Soft-packaged sensory glove system for human-like natural interaction and control of prosthetic hands

People with hand amputations experience strenuous daily life challenges, often leading to lifelong use of a prosthetic hand(s) and services. Modern advanced prosthetic hands must be able to provide human hand-like sensory perceptions to receive external stimuli during daily activities while simultaneously replicating a realistic appearance and physical properties to naturally integrate in social contexts; however, the practical realization of these issues are impeded by a lack of effective methodologies. Herein, we present an optimal set of materials, design layouts, and fabrication schemes to construct an easy-to-wear seamless electronic glove (e-glove) suitable for arbitrary hand shapes that provides all of the desired human hand-like features. The system configuration involves a connection to a control wristwatch unit for real-time display of sensory data measured and remote transmission to the user. The experimental and computational studies provide details regarding the underlying principles of the materials selection, mechanics design, and operational management of the entire system. The demonstration of the e-glove system in interactions with human subjects illustrates the utility, comfort, and convenience of this device. A stretchy glove loaded with sensors can be slipped over any prosthetic hand to help amputees regain sensory perceptions. Devices meant to replace hands have complex movements, which make them challenging to integrate with wearable electronic sensors. Min Ku Kim from Purdue University in West Lafayette, USA and colleagues have overcome this problem by combining pressure, temperature, hydration, and electrophysiological sensors into nitrile gloves similar to those worn in laboratories. The ‘e-glove’ is fabricated by printing components such as silver ink-based thermal resistors onto the glove and then coating the device with a soft, skin-like silicone polymer. Signals received from the e-glove are displayed on a wristwatch display. The team demonstrated sensing of everyday items, including damp diapers, while simultaneously keeping tabs on a user’s heartrate and muscle exertion. Amputees with prosthetic hands face challenges accomplishing ordinary tasks in daily life. An optimal set of materials, design layouts, and assembly schemes is presented for the construction of stretchable sensor circuits on an easy-to-wear rubber glove, allowing for the seamless integration with arbitrary prosthetic hands. A wristwatch unit provides the ability for both real-time display and post-analysis of the measured signals, enabling efficient interactions with the users. A precisely engineered soft packaging layer offers realistic human hand-like appearance, physical attributes, and warmth, thereby promoting its potential applications in more natural integration of prosthetic hand users into many social settings.