title: Development of a parametric kinematic model of the human hand and a novel robotic exoskeleton.
abstract: This paper reports the integration of a kinematic model of the human hand during cylindrical grasping, with specific focus on the accurate mapping of thumb movement during grasping motions, and a novel, multi-degree-of-freedom assistive exoskeleton mechanism based on this model. The model includes thumb maximum hyper-extension for grasping large objects (~> 50 mm). The exoskeleton includes a novel four-bar mechanism designed to reproduce natural thumb opposition and a novel synchro-motion pulley mechanism for coordinated finger motion. A computer aided design environment is used to allow the exoskeleton to be rapidly customized to the hand dimensions of a specific patient. Trials comparing the kinematic model to observed data of hand movement show the model to be capable of mapping thumb and finger joint flexion angles during grasping motions. Simulations show the exoskeleton to be capable of reproducing the complex motion of the thumb to oppose the fingers during cylindrical and pinch grip motions.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QD. thomas.m.burton@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: T M W
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaidyanathan
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Turton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melhuish
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013933:Thumb / Q000502:physiology