Published date: 9/12/2025
Value Proposition: Wireless device that offers a range of motion biofeedback to patients undergoing hand therapy.
Technology Description
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a device designed to provide continuous, real-time kinematic biofeedback during exercise interventions, specifically targeting hand and wrist joints. Current conventional methods for measuring joint kinematics typically allow only static measurements performed by specially trained therapists, thereby limiting the possibilities for continuous biofeedback.
This device utilizes a magnet, and a wireless magnetometer placed around the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger or the wrist, along with a softly interfaced wireless system designed to absolutely and continuously capture the position of target joints, specifically in the hand and wrist. Intended primarily to serve as an aid to traditional hand physiotherapy in the supervised and unsupervised settings, this device provides patients with quantitative biofeedback, which significantly enhances rehabilitation outcomes.
Stage of Research
Human trials in healthy volunteers have shown the device’s accuracy, reliability, and compatibility with simulated hand therapy. Physical experiments have demonstrated its clinical acceptability and effectiveness, with further studies required to evaluate its impact on patient experiences and clinical outcomes.
Publications
- Shin, HS…, Pet, M. Soft, skin-interfaced wireless electrogoniometry systems for continuous monitoring of finger and wrist joints. Nat Commun 16, 4426 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59619-z
Applications
- Hand/wrist rehabilitation
Key Advantages
- Softly interfaced, wearable, and wireless
- Provides continuous, real-time kinematic measurements
- Utilizes a computer vision-based calibration protocol for precise angle measurement
- Offers detailed motion data, including angular velocity and acceleration, which can serve as useful biomarkers for rehabilitation progress
- Portable and easy to use, requiring only a standard smart device
Patents
Patent application filed
Related Web Links – Mitchell Pet Profile
