Development and assessment of a hand assist device: GRIPIT

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2017 · DOI: 10.1186/s12984-017-0223-4 · Published: February 28, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Biomedical

Simple Explanation

The GRIPIT hand assist device is designed to help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) perform a tripod grasp, which is commonly used for writing and grasping small objects. It aims to be lightweight and compact, overcoming limitations of existing devices. GRIPIT consists of a glove, a wire, and a tension-maintenance structure. The wire applies force to the thumb, index, and middle fingers to form the tripod grasp, while the tension-maintenance structure keeps the grasp stable. The device's writing performance was assessed by comparing it to a conventional penholder. The evaluation included qualitative aspects like writing sensation and legibility, and quantitative aspects like writing accuracy and grasp solidity.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Four people with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
GRIPIT offers advantages in writing sensation, fatigability, and legibility due to its stable grasp force during writing. It is, however, more complicated to wear and use than a conventional device.
2
GRIPIT enables users to write accurately without pen shakes, even with high force applied. The quantitative evaluation showed its effectiveness in maintaining a solid grasp.
3
The tension-maintenance structure of GRIPIT provides appropriate grasp force and moment balance. This is especially beneficial for individuals with disabilities who need to move their entire arm to write.

Research Summary

The study introduces GRIPIT, a hand assist device designed to aid people with spinal cord injuries in performing a tripod grasp, which is essential for tasks like writing. GRIPIT uses a glove-based system with a wire and tension-maintenance structure to provide stable grasp assistance. Qualitative assessments revealed that GRIPIT enhances writing sensation, reduces fatigability, and improves legibility compared to conventional penholders. However, it was noted to be more complex to wear and use. Quantitative evaluations demonstrated that GRIPIT improves writing accuracy and solidity, allowing users to write without pen shakes even when applying significant force. This makes it a potentially valuable tool for individuals with hand paralysis.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Writing Ability

GRIPIT can significantly improve the writing ability of individuals with spinal cord injuries, allowing them to perform tasks like writing and grasping small objects more effectively.

Increased Independence

By providing a stable grasp and reducing fatigue, GRIPIT can help individuals with hand paralysis regain some independence in daily activities.

Potential for Further Development

The GRIPIT design can be further developed to assist with other grasp postures and hand functions, potentially expanding its applicability to a wider range of tasks and disabilities.

Study Limitations

1
The tension-maintenance winder requires several steps to prepare the grasp, making the using process complicated.
2
The sample size of the study is limited, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
3
The device will be improved using motor or other tension-maintenance mechanism for the future works.

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