Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a device that measures hand force.

Conventionally, various devices that acquire information on the hand such as finger force have been proposed. A hand dynamometer is an example of such a device. Patent Document <NUM> proposes, in addition to the hand dynamometer, a device that measures multidirectional force applied by a hand to evaluate finger's dexterity and ability to manipulate an object.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT> The features of the preamble of claim <NUM> are known in combination form document <CIT> or form document <CIT>.

In a conventional device, it has been difficult to acquire detailed information on hand force, for example, which finger has weaker force than force of the other fingers.

One aspect of the present disclosure is desirably to propose a technique capable of acquiring detailed information on finger force.

According to such a configuration, since pressure can be acquired for each of the plurality of pressure sensors, more detailed information on finger force can be acquired, as compared to the case of measuring the overall gripping force of a hand. For example, the information on finger force can be acquired by bringing a thumb into contact with the first sensor and fingers other than the thumb into contact with the plurality of second sensors, respectively to apply force to sandwich the sensors.

Additionally, unlike the gripping force measurement device described above, in a gripping force measurement device that includes only a pair of pressure sensors pressurized by a thumb and other fingers, the following problems may arise. For example, a rotational moment may be generated in the gripping force measurement device depending on the positional relationship between a thumb and other fingers. As a result, not only that gripping force cannot be measured precisely, but also the gripping force measurement device itself may be difficult to grip. However, according to the gripping force measurement device of one aspect of the present disclosure described above, since two or more second sensors are provided, the device can be gripped with two or more fingers other than a thumb, and thus the problems described above is less likely to arise.

The "same direction" described herein for the two or more second sensors is not limited to the same direction in a strict sense, and is substantially the same direction in the range where the same effects as described above are achieved even with a small difference in the direction.

In the gripping force measurement device described above, the body portion is configured to change a holding position of the first sensor and the two or more second sensors.

According to such a configuration, force can be measured appropriately by changing positions of the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the pressure sensors according to a subject's hand.

Additionally, the gripping force measurement device described above may further include a guide portion provided in the body portion, and configured to come into contact with a finger of the subject to guide a position of the finger with respect to the pressure-sensitive surface of at least one of the two or more second sensors.

According to such a configuration, since the finger of the subject can be brought into contact with an appropriate position, force measurement can be performed appropriately.

Additionally, in the gripping force measurement device described above, the body portion includes a plurality of buttons for pressurizing the plurality of pressure sensors. Additionally, among the plurality of buttons, a button for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor, and a button for pressurizing at least one of the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the two or more second sensors may protrude outward from the body portion.

According to such a configuration, when finger force is applied to the pressure-sensitive surface, a finger is less likely to come into contact with the body portion. Accordingly, a risk that finger force is applied to the body portion or that the pressure-sensitive surface of the pressure sensor is pressurized in an improper direction can be reduced, and force measurement can be performed appropriately.

Additionally, in the gripping force measurement device described above, the body portion may be configured such that a distance between the first sensor and the two or more second sensors is changeable.

According to such a configuration, a position of a button for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surface of the pressure sensor can be changed according to the subject's hand, and force measurement can be performed appropriately.

