Traumatic injury to the fingers and hands is a common reason for emergency room visits. According to research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, an estimated 45,000 patients for partial hand amputation are seen annually. This is a sad truth, considering that finger loss not only comes with a functional impairment but also many psychological impacts associated with the injury, as cited in the Journal of Hand Surgery in 2008. (doi.org/10.117...)
Currently, there are several solutions to accommodate partial finger loss due to traumatic injury. One of the most functionally advantageous designs is the body-powered prosthetic finger. This works by utilizing what’s left of the amputation to drive a mechanism that restores the ordinary motion of the finger. It responds quickly to the user and feels natural.
Unfortunately, only a few prosthetics companies manufacture body-driven prosthetic fingers and are often made of expensive materials offered at inflated prices. A single finger can cost thousands of dollars, and are not an option for amputees without health insurance and/or other complications. A low-cost alternative is desperately needed.
The goal of this project is to design a low-cost body-powered finger prosthetic that restores finger motion and function to the user. The design should be light, durable, low-friction, and integrate off-the-shelf parts with 3D-printed components.
Негізгі бет Ғылым және технология 3D Printed Prosthetic Finger
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