Presenter
Vincent Lin
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Team: Vincent Lin, Amanda M. Toledo, Nathan R. Couture, Nicole Urban.
Abstract Nearly 390,000 people in the US suffer from limited to no mobility in the upper limb due to spinal cord injuries (SCIs) each year. Low cervical spinal cord injuries, from C5 to C8, can vastly affect grip strength. Individuals aged 16-30 are at higher risk due to the activity-related factors. Grip Assist is a wearable assistive technology developed to primarily support individuals who experience limited finger mobility or reduced grip strength. Grip Assist consists of a Myoware muscle sensor attached with EMGs. The sensors are enclosed within a Velcro arm wrap to protect circuitry from environmental exposure and to ensure skin contact of the sensors. Near the fifth digit is a U-shaped cuff made with PLA and a Velcro strap attached to the cuff. It offers a wide grip of 3-5 inches and was developed to support activities that require a stable grip around round objects. Grip Assist is developed to be able to assist the daily lives of individuals experiencing challenges due to the limited range of motion. Wide grip supports activities like picking up a water bottle, moving a pile of laundry, or grooming. Grip Assist is developed to be inexpensive and customizable, allowing adaptation to the specific functional abilities and users’ needs. Future work will extend Grip Assist to users with conditions such as diabetic neuropathy and arthritis that limit grip mobility.
Faculty Mentor
Nicole Urban, Ph.D.
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
Lin, Vincent and Toledo, Amanda, "Grip Assist" (2026). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 264.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/264
