PARAMETRIC STUDY OF A HAND EXOSKELETON WITH A SOFT-RIGID MECHANISM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54554/jmet.2026.18.01.002Keywords:
Stroke, Rehabilitation, Hand Exoskeleton, Soft-rigid MechanismAbstract
Stroke, a common cause of neurological deficits, frequently results in hand function impairment due to spasticity, necessitating rehabilitation intervention. Technology-based hand exoskeletons offer a potential solution for independent rehabilitation. This study aims to investigate crucial design parameters of a hand exoskeleton with a soft-rigid mechanism to optimize its performance, particularly in achieving a functional and safe range of motion for finger joints. A parametric study was conducted by evaluating a total of 12 design variations, differentiated by variations in segment thickness, shear gap height, and push plate material (Stainless Steel and Polycarbonate). The primary performance criteria were the ability to produce adequate bending angles at the Metacarpophalangeal (MCPJ), Proximal Interphalangeal (PIPJ), and Distal Interphalangeal (DIPJ) joints, without exceeding the material's allowable stress limit. The results indicated that two design variations (Design 10 and Design 12) exhibited optimal performance under safe stress conditions. Design 10 achieved bending angles of 142.64º (MCPJ), 140.53º (PIPJ), and 148.68º (DIPJ), while Design 12 reached angles of 141.75º (MCPJ), 148.43º (PIPJ), and 145.59º (DIPJ). This study successfully identified promising design parameter configurations for the development of effective and safe soft-rigid hand exoskeletons for post-stroke rehabilitation applications.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
JMET Copyright Principles
JMET seeks to retain copyright of the articles it publishes, without the authors giving up their right to use their own material.
Originality
The manuscript is neither been published before, nor is it under consideration for publication in any other journals. It contains no matter that is scandalous, obscene, libelous or otherwise contrary to law.
Terms of Acceptance
When the article is accepted for publication, the authors shall hereby agree to transfer to the Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, all rights, including those pertaining to electronic forms and transmissions, under existing copyright laws, except for the following, which the author(s) specifically retain(s):
All proprietary right other than copyright, such as patent rights.
- The right to make further copies of all or part of the published article for my/our use in classroom teaching.
- The right to reuse all or part of this material in a compilation of my/our own works or in a textbook of which I/we am/are the author(s).
- The right to make copies of the published work for internal distribution within the institution that employs me/us.
The authors agree that copies made under these circumstances will continue to carry the copyright notice that appeared in the original published work. The authors agree to inform any co-authors, if any, of the above terms. The authors certify that they have obtained written permission for the use of text, tables, and/or illustrations from any copyrighted source(s), and they agree to supply such written permission(s) to Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology upon request.
