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Researchers Integrate 3D Printing & Wearable Sensors to Make Accessible Prosthetic Hand https://ift.tt/31Wh3aI A trio of researchers from UC Berkeley and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently published a paper, titled “Mechatronics Enabling Kit for 3D Printed Hand Prosthesis,” about how they worked to integrate wearable sensors and affordable robotics with 3D printing in order to “enable accessibility” in the power prosthesis sector. Tat Hang Wong, Davide Asnaghi, and Suk Wai Winnie Leung used their mechatronic product platform, Sparthan, for their research.
Due to multiple advance in computational and neuroscience approaches, the landscape for smart devices designed to serve disabilities related to mobility has changed significantly. While the project originally stemmed from a student innovation initiative, the team thinks their solution will be beneficial for adult, children, and the elderly in need of hand prostheses in developing countries. Most powered prostheses that enable basic motions are not cheap, which is tough when children grow out of them so quickly. The researchers detailed a few other organizations working to develop better prosthetic solutions, such as e-NABLE, UC Berkeley’s Million Hands project, and Open Bionics.
They performed market research in Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Seoul, and determined the most important user needs for a prosthetic hand are its appearance, durability, functionality, and weight. Then, the researchers used a Kano model and simplified QFD to expand upon some important requirements, which are detailed in the table below. The people surveyed kept mentioning the same pain point – that their prostheses were uncomfortable and difficult to fit. So the Sparthan researchers worked hard to make sure that their product was more accessible to end users, with easier design requirements such as:
The Sparthan is compatible with all existing 3D models that are based on flexible joints printing, and EMG signals from the patient’s forearm are utilized for the UI.
The palm contains a micro controller unit, which processes the signals and determines when a certain gesture is performed; embedded micro electric motors are used to actuate the corresponding fingers. The mechanical system of a Sparthan-equipped prosthetic hand has two main sections – the polycarbonate module, which allows for myoelectric control of the 3D printed prosthetic hands, and the hand itself. The piece of string in the prosthetic is guided by hollow paths routed through the module housing. The module can be made via 3D printing, or by stacking laser cut plastic sheets.
The team modeled its first Sparthan-ready prosthetic hand after the Flexy Hand 2 model. The finger joints were 3D printed with a flexible filament, so that they can move easily back into place after the motors flex them out. What sets the Sparthan apart from other 3D printed prosthetic hands is its ability to use motors to control finger movement. The device uses a commercially available Myo armband by Thalmic Labs to record and transmit eight different EMG signals along the forearm, and the team designed a custom PCB to receive and process the data through a Bluetooth module. A smartphone app with a camera is used to create an accurate 3D model of the user’s hand and arm, and is later sent to be 3D printed at a location close to the actual user.
This year, the team plans to introduce its Sparthan kit to stakeholders (prosthetic users, medical rehabilitation units, etc.) for beta testing. Additionally, the researchers have formed partnerships with the Million Hands project and “local NGOs grant-based social impact deployment” in order to open up more project opportunities.
Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com August 22, 2019 at 01:19AM
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