Design and manufacture of an electro-mechanical hand position tracker

Abstract

This thesis discusses the conceptual design, manufacture, and assembly of a device that tracks the movements and position of a user's hand. This device will be used for stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation using robotic aids, monitoring their use of their unimpaired hand, particular when performing bimanual tasks. This device uses a system of linkages and potentiometers to track the angles of the wrist, as well as the MCP and CMC joints of the index finger and the thumb. This allows a simple model of the hand to be constructed on the computer in x, y, and z dimensions. In addition, a base was designed and built to locate the absolute position of the hand in three dimensions. The potentiometers are then connected to a computer where the movements can be viewed.