Design of a cable-driven finger exoskeleton

Motion assistance is a growing need that is linked to the aging of the population, and solutions are required with adequate structures and functionality. Specific attention is paid to finger exoskeletons both for motion exercises and for rehabilitation therapies. The paper presents a new finger exoskeleton structure that is designed with a parallel cable-driven structure with adequate functionality for autonomous use by users. The main advantages can be appreciated in the operational efficiency in assisting finger motion and lightness of the design that also permits easy wearing with the proposed solution installed on a fabric glove. The exoskeleton is designed with a functional characterization through performance analysis thanks to a laboratory prototype that is built for experimental validation tests. The presented prototype appears to be easy to wear and operate with wide possibilities of implementation for motion exercises in rehabilitation and for elderly people.