<NUM>: Gripping force measurement device, <NUM>: Body portion, <NUM>: Pressure sensor, 21a: First sensor, 21b: Second sensor, <NUM>: Variable resistor, <NUM>: Electrode, <NUM>: First surface, 31a: Slit, <NUM>: Second surface, 32a: Slit, <NUM>: Button, 41a: Disc-shaped portion, 41b: Columnar portion, 41c: Contact portion, <NUM>: Power button, <NUM>: LED, <NUM>: Connection interface, <NUM>: Cable, <NUM>: Installation surface, <NUM>: Control and communication module, <NUM>: Acquisition unit, <NUM>: Communication unit, <NUM>: Power supply unit, <NUM>: Control unit, <NUM>: CPU, <NUM>: Memory, <NUM>: Battery, <NUM>: PC, <NUM>: Reception module, <NUM>: Display, <NUM>: Gripping force measurement device, <NUM>: Body portion, <NUM>: First housing, <NUM>: Second housing; <NUM>: Change mechanism, <NUM>: Female screw portion, <NUM>: Male screw portion, <NUM>: Guide portion, <NUM>: Body portion, <NUM>: Button, <NUM>: Body portion, <NUM>: Button, <NUM>: Button, <NUM>: Contact auxiliary portion, <NUM>: Pressure sensor, <NUM>: Housing.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gripping force measurement device <NUM> that measures gripping force of a subject in accordance with a first embodiment includes a body portion <NUM> and a plurality of pressure sensors held by the body portion <NUM>. The plurality of pressure sensors include a first sensor 21a that is one pressure sensor, and four second sensors 21b that are pressure sensors other than the first sensor. Note that, in a case where the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b are not differentiated, the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b may also be described as a pressure sensor <NUM>. Note that in the first embodiment, the first sensor 21a corresponds to a first finger, and the four second sensors 21b correspond to second to fifth fingers.

The body portion <NUM> is a housing of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The body portion <NUM> holds, in addition to a plurality of the pressure sensors <NUM> described above, a plurality of buttons <NUM>, a power button <NUM>, an LED <NUM>, a connection interface <NUM>, and the like at positions along an outer surface. Additionally, the body portion <NUM> holds a control and communication module <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and the like described below inside of the body portion <NUM>.

Since the first sensor 21a and the four second sensors 21b include the same configuration, a configuration of the first sensor 21a will be described and the description of the other sensors will be omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first sensor 21a includes a variable resistor <NUM> and a plurality of electrodes <NUM> disposed below the variable resistor <NUM>. The variable resistor <NUM> may be disc-shaped as viewed from the direction in which the button <NUM> is pressed (pressing direction). At least one of the plurality of electrodes <NUM> is used as a signal electrode, and at least another one of the plurality of electrodes <NUM> is used as a ground electrode. The variable resistor <NUM> is made from a conductive foam elastomer material having electrical conductivity imparted by dispersing conductive filler in an elastomer material and obtained by foaming the elastomer material. The variable resistor <NUM> is compressed according to pressure under pressurization, and as a compression amount of the variable resistor <NUM> increases, electric resistance of the variable resistor <NUM> decreases.

In the present embodiment, the variable resistor <NUM> is molded to have a thickness ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and have electric resistance of <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> Ω or greater in a state of non-pressurization. In a state of pressurization, the variable resistor <NUM> is compressed to have a thickness <NUM>% or less of the thickness obtained in a state of non-pressurization, and have electric resistance of <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of the electric resistance obtained in a state of non-pressurization.

A cable <NUM> is connected to the plurality of electrodes <NUM>. An electrical signal in response to electrical resistance is output to the control and communication module <NUM> via the cable <NUM>, and output to an external device (PC <NUM> described below).

One button <NUM> corresponding to the first sensor 21a is attached to one surface of the first sensor 21a. The button <NUM> for the first sensor 21a is a button for pressurizing a pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a. The "pressure-sensitive surface" described herein refers to a surface in which the first sensor 21a is capable of detecting pressurizing force when the surface is pressurized. In the first embodiment, the "pressure-sensitive surface" refers to a surface of the variable resistor <NUM> having a disc shape in which the button <NUM> is provided. In the following description, the direction in which the pressure-sensitive surface faces is the normal direction of the pressure-sensitive surface.

Additionally, the button for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surface is a button that serves as an auxiliary role for a subject to apply finger force to the pressure-sensitive surface. According to such a button, a contact surface that is a surface in which a finger applies force can be positioned away from the pressure-sensitive surface. Accordingly, a subject's erroneous operation of the gripping force measurement device <NUM> is suppressed and the operability of the gripping force measurement device <NUM> is improved.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the button <NUM> is constituted by assembling two upper and lower members. The button <NUM> includes a disc-shaped portion 41a, a columnar portion 41b, and a contact portion 41c. The disc-shaped portion 41a has a circular shape having a larger diameter than a diameter of the first sensor 21a. The columnar portion 41b is a prism-shaped member extending from the disc-shaped portion 41a on the opposite side to the first sensor 21a. The contact portion 41c is a substantially plate-like member provided in an extended end of the columnar portion 41b.

