Hand exoskeleton device
AssigneeEcole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl)
InventorsLuca RANDAZZO, José DEL R. MILLÁN
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Abstract
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.
Claims13
A modular, orthosis-free hand exoskeleton device, said device comprising at least one module, each of said modules comprising:
- a bi-directional actuating mechanism;
- a flexible cable having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated shaft therebetween, said proximal end being operatively connectable to the bi-directional actuating mechanism, and said distal end comprising means for fixation to a finger of a user;
- a flexible sheath encasing the cable;
- and
- means for fixation proximate to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of a user
- wherein said distal end:
- (1) spans from the MCP joint fixation means up to the distal tip of the cable and
- (2) comprises a stretchable, elastic element along its length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.