GRIP FORCE TRANSDUCER AND GRIP FORCE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090025475A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John W. Mcchesney, Louis E. Murdock, Mark Debeliso
• Original Assignee: John W. Mcchesney, Louis E. Murdock, Mark Debeliso
• Inventors: McChesney, John W., Murdock, Louis E., DeBeliso, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/379.20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface

Abstract

A grip force assessment device, method and system that can provide a grip force map image presenting a detailed image of the complex grip capability/capacity of a human hand including the palm and all digits improving over existing assessment systems and their attendant inaccuracy, poor reliability, and lack of meaningful clinical relevance. The grip force assessment system includes a grip force transducer including a high-resolution tactile array that produces a high-resolution grip force signal. A processing device processes, analyzes and outputs grip force data. A display provides a grip force map image showing distribution of individual finger function relative to entire hand function. The grip force transducer includes a high-resolution tactile sensor wherein the greatest distance between adjacent pressure sensing nodes is in the range of 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claims

1. A grip force assessment system for assessing a grip force of a hand, the grip assessment system comprising:

a grip force transducer including a high-resolution tactile array, the grip force transducer adapted to produce a high-resolution grip force signal;

a processing device adapted to process grip force data; and

an output device adapted to display grip force data representative of contact force distribution of individual finger function relative to entire hand function.

2. The grip force assessment system of claim 1 further comprising a signal conditioning module, the grip force transducer adapted to input the high-resolution grip force signal to the signal conditioning module, the signal conditioning module adapted produce grip force data for input to the processing device.

3. The grip force assessment system of claim 1 wherein the high-resolution tactile array further comprises a plurality of nodes having a distance no greater than 10.0 mm between adjacent pressure sensing nodes.

4. The grip force assessment system of claim 1 wherein the high-resolution tactile array further comprises a plurality of nodes having a distance in the range of 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm between adjacent pressure sensing nodes.

5. The grip force assessment system of claim 2 wherein the signal processing module further comprises an analog to digital converter.

6. The grip force assessment system of claim 2 wherein the signal processing module further comprises an amplifier.

7. The grip force assessment system of claim 1 wherein the processing device further comprises analysis and graphics software adapted to produce a grip force map image.

8. A grip force transducer comprising:

a transducer body;

a high-resolution tactile array disposed about an outer surface of the transducer body; and

a gripping surface disposed about the high-resolution tactile array and the transducer body, the grip force transducer adapted to produce a high-resolution grip force signal.

9. The grip force transducer of claim 8 wherein the transducer body further comprises a bounded three dimensional geometric solid defining an outer surface.

10. The grip force transducer of claim 8 wherein the high-resolution tactile array further comprises a plurality of nodes having a distance no greater than 10.0 mm between adjacent pressure sensing nodes.

11. The grip force transducer of claim 8 wherein the high-resolution tactile array further comprises a plurality of nodes having a distance in the range of 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm between adjacent pressure sensing nodes.

20. The method for grip force assessment of claim 11 also including the step of storing grip force data.

12. A method for grip force assessment employing a grip force assessment system having including the steps of:

exerting a gripping force on a grip force transducer including a high-resolution tactile array generating a high-resolution grip force signal;

inputting the high-resolution grip force signal to the signal conditioning module;

conditioning the high-resolution grip force signal producing grip force data;

inputting grip force data to a processor; and

processing the grip force data; and

outputting grip force data representative of individual finger function relative to entire hand function.

13. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of conditioning the high-resolution grip force signal includes an additional step selected from the list of steps including amplification of the high-resolution grip force signal, modulation of the high-resolution grip force signal, multiplexing of the high-resolution grip force signal and digitizing the high-resolution grip force signal.

14. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of processing the grip force data includes performing a numerical analysis of the grip force data.

15. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of processing the grip force data includes performing a statistical analysis of the grip force data.

16. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of processing the grip force data includes generating a grip force map image representative of contact force distribution of individual finger function relative to entire hand function.

17. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of displaying the grip force data includes:

generating a grip force map image representative of contact force distribution of individual finger function relative to entire hand function; and

manipulating the grip force map image.

18. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 wherein the step of processing the grip force data includes generating a real time grip force map image representative of contact force distribution of individual finger function relative to entire hand function.

19. The method for grip force assessment of claim 12 also including the step of printing a grip force map image.