Design of a customized myoelectric hand prosthesis

Abstract

Hand amputation is typically the result of a traumatic injury and/or disease related complications. The loss of a hand has a profound physical and psychological impact on the amputee. A high quality prosthesis can be facilitative in restoring an amputee’s body image. Traditional methods of manufacturing prostheses are time consuming and often lack the anatomical features to ensure the comfort of the user. The emergence of modem print manufacturing techniques can ensure a higher quality product with increased anatomical accuracy. In this study, we designed a print manufacturing process for myoelectric hand prosthetic. The process commenced with the use of a 3D scanner to obtain an anatomically accurate image of the non-amputated hand, of which a mirror image of the amputated hand was then generated. The resulting data was then transferred to a 3D printer. Individual fingers of the hand were print manufactured from a pliable material as separate components for the purpose of emphasizing the movement of the phalanges. By applying the above print manufacturing method we are confident that the customized prosthesis would contain the majority of the bodily features of the nonamputated hand. In turn, this method could also be applied for the construction of prostheses for other body limbs.