A custom, functional and lifelike passive prosthetic hand for infants and small toddlers: Clinical note

Background and Aim: For infants and small toddlers with congenital upper limb deficiencies, terminal devices mainly provide either cosmesis or functionality. We report a clinical note about fitting a child with a low-cost passive hand targeting both functionality and cosmesis. Technique: An elastomeric, alloy-wire-reinforced hand was fabricated using additive manufacturing to allow independent positioning of the digits. A clinical pilot in-home evaluation was conducted on a child with upper limb loss. Discussion: The fabricated hand met the functional requirements but required a cover for cosmesis due to a poor surface finish associated with the fabrication technique. The participant child was comfortable using the prosthesis for various tasks. The parents were satisfied with the hand’s function and cosmesis when covered with a cosmetic glove. This work demonstrated a new design and process that may in the future improve the utilization of prosthetic hands to promote early prosthesis use and a child’s development. Clinical relevance Early prosthesis use is important for infants and toddlers. Additive manufacturing may enable the fabrication of custom passive prosthetic hands that provide both cosmesis and functionality.

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A survey on what Australians with upper limb difference want in a prosthesis: justification for using soft robotics and additive manufacturing for customized prosthetic hands

Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology ◽

10.1080/17483107.2019.1580777 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 342-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Benjamin Stephens-Fripp ◽

Mary Jean Walker ◽

Eliza Goddard ◽

Gursel Alici

Keyword(s):

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Soft Robotics ◽

Prosthetic Hands

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Sensory system integration of the designed mechatronics Touch Hand

Sensor Review ◽

10.1108/sr-09-2015-0154 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 158-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Drew van der Riet ◽

Riaan Stopforth ◽

Glen Bright ◽

Olaf Diegel

Keyword(s):

Haptic Feedback ◽

Low Cost ◽

Pressure Sensors ◽

Sensory System ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

Prototype System ◽

Lower Income ◽

Content Type ◽

Prosthetic Hands ◽

Lower Income Countries

Purpose This paper aims to explore the electronic design of the Touch Hand: a low-cost electrically powered prosthetic hand. The hand is equipped with an array of sensors allowing for position control and haptic sensation. Pressure sensors are used on the fingertips to detect grip force. A temperature sensor placed in the fingertip is used to measure the contact temperature of objects. Investigations are made into the use of cantilever vibration sensors to detect surface texture and object slippage. The hand is capable of performing a lateral grip of 3.7 N, a power grip of 19.5 N and to passively hold a weight of up to 8 kg with a hook grip. The hand is also tested on an amputee and used to perform basic tasks. The amputee took 30 min to learn how to operate the hands basic gripping functions. Design/methodology/approach Problems of previous prosthetic hands were investigated, followed by ways to improve or have similar capabilities, yet keeping in mind to reduce the price. The hand was then designed, simulated, developed and then tested. The hand was then displayed to public and tested with an amputee. Findings The Touch Hand’s capabilities with the usage of the low-cost materials, components and sensory system was obtained in the tests that were conducted. The results are shown in this paper to identify the appropriateness of the sensors for a usage while the costs are reduced. Furthermore, models were developed from the results obtained to take into account factors such as the non-slip material. Research limitations/implications The research was restricted to a US$1,000 budget to allow the availability of a low-cost prosthetic hand. Practical implications The Touch Hand had to have the ability to supply the amputee with haptic feedback while allowing the basic grasping of objects. The commercial value is the availability of an affordable prosthetic hand that can be used by amputees in Africa and other Lower-Income countries, yet allowing a more advanced control system compared to the pure mechanical systems currently available. Social implications The Touch Hand has the ability to give amputees affected in war situations the ability to grasp objects in a more affordable manner compared to the current available options. Feedback from amputees about the current features of the Touch Hand was very positive and it proves to be a way to improve society in Lower-Income countries in the near future. A sponsorship program is being developed to assist amputees with the costs of the Touch Hand. Originality/value The contributions of this research is a low-cost prototype system than can be commercialized to allow amputees in the Lower-Income countries to have the ability of a prosthetic hand. A sensory system in the hand is also explained which other low-cost prosthetic hands do not have, which includes temperature, force and vibration. Models of the sensors used that are developed and calibrated to the design of the hand are also described.

