A grip interface is used to provide information about a user to a range of connected devices and applications based on the users' interactions with the grip. By embedding into the grip an array of sensors for motion, health, environmental and other data using embedded microcontroller network technology, and focusing on the grip as the interface between the physical and virtual worlds, applications and services to existing grip-based devices are enabled. Applications for the grip include as sports, fitness equipment, health monitoring, activity tracking, coaching, physical therapy, mobility aide and virtual entertainment, among others.

A hand strength appliance is provided that may be used in multiple or selected configurations for grip and pinch strength assessment as well as grip and pinch exercises. The appliance includes a frame and a sliding internal handle fitted within and slidable within the frame, and may be positioned for multiple test positions and exercises. The appliance may include and be used with a force sensing device that may transmit information to a computing device.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to muscle fatigue measuring devices that include a bottom stabilizing portion, a handle, a central extended portion, and a force measuring device. The central extended portion can be disposed between the bottom stabilizing portion and the handle. The force measuring device can be connected to the handle. The force measuring device can be adapted to measure a force applied to the handle. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of measuring muscle fatigue and muscle fatigue measuring systems.

The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring a pressure force. The device (1) comprises a hand-held body (10) made of an elastic material (8) and a sensor unit (11). The sensor unit (11) is at least partly enclosed by the hand-held body (10) such that a force (F) applied by a person (12) onto the hand-held body (10) is transmitted via the elastic material (8) of the hand-held body (10) to the sensor unit (11). The sensor unit (11) is configured for measuring a pressure force (F.sub.p) which is transmitted to the sensor unit (11) and which is caused by the force (F) applied onto the hand-held body (10) by the person (12). Moreover, the sensor unit (11) is configured for generating data corresponding to the measured pressure force (F.sub.p). The invention further relates to a system (2) for determining a sensation experienced by a person (12), the use of a device (1) for evaluating a current pain sensation perceived by a person (12) and a method for determining a sensation experienced by a person (12).

A system and method are described for assessing muscle parameters (e.g., force(s) exerted, force dynamics, strength, voluntary muscle movement, etc.) in a diagnostic or therapeutic environment. The muscle parameter assessment system includes a force-gauging device and a computing device. The force-gauging device includes at least one pressure-sensing component (e.g., transducer, pressure sensor, etc.) configured to respond to a force applied by a subject and produce one or more output signals. The force-gauging device can further include electronic circuitry configured to convert the output signals into data indicative of a muscle parameter. The computing device is configured to build a muscle assessment protocol based on one or more patient characteristics and/or user input. The computing device is further configured to execute one or more muscle assessments via the force-gauging device, receive data from the force-gauging device, and determine one or more muscle measurements for a subject.

A method and system for monitoring the childbirth and the laboring process included a device designed to assist pregnant women in the first stage of labor in the form of a device that fits in a woman's hand (or worn on the wrist) and has a trigger that can be pressed at the onset of a contraction, and released when the contraction ends. The trigger is pressure-sensitive and can help to track the contractions' intensity level simultaneously.

An external medical device includes monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a cardiac condition of a patient using the external medical device; and a controller configured to: receive at least one of patient input and non-patient user input of a patient's ability; determine a patient interaction mode of the external medical device based on the at least one of the patient input and the non-patient user input; and adapt the patient interaction mode of the external medical device over time based on the at least one of the patient input and the non-patient user input.

Sensor data are obtained for an activity performed by a user. The sensor data include data from one or more sensors in one or more grips gripped by the user's left hand and the user's right hand during the activity. The sensor data are analyzed to identify a difference in performance of the activity between the left side of the user's body and the right side of the user's body. Feedback is provided to the user to compensate for the difference.

A pain-monitoring device and method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a pain-monitoring device for obtaining information related to a pain of a user and providing a service of monitoring the pain of the user, includes: an input unit sensing pain-related input of the user; a display unit outputting pain-related information; and a control unit controlling the input unit and the display unit, in which the input unit includes: a touch input unit sensing touch input of the user; and a pressure measurement unit measuring pressure input of the user, and the control unit creates user-input pain information in accordance with the sensed pressure input and touch input.

A handgrip device has a palm rest operable to engage with a palm of a user, a grip bar moveably coupled with the palm rest and operable to engage with one or more fingers of a user. One or more force transducers can be disposed between the palm rest and the grip bar to measure a compression rate and the return rate of the grip bar relative to the palm rest, and a data connection operable to communicate the compression rate and the return rate.