A Memorial University grad student is hoping to make a difference in the lives of stroke patients with his new Kinarm system.

Michael Babalola of Lagos in Nigeria, says he was motivated to make the recovery process for stroke patients better and faster after watching his own grandmother recover from a stroke.

Babalola’s research uses robotics to customize patient recovery and help with their therapy. The Kinarm system uses a hybrid of virtual reality and robotics to provide clinicians with the information they need to help patients recovering from stroke.

The Kinarm helps to replace typical “long” and “tiring” rehab exercises with activities that patients report are actually “fun.”

Babalola says he’s thrilled with the results and has no doubt his grandmother would be proud.

He says his desire is to touch lives and leave people smiling. He believes his grandmother is “looking down from heaven” and is very glad.