Hand control device for controlling a peripheral system

A hand control device for controlling a peripheral system, or a component thereof, the hand control device comprising:

• a handle configured to be grasped by a user, the handle comprising a body portion to be supported against a palm of the user;
• a finger control supported by the handle and comprising first and second rotatable joints to facilitate control based on flexion/extension of an index finger of the user;
• a finger actuator supported by the handle and positioned adjacent the rotatable joint of the finger control, the finger actuator operable to provide force reflection for the finger control, and configured to be operable with the joint of the finger control;
• a thumb control supported by the handle and comprising first and second rotatable joints to facilitate control based on flexion/extension and abduction/adduction of a thumb of the user, the thumb control comprising a third rotatable joint that, along with the first rotatable joint, facilitates control based on flexion/extension of a thumb of the user;
• a first thumb actuator and a second thumb actuator operable to provide force reflection for the thumb control, wherein the first thumb actuator is configured to be operable with and located proximate the first rotatable joint and the second thumb actuator is configured to be operable with and located proximate the second rotatable joint;
• and
• a force sensor operatively associated with the finger control and the thumb control, and configured to provide force data for force reflection of the finger control and the thumb control.

A method for operating a hand control device, comprising:

• grasping a handle of a hand control device and supporting the handle against a palm of a user;
• engaging, with an index finger of the user, a finger control supported by an extension member of the hand control device, the finger control being operable to control a peripheral system based on flexion/extension of the index finger, the finger control comprising first and second rotatable joints configured to facilitate control based on flexion/extension of the index finger;
• engaging, with a thumb of the user, a thumb control supported by the handle of the hand control device, the thumb control being operable to control the peripheral system based on flexion/extension and abduction/adduction of the thumb, the thumb control comprising first and second rotatable joints configured to facilitate control based on flexion/extension of the thumb;
• and
• moving at least one of the index finger and the thumb to control the peripheral system, the hand control device comprising a finger actuator supported by the handle and positioned adjacent a rotatable joint of the finger control and that is operable with the rotatable joint to provide force reflection for finger control.