Exploratory design of a compliant mechanism for a dynamic hand orthosis

Exploratory design of a compliant mechanism for a dynamic hand orthosis: Lessons learned

Bos, R.A. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)
Plettenburg, D.H. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)
Herder, J.L. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design)

Amirabdollahian, F. (editor)
Burdet, E. (editor)
Masio, L. (editor)

2017

This study does not describe a success-story. Instead, it describes an exploratory process and the lessons learned while designing a compliant mechanism for a dynamic hand orthosis. Tools from engineering optimization and rapid prototyping techniques were used, with the goal to design a mechanism to compensate for hypertonic or contracted finger muscles. Results show that the mechanism did not reach its design constraints, mostly because it could not provide for the necessary stiffness and compliance at the same time. Hence, the presented approach is more suited for design problems with either lower forces or less displacement. It was concluded that physiological stiffness models are an important part when modeling hand orthoses. Moreover, further research on compliant mechanisms in dynamic hand orthoses should focus on the feasibility of implementing more complex three-dimensional shapes, i.e., compliant shell mechanisms.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5bc58412-d7b8-4974-955d-0c857330c1de

https://doi.org/10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009314

IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, USA

978-1-5386-2296-4

Proceedings of the 2017 International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR)

2017 IEEE 15th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR 2017), 2017-07-17 → 2017-07-20, London, United Kingdom

Accepted Author Manuscript

Institutional Repository

conference paper

© 2017 R.A. Bos, D.H. Plettenburg, J.L. Herder