Fitting below-elbow prostheses which convey a sense of touch

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Myoelectric prosthetic hands offer advanced functionality but often lack intuitive grip force control.
• Effective sensory feedback is crucial for users to confidently operate prosthetic devices.
• Previous sensory feedback systems have faced challenges with user acceptance and tissue response.

Observation:

• A myoelectrically controlled electric hand was modified to enable grip force measurement.
• This grip force data was utilized to drive a sensory feedback system.
• The feedback system delivered tactile stimuli to the user's residual limb within the prosthesis socket.

Findings:

• Two individuals successfully integrated the modified prosthesis into their daily activities.
• Users reported increased reassurance and confidence when operating the prosthetic arm.
• No adverse tissue reactions were observed from the applied sensory feedback stimulus.

Implications:

• This enhanced sensory feedback system improves the usability and user experience of electric hand prostheses.
• The technology demonstrates a viable method for providing intuitive grip force awareness to amputees.
• Further research could explore optimizing feedback parameters and long-term user adaptation.