image: The FESGlove system integrates a multi-channel stimulator, a human-machine interface, and a wearable glove with embedded silver fiber and hydrogel electrodes. Functional electrical stimulation is delivered to specific hand muscles and nerves to achieve high selectivity, low finger coupling, and precise independent movement of the target finger.
Credit: Zeyu Cai / University of Bath
In a study published in Neuroelectronics, researchers from the University of Bath and Shanghai Jiao Tong University developed a novel glove-based system that uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) to selectively activate individual fingers. The system may offer a more effective solution for hand rehabilitation in patients with neurological impairments such as stroke or spinal cord injury.
Millions of people worldwide experience loss of hand function due to stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neurological conditions. Conventional rehabilitation systems often fail to restore fine motor control, especially individual finger movement critical for tasks like buttoning a shirt or typing.
To address this challenge, a research team has developed a glove-shaped FES device—called FESGlove—that delivers targeted electrical stimulation to the hand’s muscles and nerves. Unlike existing systems that stimulate large forearm muscles and often trigger unwanted finger movements, FESGlove achieves higher selectivity by directly stimulating intrinsic hand muscles.
The glove includes 10 independent stimulation channels and uses silver fiber and hydrogel electrodes embedded in a stretchable glove for comfort and stability. Users can adjust parameters such as frequency, current amplitude, and pulse width to suit individual needs.
In tests with eight healthy volunteers, the glove successfully induced controlled flexion and extension in individual fingers while minimizing motion in adjacent fingers. “We were able to trigger single-finger motion with high accuracy, which is very promising for rehabilitation tasks that demand fine motor control,” said lead author Zeyu Cai.
Participants also reported that the glove was comfortable to wear and caused minimal discomfort during stimulation. The system’s adaptability and precision suggest strong potential for clinical rehabilitation and assistive applications.
The team envisions the FESGlove as a versatile platform for future neurorehabilitation, assistive devices, and even integration with brain-computer interfaces. “Our next step is to test the glove in stroke and spinal cord injury patients, and explore closed-loop control with real-time feedback,” added senior author Prof. Dingguo Zhang.
This paper was published in Neuroelectronics. Cai Z, Zhang W, Xie L, Zhang D. FESGlove: a glove of functional electrical stimulation with good selectivity for finger motion control. Neuroelectronics. 2025(1):0000. https://doi.org/10.55092/neuroelectronics20250005
DOI: 10.55092/neuroelectronics20250005
Journal
Neuroelectronics
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
FESGlove: a glove of functional electrical stimulation with good selectivity for finger motion control
Article Publication Date
2-Jun-2025