This European device is located inside the US Destiny laboratory.

General description

• The Handgrip Dynamometer (HGD) is a stowable handheld device capable of measuring instantaneous hand strength as a function of time. The principle components of the HGD are a handgrip, instrumentation amplifier and associated cables. Dynamic voltage representing instantaneous hand strength is taken from the output of the instrumentation amplifier and sent to a laptop computer or to a data acquisition system for data manipulation, display, correlation with other data sources, and/or storage

• The Pinch Force Dynamometer (PFD) is a stowable handheld device capable of measuring instantaneous strength of the thumb and opposing finger or groupings of fingers as a function of time. The principle components of the PFD are a pinch force transducer, instrumentation amplifier and associated cables. Dynamic voltage representing instantaneous finger(s) pinch strength as a function of time is taken from the output of the instrumentation amplifier and sent to a laptop computer or to a data acquisition system for data manipulation, display, correlation with other data sources, and/or storage.

Functional requirements

The Handgrip Dynamometer is capable of:

• Providing a hand-held device for measurement of isometric force and sustained static exercise stimulation;
• Accommodating the 5th percentile Asian female to the 95th percentile American male - the distance between the parallel beams is adjustable and handgrips widths and lengths are adequate for this population;
• Providing comfortable hand grips;
• Providing an analog output signal with a bandwidth of 0-20 Hz;
• Providing a means to check the calibration.

The Pinch Force Dynamometer is capable of:

• Providing a hand-held device for measurement of isometric force and sustained static exercise stimulation of the thumb and opposing finger(s) and groupings of fingers on each hand (not including opposing hand activity);
• Providing an analog output signal with a bandwidth of 0-20 Hz; Provide two parallel surfaces joined by the equivalent of a strain gauge such that when the thumb and opposing fingers of one hand pinch the device, the force of the pinch is determined;
• Accommodating the 5th percentile Asian female to the 95th percentile American male - the surface widths and lengths are adequate for this population;
• Assessing fatigue over serial contractions;
• Providing a means to check the calibration;
• Providing comfortable thumb and finger contacts;
• Operating by means of a bonded strain gauge bending beam system.

Technical specifications

The Handgrip Dynamometer provides:

• Operation by means of bonded strain gauge bending beam system;
• A range of force measurement from 40 to 1000 Newton;
• An accuracy of 0.75% of the full range;
• 0 to 5 VDC output from the instrumentation amplifier with 2 mV resolution;
• Provisions for time synchronization with other data collection systems, such as Ambulatory Data;
• Acquisition System (EMG) or video system.

Mass: 1000 g
Length: 240 mm
Width: 34 mm
Height: 100 mm

The Pinch Force Dynamometer provides:

• Operation by means of bonded strain gauge bending beam system;
• A range of force measurement is from 0 to 270 Newton;
• An accuracy of 0.75% of the full range;
• 0 to 5 VDC output from the instrumentation amplifier with 2 mV resolution;
• Provisions for time synchronization within 1 msec

Mass: 600 g
Length: 180 mm
Width: 70 mm
Height: 55 mm Total System Mass: 3300 g Standby Power: 5 W Open Power: 5 W Peak Power: 5 W