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Upper extremity prosthesis user perspectives on unmet needs and innovative technology.
Summary
Current upper limb prostheses fail to meet user needs, causing pain and difficulty. Qualitative interviews explored user perspectives on emerging technologies like robotic limbs and sensory feedback to improve prosthetic solutions.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Current upper limb prostheses often lead to rejection, non-wear, pain, and functional limitations for users.
- Significant unmet needs persist among individuals with upper limb amputation and congenital limb difference regarding prosthetic device functionality and comfort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore user needs and perspectives on emerging prosthetic technologies.
- To inform the development and implementation of advanced upper limb prostheses by understanding user concerns regarding benefits and risks.
Main Methods:
- Conducted qualitative interviews with seven individuals having upper limb amputation or congenital limb difference.
- Employed topic modeling to analyze unstructured interview text and compared findings with identified themes.
Main Results:
- Qualitative data revealed specific user concerns and desires related to prosthetic functionality and comfort.
- Identified themes from interviews provide insights into how novel technologies could better address user requirements.
Conclusions:
- Understanding user needs and perspectives is crucial for the successful integration of advanced prosthetic technologies.
- Findings will guide the development of improved upper limb prostheses and inform regulatory decision-making for novel assistive devices.
