Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG)
An Instrumented Fragile Object for Assessing and Rehabilitating Hand Function.
Request InformationThe Clinical Need
"Globally one in four people over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime." – World Stroke Association
With over 12.2 million new stroke cases annually and a survival rate of two-thirds, stroke-related disabilities are rapidly becoming a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide.
Of those that survive their stroke, upwards of 80% will experience losses in motor function in the hand and arm on one side of the body. This is often further compounded by decreased ability to feel sensation in the hand.
Due to these combined motor and tactile sensory deficits, stroke patients often struggle to regulate their grip force and are prone to dropping or crushing everyday fragile objects. However, current assessment and rehabilitation devices often struggle to directly measure and rehabilitate the hand's ability to precisely regulate applied grip force.
Our Solution: The EGG
To address this gap, we developed the Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG), a handheld electronic device that mimics a fragile object and automatically generates quantitative performance metrics for fine sensorimotor hand function.
These automated performance metrics allow patients to perform at-home self-guided rehabilitation and enable therapists to assess patient progress quickly and accurately in clinic.
Additionally, by providing objective fine sensorimotor data, we help patients track their progress, improving motivation and increasing compliance with at-home exercise.
How It Works
The EGG evaluates hand function through a simple transfer task. As a user transfers the EGG over a short vertical barrier, the EGG captures and streams data on applied grip force, vertical load force (lifting force), and relative object position over Bluetooth to an app on secondary computing device (e.g., cell phone, tablet, laptop).
This simple yet comprehensive assessment provides clinicians and researchers with objective data on fine motor control, grip strength regulation, and sensorimotor integration - critical aspects of hand function that are often difficult to measure with traditional assessment tools.
Device Features & Operating Modes
Three Distinct Operating Modes
Non-Fragile Mode: Any grip force may be used during transfers, emphasizing gross motor function as no grip force control is explicitly required.
Fragile Mode: The EGG simulates a fragile object. If the applied grip force exceeds a set break threshold, a "break" sound is played. This mode emphasizes fine sensorimotor hand function and grip force control as participants must balance quickly transferring the EGG while avoiding exceeding the break threshold.
Fragile-Feedback Mode: Fragile transfers are given assistive audiovisual feedback indicating the amount of grip force applied in relation to the break threshold. LEDs on top of the device gradually turn on and change color from green to yellow to red, while a sound increases in frequency proportionally to applied grip force. This mode helps assist and coach users as they practice regulating their grip force.
Additional Features
Adjustable Weight
Contains a swappable weight container allowing the device's weight to be varied between 166 and 320 grams.
Programmable Difficulty
The break threshold used is fully programmable, allowing users to adjust the difficulty of fragile transfers.
Comprehensive Metrics
Tracks number of transfers completed, success rate, average transfer duration, and average peak grip force.
Companion App Features
The EGG has an accompanying app that displays real-time data from the EGG's sensors and automatically calculates performance metrics to assess hand function.
History Tab: Shows performance metrics for each individual transfer performed (e.g., transfer duration, peak grip force, etc).
Summary Tab: Provides aggregate performance metrics for an entire session (e.g., average transfer duration, average peak grip force, total number of transfers completed, etc).
Charts Tab: Used to toggle the live sensor data displayed. Real-time grip force is displayed in blue while previously completed grasps are displayed in red.
Settings Tab: Used to configure the EGG's various operating modes, which influences how the EGG is transferred.
Control & Data Management
A control bar at the bottom of the app screen allows users to clear transfer data, start a recording, tare the EGG's force sensors, and view past results (allowing performance to be tracked over time).
Saved recording results can be viewed within the app or imported and opened within other programs such as Excel and MATLAB for further analysis.
See the EGG in Action
Watch the video below to learn more about how the EGG works and its potential to revolutionize hand function rehabilitation.
Scientific Evidence
Automated Quantifiable Assessments of Sensorimotor Function Using an Instrumented Fragile Object
IEEE Int. Conf. Rehabil. Robot. Proc., vol. 2023, pp. 1–6, Sep. 2023
View PublicationDisentangling Sensory and Motor Deficits of Fine Hand Function Using an Electronic Grip Gauge (EGG) to Simulate Transferring Fragile Objects
Myoelectric Controls and Upper Limb Prosthetics Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, Aug. 2022
View PublicationAvailability & Collaboration
The EGG is currently undergoing active development and clinical investigation. The device is available for purchase by researchers, clinicians, and patients. We also welcome opportunities for collaboration.
For purchasing inquiries or to discuss a potential collaboration/partnership, please contact us directly.