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Modeling and Analysis of a Visual Feedback System to Support Efficient Object Grasping of an EMG-Controlled Prosthetic Hand

Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.1515/cdbme-2019-0053 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 207-210

Author(s):

Tolgay Kara ◽

Ahmad Soliman Masri

Keyword(s):

Visual Feedback ◽

Low Cost ◽

Feedback System ◽

Hand Gesture ◽

Human Hand ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

Modeling And Analysis ◽

Prosthetic Hands ◽

Prosthetic Limbs ◽

Computer Environment

AbstractMillions of people around the world have lost their upper limbs mainly due to accidents and wars. Recently in the Middle East, the demand for prosthetic limbs has increased dramatically due to ongoing wars in the region. Commercially available prosthetic limbs are expensive while the most economical method available for controlling prosthetic limbs is the Electromyography (EMG). Researchers on EMG-controlled prosthetic limbs are facing several challenges, which include efficiency problems in terms of functionality especially in prosthetic hands. A major issue that needs to be solved is the fact that currently available low-cost EMG-controlled prosthetic hands cannot enable the user to grasp various types of objects in various shapes, and cannot provide the efficient use of the object by deciding the necessary hand gesture. In this paper, a computer vision-based mechanism is proposed with the purpose of detecting and recognizing objects and applying optimal hand gesture through visual feedback. The objects are classified into groups and the optimal hand gesture to grasp and use the targeted object that is most efficient for the user is implemented. A simulation model of the human hand kinematics is developed for simulation tests to reveal the efficacy of the proposed method. 80 different types of objects are detected, recognized, and classified for simulation tests, which can be realized by using two electrodes supplying the input to perform the action. Simulation results reveal the performance of proposed EMG-controlled prosthetic hand in maintaining optimal hand gestures in computer environment. Results are promising to help disabled people handle and use objects more efficiently without higher costs.

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Development of a Passive Prosthetic Hand That Restores Finger Movements Made by Additive Manufacturing

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10124148 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4148

Author(s):

Rodrigo Cézar da Silveira Romero ◽

André Argueso Machado ◽

Kliftom Amorim Costa ◽

Paulo Henrique Rodriguês Guilherme Reis ◽

Pedro Paiva Brito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Numerical Simulation ◽

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Tensile Testing ◽

Maximum Stress ◽

Low Cost ◽

Human Hand ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

Plastic Deformations ◽

Printing Parameters

This work aims to develop a low-cost human hand prosthesis manufactured through additive manufacturing. The methodology used for the development of the prosthesis used affordable and low-cost materials in the market. Tensile testing was performed to estimate the mechanical properties in order to verify the resistance of the printing material used. Afterwards, the mechanical feasibility study executed on the device was performed using finite element method. In conclusion, we can observe fundamental factors that influence the 3D printing process, especially in relation to its printing parameters and mechanical properties. Maximum stress, yield stress, modulus of elasticity, elongation, and hardness are the prominent properties that should be considered when choosing the polymeric material. The numerical simulation showed that the structure of the prosthesis did not present plastic deformations to the applied loads, proving its mechanical viability.

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State-of-the-Art Method in Prosthetic Hand Design: A Review

Journal of Biomimetics Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/jbbbe.50.15 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 ◽

pp. 15-24

Author(s):

T. Triwiyanto ◽

Triana Rahmawati ◽

I. Putu Alit Pawana ◽

L. Lamidi ◽

Torib Hamzah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Power ◽

Low Cost ◽

Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Occupational Accidents ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Prosthetic Hands ◽

