Estimating subject-specific parameters for modeling hand joints

Abstract

In both biomedical and graphics applications, quantifying skeletal motion requires a kinematic model describing the joint location and axis directions. In this talk, we present techniques we have recently developed for determining parameters of three types of anatomic joints. In particular, it is important but difficult to obtain high-quality parameter estimates for the joints of the human hand. Due to the small scale of hand segments, mis-location of joint centers by even 1 cm leads to unacceptable errors in the joint angle measurement. In addition, the axis directions of hand joints are not aligned with standard anatomical planes [1], and each individual has subject-specific axis directions. The errors in axis location and direction from standard estimation techniques result in noticeable differences in reconstructed hand shape and the grasp contact points of the fingers.