A new hand function assessment method using an infrared imaging device.

Many post-stroke patients suffer various degrees of hand function and fine motor skills impairment. Both passive and active hand rehabilitation training are beneficial in improving strength and dexterity of hands. However, hand rehabilitation programs should be prescribed, based on an accurate assessment of hand function. Here we propose a novel method for hand function assessment that can accurately measure multiple joint angles of a hand simultaneously using a portable infrared imaging device. Different from the traditional assessment methods that are often based on clinicians' subjective observation and ordinal charts, this method provides an accurate, fast and objective evaluation using infrared imaging sensors. This novel hand function assessment method can be used to replace the currently popularly used traditional method for fine hand function modeling and assessment in rehabilitation medicine and can play an important role in precision post-stroke function analysis.