Bioinspired Soft Robotics and Intelligent Actuation for Medical Rehabilitation, Prosthetic, and Surgical Systems

A Special Issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673) belonging to the section "Locomotion and Bioinspired Robotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4741

Editors


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Guest Editor
CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: bioinspired robots; medical rehabilitation systems; shape memory alloy actuators; soft robot perception and control
Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: soft robotics; bioinspired robots; variable stiffness; origami-inspired robots and their biomedical applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioinspired soft robotics, empowered by soft structures and intelligent actuation, is redefining the boundaries of medical technology. From restoring fine motor skills through rehabilitation gloves to enabling dexterous prosthetic hands with tactile sensing and revolutionizing surgical processes using compliant robotic tools, these systems bridge the gap between bioinspired soft robots and medical robots, enabling safe human–robot interaction, human-level functionalities, and effective therapeutic interventions.

This Special Issue will focus on the design, fabrication, actuation, control, and clinical validation of bioinspired soft robots in advanced medical systems, including rehabilitation, prosthetics, and surgical applications. We invite experts and scholars in relevant fields to contribute innovative research on fundamental theories, engineering advancements, and clinical case studies. Our aim is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among robotic engineers, material scientists, clinicians, and artificial intelligence researchers, promoting further development and innovation in bioinspired soft robots and intelligent actuation technologies to enhance human health.

Dr. Hu Jin
Dr. Qiqiang Hu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bioinspired robotics
  • soft actuators
  • rehabilitation technology
  • prosthetics
  • surgical systems

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

43 pages, 3994 KB  
Review
Review of Soft Robotic Gloves and Functional Electrical Stimulation Affecting Hand Function Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients
by Xiaohui Wang, Yilin Fang, Zhaowei Zhang, Xingang Zhao, Dezhen Xiong and Junlin Li
Biomimetics 2026, 11(2), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11020104 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 4226
Abstract
Stroke often results in impaired hand motor function, making effective hand rehabilitation essential for restoring activities of daily living (ADLs). Motor rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation are two major pathways to functional recovery. Rehabilitation gloves have proven to be effective tools for motor rehabilitation, and [...] Read more.
Stroke often results in impaired hand motor function, making effective hand rehabilitation essential for restoring activities of daily living (ADLs). Motor rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation are two major pathways to functional recovery. Rehabilitation gloves have proven to be effective tools for motor rehabilitation, and among them, soft robotic gloves (SRGs) have emerged as a research focus due to their lightweight design and inherent safety. Functional electrical stimulation (FES), which applies electrical currents to muscles and nerves, shows promise in promoting motor neural reorganization and restoring muscle strength in the hands of stroke survivors. The technologies applied to hand rehabilitation must possess the characteristics of safety, comfort, and practicality, while overcoming critical challenges such as portability, user-friendliness, and wearability. Motivated by the rehabilitation needs of post-stroke patients, this paper reviews recent advances in SRGs, FES, and hybrid hand rehabilitation systems (HHRSs) for hand rehabilitation, systematically examining progress in actuation strategies, intention sensing, and control algorithms across these three technologies. Furthermore, the limitations and technical challenges of current HHRSs are analyzed and four key future research directions are identified to pave the way for further development in this field. Full article
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