FFLS: An accurate linear device for measuring synergistic finger contractions

After decades of theoretical study in physiology and neurology communities, the paradigm of muscle synergies is now being explored in rehabilitation robotics as a strategy to control mechanical artifacts with many degrees-of-freedom (DoF) in a simple yet effective and human-like way. In particular, muscle synergies during grasping and in graded-force tasks are of great interest for the control of dexterous hand prostheses. To this end, we have designed and tested a novel device to accurately and simultaneously measure fingertip forces. The device, called FFLS (Finger-Force Linear Sensor), measures the forces applied by the human fingertips in both directions (flexion and extension of index, middle, ring and little finger plus thumb rotation and abduction/adduction). It is suited for several different hand sizes, enforces high accuracy in the measurement and its signal is guaranteed to be linear in a high range of forces (100N in both directions for each finger). It outputs six analog voltages (±10V), suited for processing with a DAQ card.