Hand orthosis design for the rehabilitation of people with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

This project is based on the design and development of a hand orthosis controlled by wireless communication through a mobile application, developed in MIT AppInventor, and a web interface, designed in HTML and CSS; using a NODEMCU ESP8266 V3 development board as a microcontroller in order to obtain the benefit of Wi-Fi communication without ruling out the use of Bluetooth technology. This medical device is focused on the rehabilitation of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, or some other pathology that directly affects mobility in the joints of the hands. Similarly, the device has an electromyography module, designed from scratch, in order to monitor the patient's muscle activity and, in the future, achieve control of the orthosis through the possible actions issued by the user or patient. On the other hand, a "Local Network" was implemented with the aim of migrating or embodying the project within a rehabilitation center and having its own communication network, isolated from the outside. Thus, the rehabilitation doctor or physical therapist will be the only person who can control the device when the patient comes to the clinic for therapy or progress review.