Emg Signal

Human limb amputation can be caused due to congenital disabilities, accidents, and certain diseases. Amputation caused by occupational accidents is a frequent occurrence in developing countries. Meanwhile, amputation caused by certain diseases such as diabetes Miletus is also the leading cause. The need for prosthetic hand is increasing along with the increase in those two factors. Several researchers have developed prosthetic hands with advantages and disadvantages. Research on prosthetic hands, which are useful, low power, and low cost, is still a major issue. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the various designs of prosthetic hands, specifically on the sensor, control, and actuator systems. This paper collected several references from proceedings and journals related to the design of the prosthetic hand. The results show that the EMG signal is widely used by some researchers in controlling prosthetic hands compared to other sensors, following the force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensor. To control prosthetic hands, some researchers used a threshold system with a value of 20% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and several other researchers used a pattern recognition model based on the EMG signal feature. Moreover, In the mechanical part, the open-source prosthetic hand model is more widely used than the fabricate prosthetic hand. This is due to the cost required in the prosthetic hand design is cheaper than a fabricated one. The results of this review are expected to provide a recommendation to researchers in the development of low cost, low power, and practical prosthetic hands.

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Cyborg beast: a low-cost 3d-printed prosthetic hand for children with upper-limb differences

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-015-0971-9 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

Jorge Zuniga ◽

Dimitrios Katsavelis ◽

Jean Peck ◽

John Stollberg ◽

Marc Petrykowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Low Cost ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

3D Printed

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Conception, design, and fabrication of novel cost-effective partial-hand prosthetic devices for a quadrilateral individual with limb loss

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364619843433 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 459-463

Author(s):

Yu Xuan Vanessa Ng

Keyword(s):

Surface Area ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Limb Loss ◽

Functional Requirements ◽

Prosthetic Devices ◽

Cost Effective Method ◽

Final Design ◽

The Individual

Background and Aim: The author designed customized upper-limb prosthetic devices for a 22-year-old man with quadrilateral limb loss. The devices were created to meet his functional requirements, while remaining cost-effective. What made this solution unique was that it utilized low-cost items that were easily sourced and maintained. Technique: Devices with polypropylene sockets, wooden positional fingers from an artist’s wooden hand and a metal extension plate were conceptualized and manufactured. The patient gave written consent to the publication of information and photographs in this report. Discussion: The devices allowed the individual to complete tasks he desired to be able to perform independently, which included using a computer mouse, aided by the devices. The devices utilized were low-cost and easily accessible materials, such as polypropylene and wood, to cater to financial constraints. The final design had positional fingers and an extension plate to restore surface area for grip, support, and opposition to enable the execution of daily tasks of living. Clinical relevance A cost-effective method of fabricating partial-hand devices with easily accessible materials is described. The resulting devices were successful at restoring the upper-limb surface area for improved grip, support, and opposition for performance of daily tasks.

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A myoelectric prosthetic hand with muscle synergy–based motion determination and impedance model–based biomimetic control

Science Robotics ◽

10.1126/scirobotics.aaw6339 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (31) ◽

pp. eaaw6339 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Akira Furui ◽

Shintaro Eto ◽

Kosuke Nakagaki ◽

Kyohei Shimada ◽

Go Nakamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Impedance Control ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Human Motion ◽

Muscle Synergy ◽

Prosthetic Hand ◽

Control Mechanisms ◽

Finger Movements ◽

Prosthetic Hands

Prosthetic hands are prescribed to patients who have suffered an amputation of the upper limb due to an accident or a disease. This is done to allow patients to regain functionality of their lost hands. Myoelectric prosthetic hands were found to have the possibility of implementing intuitive controls based on operator’s electromyogram (EMG) signals. These controls have been extensively studied and developed. In recent years, development costs and maintainability of prosthetic hands have been improved through three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. However, no previous studies have realized the advantages of EMG-based classification of multiple finger movements in conjunction with the introduction of advanced control mechanisms based on human motion. This paper proposes a 3D-printed myoelectric prosthetic hand and an accompanying control system. The muscle synergy–based motion-determination method and biomimetic impedance control are introduced in the proposed system, enabling the classification of unlearned combined motions and smooth and intuitive finger movements of the prosthetic hand. We evaluate the proposed system through operational experiments performed on six healthy participants and an upper-limb amputee participant. The experimental results demonstrate that our prosthetic hand system can successfully classify both learned single motions and unlearned combined motions from EMG signals with a high degree of accuracy. Furthermore, applications to real-world uses of prosthetic hands are demonstrated through control tasks conducted by the amputee participant.

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