This paper presents the kinematic modeling of the human forearm rotation constructed with a spatial four-bar linkage. Especially, a circumduction of the distal ulna is modeled for a minimal displacement of the position of the hand during the forearm rotation from the supination to the pronation. To establish its model, four joint types of the four-bar linkage are, firstly, assigned with the reasonable grounds, and then the spatial linkage having the URUU (Universal-Revolute-Universal-Universal) joint type is proposed. Kinematic analysis is conducted to show the behavior of the distal radio-ulna as well as to evaluate the angular displacements of all the joints. From the simulation result, it is, finally, revealed that the URUU spatial linkage can be substituted for the URUR (Universal-Revolute-Universal-Revolute) spatial linkage by a kinematic constraint.

This paper suggests novel types of joint mechanisms composed of elastic strings and rigid bodies. All of the human hinge joints have the articular capsule and a pair of collateral ligaments. These fibrous tissues make the joint compliant and stable. The proposed mechanism closely imitates the human hinge joint structure by using the concept of tensegrity. The resultant mechanism has several characteristics shown commonly from both the tensegrity structure and the human joint such as compliance, stability, lightweight, and non-contact between rigid bodies. In addition, the role and feature of the human hinge joints vary according to the origins of a pair of collateral ligaments. Likewise, the locations of two strings corresponding to a pair of collateral ligaments produce different function and motion of the proposed mechanism. It would be one of the advantages obtained from the proposed mechanism. How to make a joint mechanism with different features is also suggested in this paper.

This paper presents an anthropomorphic finger prosthesis for amputees whose proximal phalanx is mutilated. The finger prosthesis to be proposed is able to make the amputees to perform the natural motion such as flexion/extension as well as self-adaptive grasping motion as if normal human finger does. The mechanism of finger prosthesis with three degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) consists of two five-bar and one four-bar linkages. Two passive components composed of torsional spring and mechanical stopper and only one active joint are employed in order to realize an underactuation. Each passive component is installed into the five-bar linkage. In order to activate the finger prosthesis, it is required for the user to flex and extend the remaining proximal phalanx on the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, not an electric motor. Thus the finger prosthesis conducts not only the natural motion according to his/her intention but also the grasping motion through the deformation of springs by the object for human finger-like behavior. In order to reveal the operation principle of the proposed mechanism, kinematic analysis is performed for the linkage design. Finally both simulations and experiments are conducted in order to reveal the design feasibility of the proposed finger mechanism.

This paper proposes a wearable and motorized crutch control system for the patients using the conventional crutches. The conventional crutches have a few disadvantages such as the inconvenience caused by the direct contact between the ground and the armpit of the patients, and unstable gait patterns. In order to resolve these problems, the motorized crutch is designed as a wearable type on an injured lower limb. In other words, the crutch makes the lower limb to be moved forward while supporting the body weight, protecting the lower limb with frames, and rotating a roller equipped on the bottom of the frames. Also the crutch is controlled using the electromyography and two force sensing resistor (FSR) sensors. The electromyography is used to extract the walking intention from the patient and the FSR sensors to classify the stance and swing phases while walking. As a result, the developed crutch makes the patients walk enabling both hands to be free, as if normal people do.