Applications of a Fluidic Artificial Hand in the Field of Rehabilitation

Abstract

Since the early middle of last century, use of artificial robotic hands in the field of rehabilitation has been associated with prosthetic devices used for the therapy of upper limb deficiency. Artificial manipulators of the last century were used in general for industrial applications or for service tasks of telemanipulation. In the last three decades, service robotics developed very rapidly. In recent years, robotic systems which are able to complete service tasks in direct cooperation with humans became popular [Yuta at al., (2006)]. Modern robotic rehabilitation devices are intelligent systems used for movement assistance, physical support and indoor navigation, physical rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, and interactive entertainment [Bien, Stefanov (2004)]. Dextrous manipulation has become the subject of research for many scientists around the world and artificial hands are used in a wide area of applications [Venkataraman, Iberall (1990)]. Investigations of hand construction, artificial design, and manipulation abilities resulted in the development of different hand prototypes for service robotics, prosthetics, and rehabilitation [Muzumdar (2004); DeLaurentis et al., (2000); Pons et al., (1998); Pons et al., (2000); Lee et al., (2000); Light, Chappell, (2000); Weir