The contact portion 41c has generally a plate-like shape, but a surface on the side of the columnar portion 41b has a planar shape, and an opposite surface of the columnar portion 41b has a protruding shape. Additionally, the opposite surface has a rounded shape, and more specifically, has a cylindrical shape divided by a surface along the axial direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, and the like, the first sensor 21a is disposed near a first surface <NUM> of the body portion <NUM>. Additionally, the four second sensors 21b are disposed near a second surface <NUM> provided on the opposite side to the first surface <NUM> of the body portion <NUM>.

That is, the body portion <NUM> holds the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b such that the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the four second sensors 21b are oriented in opposite directions. In other words, (i) the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the four second sensors 21b are oriented in the same direction, and that direction is different from the direction in which the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a is oriented, and (ii) the directions in which the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the four second sensors 21b are oriented are the directions in which a subject pressurizes the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a, and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the four second sensors 21b such that the gripping force measurement device <NUM> is grippable by the subject. The "grippable" described herein means that the gripping force measurement device <NUM> can be lifted and maintained in place by pressurizing to sandwich the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b with fingers or the like as described above.

Note that in the above (i), the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the four second sensors 21b are oriented in the same direction, but these pressure-sensitive surfaces may not be oriented in completely the same direction. Specifically, in the case where the first sensor 21a is pressurized with a thumb, as long as the other four fingers can pressurize the second sensors 21b to grip the gripping force measurement device <NUM>, the direction of the pressure-sensitive surfaces can be adjusted as appropriate.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the pressure-sensitive surface of the pressure sensor <NUM> is planar, but may be curved. It is sufficient that in at least any region of each pressure-sensitive surface, the microscopic direction of the pressure-sensitive surface satisfies (i) and (ii) described above.

A slit 31a is provided in the first surface <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the columnar portion 41b of the button <NUM> is disposed within the slit 31a. Additionally, the disc-shaped portion 41a and the contact portion 41c are larger than the slit 31a. Thus, the button <NUM> is movable within the slit 31a in a first axial direction that is a length direction of the slit 31a.

A slit 32a is provided in the second surface <NUM>. The slit 32a and the slit 31a have the lengths in the same direction. The button <NUM> is movable within the slit 32a in the first axial direction.

The first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b are fixed to respective corresponding buttons <NUM>. Additionally, the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b are slidable in an installation surface <NUM> in which the first sensor 21a is installed. Thus, the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b move with movement of the buttons <NUM> within the slits 31a, 32a to change positions at which the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b are held by the body portion <NUM>.

For example, the second sensors 21b are freely movable as illustrated in <FIG>. Of course, the first sensor 21a is also freely movable within the slit 31a.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the button <NUM> for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and the buttons <NUM> for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the second sensors 21b are disposed at positions at which the buttons <NUM> protrude outward from the body portion <NUM>. Surfaces of the contact portion 41c of the button <NUM> on the side of the first surface <NUM> and the contact portion 41c of the button <NUM> on the side of the second surface <NUM> in the protruding direction (in other words, in a direction away from the body portion <NUM>) are located on an arc of the same ellipse. Additionally, the body portion <NUM> is located inside the ellipse.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the gripping force measurement device <NUM> includes, in addition to the pressure sensor <NUM>, the control and communication module <NUM> and the battery <NUM>.

The control and communication module <NUM> includes an acquisition unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a power supply unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> is an A/D converter circuit that converts an analog signal that is an output signal of the pressure sensor <NUM>, into a digital signal. The output signal of the pressure sensor <NUM> refers to a signal that changes in response to the electrical resistance value described above.

The communication unit <NUM> wirelessly communicates with a reception module <NUM> connected to a computer system (hereinafter, a PC <NUM>) external to the gripping force measurement device <NUM>. The PC <NUM> acquires a signal corresponding to the electrical resistance value from the reception module <NUM>, performs necessary processing, and causes a display <NUM> to display the processing result.

