Control of proportional grasping using a myokinemetric signal

Issue title: Advances in the Control of Prosthetic Arms

Guest editors: Peter Kyberd, Paul Chappell and David Gow

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Heath, Glyn H.^{; *}

Affiliations: Directorate of Prosthetics and Orthotics, University of Salford, Salford, UK

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. G.H. Heath, B.Sc. Ph.D. S.R. Prosth/Orth., Directorate of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Brian Blatchford Building, University of Salford, Statham Street, Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 161 295 2279; Fax: +44 161 295 2302; E-mail: g.h.heath@salford.ac.uk.

Abstract: A myokinemetric transducer has been developed whose output changes with the change in cross-sectional area of the finger flexor muscles associated with the collective movement of the anatomical fingers, about their metacarpo-phalangeal joints. This transducer, in association with a specially developed control program, can synchronise the grasp angle of a prosthetic hand with the anatomical hand during several grasping cycles. Experimental results from this study imply that the accuracy of replication of the anatomical grasp angle by the prosthetic prehensor is sufficient to consider using a similar method for proportional control of artificial prehension.

Keywords: prosthesis, grasping, hand, myokinemetric control

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2003-15203

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 73-83, 2003