Impaired hand movement tracking device with real-time visual feedback

Abstract

This article describes the design and development of an electronic data glove to study hand movement of individuals with movement impairments due to brain injury. Customized stretch sensors were used to measure the five metacarpophalangeal joint angles. The main features of the device are cost-effective, lightweight, and high memory capacity. It records the bending angle of all 5 metacarpophalangeal joints and uses these data in real-time for visual feedback. In addition, the device provides users with real-time visual feedback of his or her movement. An SD card shield was used to save the collected data for further analysis and evaluation. Acquired data provide useful information about finger's range of motion and percentage of hand movement during the day.