The power supply unit <NUM> is connected to the battery <NUM> that supplies power, and supplies power to each unit of the control and communication module <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> includes a microcomputer including a CPU <NUM> and a semiconductor memory (hereinafter, a memory <NUM>) such as a RAM, a ROM, and a flash memory. Various functions of the control unit <NUM> are realized by causing the CPU <NUM> to execute a program stored in a non-transient tangible recording medium. In this example, the memory <NUM> corresponds to the non-transient tangible recording medium that stores the program.

Next, measurement processing executed by the gripping force measurement device <NUM> will be described with reference to a flowchart in <FIG>. The processing starts, for example, when the power button <NUM> is operated.

First, at S1, the pressure sensor <NUM> senses pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive surface. An electrical signal corresponding to the pressure is output from the pressure sensor <NUM>.

At S2, the acquisition unit <NUM> acquires an analog signal from the pressure sensor <NUM>, converts the analog signal into a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal to the control unit <NUM> as digital data.

At S3, the control unit <NUM> stores the digital data transmitted from the acquisition unit <NUM> in a data recording buffer formed in the memory <NUM>, as data of the signal acquired from the pressure sensor <NUM>.

At S4, the control unit <NUM> requests the PC <NUM> to transmit data via the communication unit <NUM>.

At S5, the control unit <NUM> receives a response from the PC <NUM> to determine whether or not reception is ready. When reception is not ready, or no response is made, the processing returns to S4. When reception is ready, the processing proceeds to S6.

At S6, the control unit <NUM> divides the data stored at S3 by <NUM> bits.

At S7, the control unit <NUM> sequentially transmits the data divided at S6 to the PC <NUM> via the communication unit <NUM>. After S7, the measurement processing ends.

Note that, when the request to transmit data is received at S4, the PC <NUM> transmits a message indicating that the request can be received to the gripping force measurement device <NUM> when the request is receivable. Subsequently, the PC <NUM> receives the data transmitted at S7 and recombines the divided data. Then, the PC <NUM> calculates a pressure value based on the recombined data, and causes the display to display the calculation result.

The following effects are obtained according to the first embodiment described above.

A configuration of a second embodiment is fundamentally the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Thus, differences will be described mainly and description of configurations that are the same will be omitted. Note that reference numerals in the present embodiment that are the same as those in the first embodiment refer to the same constituents, and reference is made to the preceding description.

<FIG> and <FIG> each illustrates a gripping force measurement device <NUM> in accordance with the second embodiment.

A body portion <NUM> of the gripping force measurement device <NUM> in accordance with the second embodiment includes a first housing <NUM> that holds a first sensor 21a and a second housing <NUM> that holds second sensors 21b, and further includes a change mechanism <NUM> that changes the distance between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>.

The change mechanism <NUM> includes a female screw portion <NUM> provided in the first housing <NUM> and a male screw portion <NUM> provided on the second housing <NUM>.

The female screw portion <NUM> is a tubular member having a female screw formed inside, and is fixed to the first housing <NUM>. Additionally, the female screw portion <NUM> is disposed to include an opening at an end in a direction from the first housing <NUM> toward the second housing <NUM>. In the second embodiment, the direction from the first housing <NUM> toward the second housing <NUM> is referred to as a rearward direction.

The male screw portion <NUM> is provided on the second housing <NUM> such that the threaded tip is oriented in the opposite direction to the rear direction. Additionally, the male screw portion <NUM> is rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending in the front-back direction. Additionally, although not illustrated in the drawings, the male screw portion <NUM> is constituted to be relatively immovable with respect to the second housing <NUM> in the front-back direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, and the like, the second housing <NUM> may enter the inside of the first housing <NUM>. Additionally, the male screw portion <NUM> can be inserted into the female screw portion <NUM>. When the male screw portion <NUM> is rotated, the female screw portion <NUM> and the male screw portion <NUM> are screwed together. Accordingly, the positional relationship in the front-back direction between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM> is determined. Rotation of the male screw portion <NUM> changes the depth of insertion of the male screw portion <NUM> into the female screw portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the distance in the front-back direction between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM> changes.

