Grasp analysis apparatus

A grasp analysis apparatus by which the power of the grasp in the human hand can be measured;

• said apparatus includes a palm engaging part by which the apparatus is engaged by one's palm, and, a finger engaging part which the fingers can engage and move towards the palm engaging part;
• shaft means connecting said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part together to enable the palm engaging part and finger engaging part to be forced toward one another in proportion to the force exerted thereon between the fingers and the palm;
• adjustment means by which the effective length of said shaft means is selected to thereby select the location that the finger engaging part contacts the fingers, which in turn determines the group of muscles that provide the force of grasp jointly exerted between the fingers and palm of the hand;
• transducer means responsive to movement between said palm engaging part and finger engaging part for generating a signal which is proportional to the magnitude of the force exerted thereon, and means converting said signal into a measurement indicative of the magnitude of the force.

Apparatus of a size to be grasped in the hand for use in evaluating the force of grasp one can exert with a hand and to thereby determine when less than the maximum force is actually being exerted;

• said apparatus comprising a palm engaging part, a finger engaging part spaced from said palm engaging part, shaft means extending between said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part;
• adjustment means for changing the effective length of said shaft means;
• a transducer for changing the force of grasp into data;
• said shaft means engages said transducer with an applied force that is proportional to the force of grasp exerted on said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part;
• said adjustment means enable the force of grasp jointly exerted between the fingers and palm of the hand to be applied at different locations along the fingers when the space between said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part is changed;
• means comparing the measured force of grasp at said different locations to determine the configuration of a curve plotted from said measured force;
• whereby, data related to a bell shaped curve is provided with a high degree of confidence while data related to a curve other than a bell shaped curve is provided with a low degree of confidence which is considered a false representation of ones effort.

Apparatus by which the force of grasp one exerts with a hand is measured to determine when less than the maximum force is actually being exerted, comprising:

• a palm engaging part, a finger engaging part spaced from said palm engaging part, shaft means extending between said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part and mounted to reciprocate respective to one of said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part;
• adjustment means for changing the effective length of said shaft means;
• a transducer mounted respective to the other of said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part;
• said shaft means engages said transducer with an applied force that is proportional to the force of grasp exerted on said finger engaging part and said palm engaging part;
• means including said transducer for measuring the force of grasp jointly exerted between the fingers and palm of the hand at a first location near the end of the fingers;
• means including said transducer for measuring the force of grasp jointly exerted between the fingers and palm of the hand at another location that is near the palm;
• and means including said transducer for measuring the force of grasp jointly exerted between the fingers and palm of the hand at a third location between said first and second location;
• means comparing the measured force of grasp at said first, second and third locations to determine the configuration of a curve plotted from said measured force;
• means constructing a curve and for comparing the resultant curve to a bell shaped curve which is considered a true representation of ones effort;
• while a curve other than a bell shaped curve is considered as a false representation of ones effort to grasp an object.