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Smart Skin: Vision-Based Soft Pressure Sensing System for In-Home Hand Rehabilitation.

ABSTRACT: We introduce a novel in-home hand rehabilitation system for monitoring hand motions and assessing grip forces of stroke patients. The overall system is composed of a sensing device and a computer vision system. The sensing device is a lightweight cylindrical object for easy grip and manipulation, which is covered by a passive sensing layer called "Smart Skin." The Smart Skin is fabricated using soft silicone elastomer, which contains embedded microchannels partially filled with colored fluid. When the Smart Skin is compressed by grip forces, the colored fluid rises and fills in the top surface display area. Then, the computer vision system captures the image of the display area through a red-green-blue camera, detects the length change of the liquid through image processing, and eventually maps the liquid length to the calibrated force for estimating the gripping force. The passive sensing mechanism of the proposed Smart Skin device works in conjunction with a single camera setup, making the system simple and easy to use, while also requiring minimum maintenance effort. Our system, on one hand, aims to support home-based rehabilitation therapy with minimal or no supervision by recording the training process and the force data, which can be automatically conveyed to physical therapists. In contrast, the therapists can also remotely instruct the patients with their training prescriptions through online videos. This study first describes the design, fabrication, and calibration of the Smart Skin, and the algorithm for image processing, and then presents experimental results from the integrated system. The Smart Skin prototype shows a relatively linear relationship between the applied force and the length change of the liquid in the range of 0-35 N. The computer vision system shows the estimation error <4% and a relatively high stability in estimation under different hand motions.

SUBMITTER: Han Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9232239 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundLoss of hand function following high level spinal cord injury (SCI) is perceived as a high priority area for rehabilitation. Following discharge, it is often impractical for the specialist care centre to provide ongoing therapy for people living with chronic SCI at home, which can lead to further deterioration of hand function and a direct impact on an individual's capability to perform essential activities of daily living (ADL).ObjectiveThis pilot study investigated the therapeutic effect of a self-administered home-based hand rehabilitation programme for people with cervical SCI using the soft extra muscle (SEM) Glove by Bioservo Technologies AB.MethodsFifteen participants with chronic cervical motor incomplete (AIS C and D) SCI were recruited and provided with the glove device to use at home to complete a set task and perform their usual ADL for a minimum of 4 h a day for 12 weeks. Assessment was made at Week 0 (Initial), 6, 12 and 18 (6-week follow-up). The primary outcome measure was the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute hand function test (TRI-HFT), with secondary outcome measures including pinch dynamometry and the modified Ashworth scale.ResultsThe TRI-HFT demonstrated improvement in hand function at Week 6 of the therapy including improvement in object manipulation (58.3 ±3.2 to 66.9 ±1.8, p ≈ 0.01), and palmar grasp assessed as the length of the wooden bar that can be held using a pronated palmar grip (29.1 ±6.0 cm to 45.8 ±6.8 cm, p <0.01). A significant improvement in pinch strength, with reduced thumb muscle hypertonia was also detected. Improvements in function were present during the Week 12 assessment and also during the follow-up.ConclusionsSelf-administered rehabilitation using the SEM Glove is effective for improving and retaining gross and fine hand motor function for people living with chronic spinal cord injury at home. Retention of improved hand function suggests that an intensive activity-based rehabilitation programme in specific individuals is sufficient to improve long-term neuromuscular activity. Future studies should characterise the neuromuscular mechanism of action and the minimal rehabilitation programme necessary with the assistive device to improve ADL tasks following chronic cervical SCI.Trial registration numberTrial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN98677526, Registered 01/June/2017 - Retrospectively registered, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN98677526.

Project description:BackgroundNew developments, based on the concept of wearable soft-robotic devices, make it possible to support impaired hand function during the performance of daily activities and intensive task-specific training. The wearable soft-robotic ironHand glove is such a system that supports grip strength during the performance of daily activities and hand training exercises at home.DesignThis pilot randomized controlled clinical study explored the effect of prolonged use of the assistive ironHand glove during daily activities at home, in comparison to its use as a trainings tool at home, on functional performance of the hand.MethodsIn total, 91 older adults with self-perceived decline of hand function participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to a 4-weeks intervention of either assistive or therapeutic ironHand use, or control group (received no additional exercise or treatment). All participants performed a maximal pinch grip test, Box and Blocks test (BBT), Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) at baseline and after 4-weeks of intervention. Only participants of the assistive and therapeutic group completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) after the intervention period.ResultsParticipants of the assistive and therapeutic group reported high scores on the SUS (mean = 73, SEM = 2). The therapeutic group showed improvements in unsupported handgrip strength (mean Δ = 3) and pinch strength (mean Δ = 0.5) after 4 weeks of ironHand use (p≤0.039). Scores on the BBT and JTHFT improved not only after 4 weeks of ironHand use (assistive and therapeutic), but also in the control group. Only handgrip strength improved more in the therapeutic group compared to the assistive and control group. No significant correlations were found between changes in performance and assistive or therapeutic ironHand use (p≥0.062).ConclusionThis study showed that support of the wearable soft-robotic ironHand system either as assistive device or as training tool may be a promising way to counter functional hand function decline associated with ageing.

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Smart Skin: Vision-Based Soft Pressure Sensing System for In-Home Hand Rehabilitation.

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