As described above, the first housing <NUM> is provided with the first sensor 21a, and the second housing <NUM> is provided with the second sensors 21b. Thus, the body portion <NUM> can change the distance between a button <NUM> for pressurizing a pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and a buttons <NUM> for pressurizing pressure-sensitive surfaces of the second sensors 21b. Note that the distance is adjustable in the range of at least <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the second embodiment, the one first sensor 21a is provided in the first housing <NUM> and the two second sensors 21b are provided in the second housing <NUM>. However, the two second sensors 21b may be provided in the first housing <NUM>, and the one first sensor 21a may be provided in the second housing <NUM>.

In addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained according to the second embodiment.

That is, in the gripping force measurement device <NUM>, the distance between the button <NUM> for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and the buttons <NUM> for pressurizing the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the second sensors 21b can be changed according to a subject's hand. Thus, force measurement can be performed appropriately by the gripping force measurement device <NUM>.

Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure is given above. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and various forms may be made within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

(3A) In the first embodiment, the one first sensor 21a is disposed in the first surface <NUM> of the body portion <NUM> and the four second sensors 21b are disposed in the second surface <NUM>. However, the number of the pressure sensors <NUM> disposed is not limited to this. It is sufficient that at least one pressure sensor <NUM> is disposed in the first surface <NUM>, that is, two or more pressure sensors <NUM> may be provided. Additionally, it is sufficient that at least two pressure sensors <NUM> are disposed in the second surface <NUM>, and three or more pressure sensors <NUM> may be provided.

Additionally, in the second embodiment, the one first sensor 21a is provided in the first housing <NUM> and the two second sensors 21b are provided in the second housing <NUM>. However, two or more first sensors 21a may be provided in the first housing <NUM>, and three or more second sensors 21b may be provided in the second housing <NUM>.

(3B) In the first and second embodiments, the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor 21a and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the second sensors 21b are disposed to be oriented in directly opposite directions. However, as long as the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b are disposed to be sandwiched by fingers, the direction in which the pressure-sensitive surfaces are oriented may not be directly opposite directions, and the first sensor 21a and the second sensors 21b may be disposed to be oriented in the inclined direction.

Additionally, the directions in which the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the plurality of second sensors 21b are oriented may not be the same direction, and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the one or more second sensors 21b may be oriented in a direction different from directions in which the other second sensors 21b are oriented.

Note that, as in the first and second embodiments described above, the button <NUM> may protrude along the direction in which the pressure-sensitive surface is oriented, or may protrude obliquely from the direction in which the pressure-sensitive surface is oriented.

(3C) In the first and second embodiments, the positions of all of the buttons <NUM> and the pressure sensors <NUM> can be changed by sliding. However, positions of only some buttons <NUM> and some pressure sensors may be changeable, or a position of any of the buttons <NUM> may not be changeable. For example, only the first sensor 21a that can be used with a thumb and the corresponding button <NUM> may be slidable, or only the one or more second sensors 21b may be slidable.

(3D) The body portion may be provided with a guide portion that comes into contact with a subject's finger to guide a position of the finger of the subject with respect to the pressure-sensitive surface of at least one of the two or more second sensors 21b.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, a guide portion <NUM> having a plate-like shape can be provided along four buttons <NUM> corresponding to the second sensors 21b. Finger tips come into contact with the guide portion <NUM> to roughly determine positions of fingers. Thus, the finger tips can be guided to appropriate positions of the buttons <NUM>.

The shape of the guide portion is not limited to the shape illustrated in <FIG>, and may have various shapes that can guide the positions of fingers. In addition, it is not necessary to provide the guide portion <NUM> for all fingers, and the guide portion may be provided only for some fingers.

