The Development of Wrist Rehabilitation Assistive Devices Using a Shape Memory Alloy

Abstract

For the purpose of wrist rehabilitation, a new type of SMA (Shape memory alloy) wrist rehabilitation device is developed. The palm will be actuated/lifted by the SMA’s driving force when the shape memory alloy is heated up. Four wires of the shape memory alloy (SMA-Ti50Ni45Cu5 with 1.0mm in ψ) are bundled and passed through a fixed plastic block. The whole set of the SMA wrist rehabilitation devices can give support to the palm’s bending mechanism. A 500(g) adult palm is presented in the experimental work. In order to actuate/lift the palm at a sufficient rehabilitation angle, an electrical circuit of 10(A) is adopted. Consequently, the issue, here, is to present a new type of SMA wrist splint that is used to provide a specified rehabilitation angle for the wrist.