From: Soft robotic devices for hand rehabilitation and assistance: a narrative review
Feedback Modality | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|---|
Bend Sensors – Digits | Sensors are placed on all finger joints and a joint pattern analysis can detect a user’s specific intended hand motion | Is able to differentiate specific hand motions and does not require electrode placement by the patient | Cannot be used in patients with complete hand paralysis |
Pressure Sensors - Digits | |||
Bend Sensors – Wrist | A bend sensor is placed on the wrist as wrist motion is likely still a familiar motion in patients with hand impairment | Simple to implement and can reliably detect wrist motion. Does not require electrode placement by the patient | May not be able to distinguish specific hand motions and requires wrist motion to be intact |
EEG | An EEG pattern analysis was obtained on healthy patients in order to be able to identify similar patterns in patients with hand paralysis | Can be implemented in a patient with complete paralysis because acquires signal for intent at the beginning of motor pathway | Requires many electrodes to be placed on the head and may be the least reliable means of detection of user intent of those presented |
sEMG | Electrodes are placed on major muscles of the forearm to detect myoelectric activity in order to gauge user intent | Reliably detects forearm activity and is able to differentiate some specific hand motions | Requires some residual level of muscle activity |
Voice activated | Voice commands can operate the device | Unambiguously controls the device | Not a part of neuromuscular pathway so effects on neuroplasticity are less clear |