An EMG-controlled system combining FES and a soft exoskeleton glove for hand rehabilitation of stroke patients

Marion Annette Marie Grosperrin, Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting, Erika G. Spaich

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we present the development of a hybrid system which supports an active rehabilitation of the closing and the opening of the hand. The particularity of this system is to combine a soft exoskeleton glove, the SEM Glove™, and functional electrical stimulations (FES) to perform both types of hand movements. The created system is also a suggestion of improvement for the SEM Glove™ that is already commercialized by the BIOSERVO company and usable for hand closing rehabilitation only. In our study, a FES system was associated to this glove in order to provide the missing hand opening rehabilitation. To engage the patient in his rehabilitation, our system is electromyogram (EMG)-controlled and is activated according to the patient movement intentions. EMG signals of the muscles involved in the extension and flexion of the fingers were recorded and then processed in order to detect muscle activations. The control of the different elements of the system was then executed based on the results of this detection.
The preliminary results demonstrated that the designed hybrid system shows good performances in detecting correctly the intention of a healthy user. Some improvements could still be made in the signal processing to increase the sensitivity of detection, but we proved that the hybrid system is already operational to assist the hand movements of a healthy user.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 13th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation
Number of pages4
PublisherMedical University of Vienna, Vienna Medical School, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
Publication dateSept 2019
Pages11-14
ISBN (Print)978-3-900828-13-1
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2019
EventVienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation - Wien, Austria
Duration: 23 Sept 201925 Sept 2019
Conference number: 13

Conference

ConferenceVienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation
Number13
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityWien
Period23/09/201925/09/2019

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