Design, implementation and performance validation of UOMPro artificial hand: Towards affordable hand prostheses

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Robotics
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• High cost of state-of-the-art prosthetic hands limits accessibility, particularly in developing countries.
• Existing prosthetic solutions often fail to meet the functional and affordability needs of target users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and develop an anthropomorphic, active artificial prosthetic hand named UOMPro (University of Moratuwa Prosthetic).
• To design an affordable prosthetic hand (< $850 USD) suitable for users in developing nations.
• To achieve 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) for comprehensive hand and thumb motion.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of under-actuated fingers using a combination of 3D printed parts and CNC machined aluminum.
• Integration of all electronic control circuit components within the prosthetic hand.
• Implementation of a low-level controller with a serial communication interface for high-level control integration.
• Development of control capabilities for individual finger position commands and hand grip pattern commands.

Main Results:

• The UOMPro hand achieves 6 DOF, including finger flexion/extension and thumb abduction/adduction.
• A hybrid material approach (3D printing and CNC aluminum) addresses limitations of fully 3D printed prostheses.
• Internal placement of electronics simplifies the design and communication interface.
• Experimental validation demonstrates the system's performance.

Conclusions:

• The UOMPro prosthetic hand presents a viable, affordable solution for upper limb amputees, especially in resource-limited settings.
• The design integrates advanced functionality with cost-effectiveness, addressing a critical need in prosthetic technology.
• Further research directions include refining control strategies and expanding experimental validation.