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An instrumented glove for monitoring hand function
Published in American Institute of Physics Inc.
2018
PMID: 30399736
Volume: 89
   
Issue: 10
Abstract
The measurement of hand kinematics is important for the assessment and rehabilitation of the paralysed hand. The traditional method of hand function assessment uses a mechanical or electronic goniometer placed across the joint of interest to measure the range of joint movement. Mechanical goniometers are imprecise and lack the ability to provide a dynamic measurement; electronic goniometers are expensive and cumbersome to use during therapy. An alternative to the goniometric based assessment is to use inertial motion sensors to monitor the hand movement - these can be incorporated in a glove. In this paper, we present the design of an instrumented glove equipped with Magnetic, Angular Rate and Gravity (MARG) sensors for the objective evaluation of hand function. The instrumented glove presented in this paper is designed to assess the range of movement of the hand and also monitor the hand function during the course of hand rehabilitation. Static and dynamic calibrations were performed for the Euler angles calculated from the MARG sensors. The results are also presented for physiological flexion/extension of the wrist (relative roll), flexion/extension of elbow (relative pitch), and internal rotation/external rotation (relative yaw). The static calibration results gave mean absolute errors of 4.1° for roll, 4.0° for pitch, and 4.6° for yaw. From the dynamic calibration, the speed of response to a step change gave a convergence time of 0.4 s; sinusoidally oscillating movement gave good tracking at 0.2 Hz but exhibits overshoot errors at higher frequencies which were tested to be 1 Hz. We present the results of the calibration of the instrumented glove (one sensor pair measuring one joint angle) measuring anatomical joint angles - mean absolute errors during static calibration: 6.3° for a relative roll (wrist flexion/extension), 5.0° for relative pitch (elbow flexion/extension), and 4.5° for relative yaw (shoulder internal rotation/external rotation). The experimental results from the instrumented glove are promising, and it can be used as an alternative to the traditional goniometer based hand function assessments. © 2018 Author(s).
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetReview of Scientific Instruments
PublisherData powered by TypesetAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISSN00346748
Open AccessNo
Concepts (33)
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    Calibration
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    Errors
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    GONIOMETERS
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    Dynamic calibration
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    Dynamic measurement
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    ELBOW FLEXION/EXTENSION
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    HAND REHABILITATION
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    MAGNETIC , ANGULAR RATE AND GRAVITY SENSORS
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    Mean absolute error
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    Objective evaluation
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    RANGE OF JOINT MOVEMENT
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    Rotation
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    Accelerometry
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    Biomechanics
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    Devices
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    Electronic device
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    HAND
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    Human
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    JOINT CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS
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    Magnetism
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    Movement (physiology)
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    Pathophysiology
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    PHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING
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    Physiology
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    Tremor
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    Biomechanical phenomena
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    HAND
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    Humans
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    Magnetic phenomena
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    MONITORING, PHYSIOLOGIC
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    Movement
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    RANGE OF MOTION, ARTICULAR
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    WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES