of her own company called ImaginAble Solutions and has launched healthcare pilots for Guided Hands™ across North America to further test with patients and health professionals. Her company will be launching Guided Hands into the market at the end of August 2021 making the device available to people across Canada and the USA.

As the National James Dyson Award winner for Canada, she has received $3,500 to go towards her innovation and will progress to the international stage of the James Dyson Award.