A Physician’s E-Glove for Physical Exams
June 27, 2017 | Terry Sharrer
Many things in a physical exam are based on the physician’s subjective judgements. Muscle stiffness is one of those things, even though there is a flexibility rating according to the Modified Ashworth Scale. But to make this take more objective and accurate, engineers at the University of California at San Diego have built a diagnostic glove with 300 pressure sensors in its palm to give specific readings. Presumably, the stiffness of the physician’s arm or hand doesn’t figure in this. But besides this being a useful device for doctors, it also suggests that, for a muscle stiffness evaluation at least, a physician isn’t even needed. A robot could do the same task. MORE
Image Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications