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A Novel Nonmechanical Finger Rehabilitation System Based on Magnetic Force Control

Journal of Magnetics, Volume 22, Number 1, 31 Mar 2017, Pages 155-161
In-Chul Baek (Department of Electronics Convergence Engineering, Wonkwang University), Min Su Kim (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine Wonkwang University), Sung Hoon Kim * (Department of Electronics Convergence Engineering, Wonkwang University)
Abstract
This paper presents a new nonmechanical rehabilitation system driven by magnetic force. Typically, finger rehabilitation mechanisms are complex mechanical systems. The proposed method allows wireless operation, a simple configuration, and easy installation on the hand for active actuation by magnetic force. The system consists of a driving coil, driving magnets (M1), and auxiliary magnets (M2 and M3), respectively, at the finger, palm, and the center of coil. The magnets and the driving coil produce three magnetic forces for an active motions of the finger. During active actuations, magnetic attractive forces between M1 and M2 or between M1 and M3 enhance the flexion/extension motions. The proposed system simply improves the extension motion of the finger using a magnetic system. In this system, the maximum force and angular variation of the extension motion were 0.438 N and 49°, respectively. We analyzed the magnetic interaction in the system and verified finger’s active actuation.
Keywords: magnetic force; finger rehabilitation; electromagnetic system; active finger actuation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4283/JMAG.2017.22.1.155
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