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An experimental apparatus to simulate body-powered prosthetic usage: Development and preliminary evaluation
Fan Gao1, Johanan Rodriguez2, Susan Kapp2
1UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA fan.gao@utsouthwestern.edu.
Prosthetics and Orthotics International
|March 31, 2015
Summary
This study developed a novel mechanical apparatus to quantitatively evaluate body-powered upper limb prosthetic harness fitting. The system allows systematic assessment of harness configurations for improved prosthetic use.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- Harness fitting for body-powered prosthetics lacks objective evaluation methods, making it more art than science.
- Consistent and quantitative assessment is crucial for optimizing prosthetic functionality and user comfort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mechanical, human-body-shaped apparatus for simulating upper limb prosthetic usage.
- To evaluate the apparatus's capability for quantitative examination of harness configurations.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a mechanical apparatus using a mannequin torso with integrated joints to mimic prosthetic operation.
- Incorporated sensors to simultaneously measure cable tension, cable excursion, and grip force.
Main Results:
- The apparatus successfully simulated scapular movement up to 127 mm laterally.
- Load cells accurately measured cable tension up to 445 N, demonstrating quantitative assessment capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed apparatus enables objective, systematic, and quantitative evaluation of harness configurations.
- This research provides foundational knowledge for improving harness fitting in body-powered upper limb prosthetics.