(3E) In the embodiments described above, the buttons <NUM> each having the contact portion 41c having a convex shape protrude from the body portion. However, the shapes and arrangement of the buttons <NUM> are not particularly limited.

For example, a tip of the button <NUM> may have a planar shape or may be a concave shape depressed at a central portion.

Additionally, as also illustrated <FIG>, tip surfaces of buttons <NUM> each having a planar shape may be flush with an outer surface of a body portion <NUM>. Additionally, as illustrated in <FIG>, tip surfaces of buttons <NUM> may be disposed further inward than an outer surface of a body portion <NUM>.

(3F) The shape of the body portion is not particularly limited as long as the body portion can hold a plurality of pressure sensors. For example, the body portion may have a cylindrical shape. Additionally, the shape of the body portion may be a shape obtained by appropriately combining a rod-shaped body, a tubular body, a block body, and the like.

(<NUM>) In the first and second embodiments described above, the pressure sensor is made from the conductive foam elastomer material and measures pressure based on the electrical resistance that changes by pressurization. However, the pressure sensor that can be used in the gripping force measurement device of the present disclosure may be a sensor other than the sensor described above. For example, a sensor using a comb type electrode may be employed as the pressure sensor. The sensor using a comb-type electrode is a sensor that senses pressure from a change in electrical resistance due to a change in the contact area with a film under pressurization. The sensor may be configured to detect pressure by a change in capacitance made under pressurization. Additionally, a load cell having a Wheatstone bridge circuit may also be used as the pressure sensor.

When a sensor having a small thickness such as the sensor using the comb-type electrode is used, a button <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> can be used. The button <NUM> includes a disc-shaped portion 161a, a columnar portion 161b, a contact portion 161c, and a contact auxiliary portion <NUM>. The disc-shaped portion 161a, the columnar portion 161b, and the contact portion 161c have the same shapes as the shapes of the disc-shaped portion 41a, the columnar portion 41b, and the contact portion 41c of the button <NUM> described above. The contact auxiliary portion <NUM> is a spherical rubber and is provided below the disc-shaped portion 161a.

When such a button <NUM> is used, a sensor periphery can be configured as illustrated in <FIG>. The button <NUM> is disposed such that the contact auxiliary portion <NUM> is located along a pressure-sensitive surface of a thin pressure sensor <NUM> using a comb-type electrode. When the button <NUM> is pressed against the pressure sensor <NUM>, a tip of the contact auxiliary portion <NUM> pressurizes the pressure sensor <NUM> and pressure is measured from a change in electric resistance of the comb-type electrode. Since force caused by pressurization concentrates on the tip of the contact auxiliary portion <NUM>, the pressure sensor <NUM> can suitably measure pressure.

In the example in <FIG>, a contact surface between the pressure sensor <NUM> and the contact auxiliary portion <NUM> is small, and the pressure sensor <NUM> cannot be fixed to the button <NUM>. Thus, a housing <NUM> is provided such that the button <NUM> is in an appropriate position.

Claim 1:
A gripping force measurement device (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a body portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a plurality of pressure sensors (<NUM>, <NUM>) held by the body portion, wherein
the plurality of pressure sensors includes a first sensor (21a) that is at least one pressure sensor, and two or more second sensors (21b) other than the first sensor, the two or more second sensors including pressure-sensitive surfaces oriented in the same direction, and
a pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the two or more second sensors are disposed such that, when a subject pressurizes the pressure-sensitive surface of the first sensor and the pressure-sensitive surfaces of the two or more second sensors, the gripping force measurement device is grippable by the subject;
and wherein the device is configured such that the positions at which the first sensor and the two or more second sensors are held by the body portion can be changed;
characterized in that:
the body portion includes a plurality of buttons (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for pressurizing the first sensor and the two or more second sensors, the first sensor and the two or more second sensors being fixed to respective corresponding buttons;
the body portion is provided with a slit (31a) and a slit (32a) respectively in a first surface (<NUM>) and a second surface (<NUM>) thereof; and
the plurality of buttons are moveable within the respective slits in a first axial direction that is a length direction of the respective slits.