A61H1/0288

Finger motion assist apparatus

An apparatus for assisting a finger motion, including a palm support installed to surround a part of a hand-back and a wrist; an extension assist unit secured at a first side thereof to a middle phalanx region of a finger and connected at a second side thereof to the palm support to assist extension of the finger through an elastic force between both ends; and a flexion assist unit comprising a distal phalange support mounted on an end of the finger, and a first flexion wire and a second flexion wire mounted on a part of the finger and assisting flexion of the finger on the basis of tensile force supplied from an outside.

MOTION ASSISTING APPARATUS
20200345574 · 2020-11-05 ·

A motion assisting apparatus comprises a multijoint structure having links in series rotatably connected in a relative manner, the links being integrally deformed in a bendable manner, a linear member inserted through each of the links, wherein one end is fixed to the link in front and another end is elongated via the link in rear, a sliding/holding part which fixes an elongated portion of the linear member, and slidably guides the rear link in a connecting direction between each of the links, a drive unit which drives the rear link to slide toward the sliding/holding part and causes the multijoint structure, through which the linear member has been inserted, to engage in an extending or flexing motion, and a control unit which drive-controls the drive unit so that a sliding direction, a sliding speed and a sliding position of the rear link will become an intended state.

HAND EXOSKELETON DEVICE
20200345575 · 2020-11-05 ·

The invention relates to a hand exoskeleton device having a modular nature. The device is designed to be wearable, portable and light in weight, and comprises from one to ten modules each having an actuating mechanism such as a linear actuator coupled with an artificial tendon having a flexible cable or shaft encased into a sheath and an elastic, stretchable portion on its distal end. The exoskeleton allows controlling flexion-extension of the fingers, while keeping natural somatosensorial interactions with the environment surrounding the users. The device is useful to e.g. assist and restore hand functions of users with motor disabilities both during activities of daily living and in neurorehabilitative scenarios, as well in other scenarios such as virtual reality.

ASSISTIVE DEVICE FOR PATIENTS WITH SOMATOSENSATION DEFICIENCY

A soft wearable medical device may comprise a force actuation system at least partially disposed in a glove assembly. The force actuation system may be a passive or active actuation system. The force actuation system may be configured to adjust a grip of a patient during use of the soft wearable medical device. The soft wearable medical device may further comprise a force indication system including a plurality of force sensors and a light array, each force sensor disposed in a finger of the glove assembly and the light array mounted to the glove assembly.

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM MEASUREMENT METHOD, PROGRAM, AND NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM

An electroencephalogram measurement system includes an acquisition unit, a decision unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires electroencephalogram information representing an electroencephalogram obtained by an electrode unit placed on a region of interest that forms part of a subject's head. The decision unit makes a decision, based on the electroencephalogram information acquired by the acquisition unit, whether or not there are any artifacts. The output unit outputs the decision made by the decision unit.

SELF-TENSIONING AND RELEASABLE GRIPPING GLOVES
20200329794 · 2020-10-22 ·

A releasable gripping glove is provided having one or more flexible artificial tendons extending through a finger section of a glove body. The flexible artificial tendon is configured to maintain a structurally articulated configuration when the finger section is articulated. Each tendon includes locking teeth that engages with a releasable locking tab extending form a locking mechanism configured to engage the locking teeth when the finger section is articulated. A release mechanism is provided to engage and disengage the locking mechanism. A thumb release rod is positioned within a thumb portion and connected to the release mechanism. The articulating of the finger section releasably locks the flexible artificial tendon in the articulated position, which is releasable through relaxing of the thumb portion.

FLEXOR HINGE ORTHOSIS AND WRIST-DRIVEN FLEXOR HINGE ORTHOSIS
20200330254 · 2020-10-22 ·

A flexor hinge orthosis comprises a forearm frame; a first frame connected to the forearm frame to be rotatable about a first rotation axis that extends in a lateral direction; a second frame configured to be fixed to a palmar of a user and connected to the second frame to be rotatable about a second rotation axis that extends in an upward-and-downward direction; a thumb frame; an operating lever; an actuating lever; an actuating rod; and a finger frame.

WEARABLE HAND ROBOT

The inventive concept relates to a wearable hand robot mounted on a finger to bend the finger by an external force transmitted through a wire. The wearable hand robot is capable of preventing an injury to a user's hand by the wire, achieving simplification of the structure of a finger cap and an improvement in a wearing sensation, and stably moving the finger while having a tactile sensation

GRIP STRENTHENING SUPPORT DEVICE
20200315271 · 2020-10-08 ·

A grip strengthening device having a finger portion for enhancing the grip by means of at least one artificial tendon arranged along at least one finger portion, wherein the finger portion comprises material along both sides and a tip, and possible along a dorsal side, the at least one artificial tendon is attached along both sides so that the artificial tendon may move, wherein the artificial tendon runs closer to a ventral side than the dorsal side of the finger portion, at least at positions corresponding to joints of a wearer's finger, the finger portion will transfer a force to provide a movement of the finger when the artificial tendon is retracted, wherein the artificial tendon runs in a detour towards or to a position in the middle between the dorsal and ventral side or closer to the dorsal side at a proximal portion of the finger portion.

Multi-segment reinforced actuators and applications

A multi-segment reinforced actuator includes (a) a soft actuator body that defines a chamber and (b) a plurality of distinct reinforcement structures on or in respective segments of the soft actuator body. First and second reinforcement structures are respectively configured to produce a first and second actuation motions, respectively, in first and second segments of the soft actuator body when fluid flows into or out of the chamber. The actuation motions are selected bending, extending, expansion, contraction, twisting, and combinations thereof; and the first actuation motion differs from the second actuation motion. The actuator can be used, e.g., to facilitate bending of the thumb with corresponding bending, extending, expansion, contraction, and twisting actuation motions.