Development of a multifunctional adaptive hand prosthesis
Development of a multifunctional adaptive hand prosthesis
Earlier work in the Southampton University Control Engineering Group has been concerned with the problems of artificial prehension, and has led to the development of an adaptive control system which allows a multidegree of freedom hand prosthesis to be controlled in a natural manner by a single control channel. Those control processes which are performed subconsciously by normal subjects are managed automatically in this system so that the conscious effort required to control the device is minimised. A prototype prosthesis has been fitted experimentally to an arm deficient subject, and was found considerably more useful than more conventional devices. This thesis is concerned with the design and development of an improved multifunctional hand prosthesis intended to provide enhanced functional performance and to overcome the major practical difficulties involved in making such a prosthesis suitable for the hand deficient population. A review of past work in the field of hand prosthetics is made to illustrate the advantages and shortcomings of the devices presently available and under development. The justification for an improved terminal device is then discussed with respect to the amputee population and its needs. The functional advantages and practical difficulties resulting from the use of the Southampton control scheme are investigated, and a specification is drawn up for a new prosthesis which although lighter, more compact and much more robust than the previous prototype, will also include modifications intended to improve the functional performance.The design and construction of both the mechanical structure and the electronic controller of this new prototype are then described, together with an account of the development work performed on the prosthesis, and a demonstration of the device with an arm deficient subject.In the light of experience gained during the development of the prosthesis, suggestions are made for further improvements and for promising lines of future work.
University of Southampton
Moore, David
3b5e246f-616d-4a9d-9f14-3e33911a8358
1980
Moore, David
3b5e246f-616d-4a9d-9f14-3e33911a8358
Moore, David
(1980)
Development of a multifunctional adaptive hand prosthesis.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Earlier work in the Southampton University Control Engineering Group has been concerned with the problems of artificial prehension, and has led to the development of an adaptive control system which allows a multidegree of freedom hand prosthesis to be controlled in a natural manner by a single control channel. Those control processes which are performed subconsciously by normal subjects are managed automatically in this system so that the conscious effort required to control the device is minimised. A prototype prosthesis has been fitted experimentally to an arm deficient subject, and was found considerably more useful than more conventional devices. This thesis is concerned with the design and development of an improved multifunctional hand prosthesis intended to provide enhanced functional performance and to overcome the major practical difficulties involved in making such a prosthesis suitable for the hand deficient population. A review of past work in the field of hand prosthetics is made to illustrate the advantages and shortcomings of the devices presently available and under development. The justification for an improved terminal device is then discussed with respect to the amputee population and its needs. The functional advantages and practical difficulties resulting from the use of the Southampton control scheme are investigated, and a specification is drawn up for a new prosthesis which although lighter, more compact and much more robust than the previous prototype, will also include modifications intended to improve the functional performance.The design and construction of both the mechanical structure and the electronic controller of this new prototype are then described, together with an account of the development work performed on the prosthesis, and a demonstration of the device with an arm deficient subject.In the light of experience gained during the development of the prosthesis, suggestions are made for further improvements and for promising lines of future work.
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Published date: 1980
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Local EPrints ID: 459146
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/459146
PURE UUID: d1e657d9-d763-426d-9d5c-38072b9eebfa
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 17:05
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 17:05
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Author:
David Moore
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