Abstract: The robotic gripping assist (“RGA”) provides a user with additional grip strength by supporting and forcefully pushing a user's fingers and hand to a gripping position. Motors are supported on a user's forearm and act as a source for the forced movement. A flexible member is worn on the back of a user's hand. The motors individually draw in or let out wires that cause the flexible member to move from a gripping to non-gripping position, and may pivot the flexible member laterally to provide for ulnar and radial wrist flexion. By bending the flexible member downward, through reeling in wires below the member, the attached fingers of the user are forced into a gripping position. Lateral movement is provided by reeling in the wires on the side of the intended bending direction.

Abstract: The robotic gripping assist (“RGA”) provides a user with additional grip strength by supporting and forcefully pushing a user's fingers and hand to a gripping position. A motor, controller, and power source are supported on a user's forearm and act as a source for the forced movement. A bending member is worn on the back of a user's hand. The motor draws in or lets out wires that cause the bending member to bend or straighten. By bending the bending member, through rotating the motor in a first direction, the attached fingers of the user are forced into a gripping position. The fingers are moved to a non-gripping position by rotating the motor in the opposite direction.