Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles

Stroke survivors can be affected by motor deficits in the hand. Robotic equipment associated with brain–machine interfaces (BMI) may aid the motor rehabilitation of these patients. BMIs involving orthotic control by motor imagery practices have been successful in restoring stroke patients' move...

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Main Authors: Rommel S. Araujo, Camille R. Silva, Severino P. N. Netto, Edgard Morya, Fabricio L. Brasil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.661569/full
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spelling doaj-96086e7ff28043709c71f152c80739772021-06-25T04:47:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2021-06-011510.3389/fnins.2021.661569661569Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on TextilesRommel S. Araujo0Camille R. Silva1Severino P. N. Netto2Edgard Morya3Fabricio L. Brasil4Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, BrazilFederal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande Do Norte, Ceara-Mirim Campus, Ceará-Mirim, BrazilEdmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, BrazilEdmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, BrazilEdmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, Macaíba, BrazilStroke survivors can be affected by motor deficits in the hand. Robotic equipment associated with brain–machine interfaces (BMI) may aid the motor rehabilitation of these patients. BMIs involving orthotic control by motor imagery practices have been successful in restoring stroke patients' movements. However, there is still little acceptance of the robotic devices available, either by patients and clinicians, mainly because of the high costs involved. Motivated by this context, this work aims to design and construct the Hand Exoskeleton for Rehabilitation Objectives (HERO) to recover extension and flexion movements of the fingers. A three-dimensional (3D) printing technique in association with textiles was used to produce a lightweight and wearable device. 3D-printed actuators have also been designed to reduce equipment costs. The actuator transforms the torque of DC motors into linear force transmitted by Bowden cables to move the fingers passively. The exoskeleton was controlled by neuroelectric signal—electroencephalography (EEG). Concept tests were performed to evaluate control performance. A healthy volunteer was submitted to a training session with the exoskeleton, according to the Graz-BCI protocol. Ergonomy was evaluated with a two-dimensional (2D) tracking software and correlation analysis. HERO can be compared to ordinary clothing. The weight over the hand was around 102 g. The participant was able to control the exoskeleton with a classification accuracy of 91.5%. HERO project resulted in a lightweight, simple, portable, ergonomic, and low-cost device. Its use is not restricted to a clinical setting. Thus, users will be able to execute motor training with the HERO at hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and at home, increasing the rehabilitation intervention time. This may support motor rehabilitation and improve stroke survivors life quality.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.661569/fullhand exoskeleton3D printingtextilessoft roboticspost-strokerehabilitation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Rommel S. Araujo
Camille R. Silva
Severino P. N. Netto
Edgard Morya
Fabricio L. Brasil
spellingShingle Rommel S. Araujo
Camille R. Silva
Severino P. N. Netto
Edgard Morya
Fabricio L. Brasil
Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
Frontiers in Neuroscience
hand exoskeleton
3D printing
textiles
soft robotics
post-stroke
rehabilitation
author_facet Rommel S. Araujo
Camille R. Silva
Severino P. N. Netto
Edgard Morya
Fabricio L. Brasil
author_sort Rommel S. Araujo
title Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
title_short Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
title_full Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
title_fullStr Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Low-Cost EEG-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton 3D Printed on Textiles
title_sort development of a low-cost eeg-controlled hand exoskeleton 3d printed on textiles
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Neuroscience
issn 1662-453X
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Stroke survivors can be affected by motor deficits in the hand. Robotic equipment associated with brain–machine interfaces (BMI) may aid the motor rehabilitation of these patients. BMIs involving orthotic control by motor imagery practices have been successful in restoring stroke patients' movements. However, there is still little acceptance of the robotic devices available, either by patients and clinicians, mainly because of the high costs involved. Motivated by this context, this work aims to design and construct the Hand Exoskeleton for Rehabilitation Objectives (HERO) to recover extension and flexion movements of the fingers. A three-dimensional (3D) printing technique in association with textiles was used to produce a lightweight and wearable device. 3D-printed actuators have also been designed to reduce equipment costs. The actuator transforms the torque of DC motors into linear force transmitted by Bowden cables to move the fingers passively. The exoskeleton was controlled by neuroelectric signal—electroencephalography (EEG). Concept tests were performed to evaluate control performance. A healthy volunteer was submitted to a training session with the exoskeleton, according to the Graz-BCI protocol. Ergonomy was evaluated with a two-dimensional (2D) tracking software and correlation analysis. HERO can be compared to ordinary clothing. The weight over the hand was around 102 g. The participant was able to control the exoskeleton with a classification accuracy of 91.5%. HERO project resulted in a lightweight, simple, portable, ergonomic, and low-cost device. Its use is not restricted to a clinical setting. Thus, users will be able to execute motor training with the HERO at hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and at home, increasing the rehabilitation intervention time. This may support motor rehabilitation and improve stroke survivors life quality.
topic hand exoskeleton
3D printing
textiles
soft robotics
post-stroke
rehabilitation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.661569/full
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