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Upper and Lower Limb Robotic Prostheses
Published in Pedro Encarnação, Albert M. Cook, Robotic Assistive Technologies, 2017
Patrick M. Pilarski, Jacqueline S. Hebert
Often, there is a trade-off between appearance and usability. The most functional terminal device is often still regarded to be the hook shape form due to the provision of clear lines of sight to the user and ability to provide fine-motor pinch, compared to the more anthropomorphic-appearing powered hands. With the advent of newer multigrip powered hands with multiple grasp patterns, the functional gap is closing, but nonetheless the vast majority of hands have a mechanical robotic appearance rather than a cosmetic one. For this reason, some patients may prefer a passive device with better cosmesis over one with robotic appearance and function. Form also includes the quality of movement, for example, the smoothness or rate of change of a device’s moving parts; it is considered desirable for a prosthesis not to move in mechanical or unnatural ways (Childress 1992; Weir 2004).
Robotic Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Rehabilitation Medicine
Published in Lawrence S. Chan, William C. Tang, Engineering-Medicine, 2019
The goal of a robotic prosthesis is to replace a lost limb in form and in function. In recent years, tremendous amount of progress has been made in prosthetic device configuration, materials used, and cosmetic appearance (skin color, texture, etc.). The invention of newer multi-grip powered hands with anthropomorphic form and several grasp patterns are examples of these advancements. Nonetheless, despite all of the progress, at present, there is still a trade-off between the exterior appearance and functional capacities of a prosthesis. The functionality of robotic limb prostheses is intricate and demanding, especially for an upper limb prosthesis because of the diverse range of activities performed by hands. A prosthetic hand’s function varies widely from delicate movements of dressing (including buttoning, tying shoes, or putting on socks), to holding a glass or paper cup without crashing or slipping, to opening a jar of pickles, throwing a baseball, or carrying a gallon of milk. Our human hands are capable of performing not only tasks of various ranges, but also movements of multi-directions, e.g., bending and rotation occur simultaneously (flexion, extension, supination or pronation). It is not surprising that the acceptance and utilization rate of upper extremity prostheses remains low due to the inconvenience of donning and doffing, inadequate dexterity, and lack of reliability and sensory feedback (Resnik 2011). To improve prosthetic hand dexterity and functionality, some upper-limb myo-electric prosthetic feedback systems have been developed such as the add-on feedback system (Fallahian et al. 2017, Markovic et al. 2018) and the build-in vibrotactile system (Rosenbaum-Chou et al. 2016). However, generally speaking, the more complex the design, the heavier and less durable the prosthesis tends to become, thus challenging the future improvement of robotic upper-limb prostheses.
3D printed upper limb prosthetics
Published in Expert Review of Medical Devices, 2018
With the reduced functional complexity and desire for high level of customization, prosthetic cosmesis strongly benefits of the features offered by the rapid prototyping technology. Complex and avant-garde cosmesis designs are gaining in popularity [72–74]. Companies such as Glaze Prosthetics [11] offer commercial high-end quality products addressing the different needs of their customers. The designer Evan Kuester has built a successful portfolio by 3D printing fashionable prosthetics [75–78] cosmesis for a range of clients. These devices usually employ SLS printers and as such mostly rely on Nylon and composite materials.