Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 20 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 1859 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

3D printing and prosthetics

Former Member

If your looking for a hard challenge, then take a look a how to build Body powered or Electronic powered finger prosthetics.  I would think with the ability to do 3D printing, it should not be possible.

 

As a disabled veteran and four finger amputee I have more than a couple challenges in life, and one of the biggest has been what I call work shop prosthetics.  The VA Hospital provided me with prosthetic fingers (a couple grand per finger) but they are for looks only, and because they are silicon they have no support.  what is needed is something a bit more complex, but more heavy duty than the Xfingers on the market, but zero need to look like real fingers.  it's about function and not looks, that provides a bit more dexterity and grip then what we currently have.  something to strap to the wrist so it stays on, and allow the use of holding a tool.  not being able to work with tools much at all has been one of the hardest things to get used to for the last 7 years. originally I was a gunsmith, and intended to teach myself engraving, but holding a small tool in my left hand and a hammer in the right, seems to get in the way. in fact anything as simple as trying to carry a clothes basket, or bags after shopping with the left hand can be troublesome, especially because i have to hold a cane in the right.   for the longest time i tried to build something that I could just slip a glove over that would add length, and the ability to hold something as simple as a can (holding a small tool like a punch would be the ultimate goal in time) but just being able to slip something on and be able to lift or grab tools or everyday items like a fry pan to cook would be the goal.   I'm not talking about bionics or top of the line prosthetic design.  just something for the purpose of working around the house, that's 100% usability and zero % looks is what is needed.  something thats more TOOL than the current line of prosthetics on the market.  that have arms, hands, legs feet, but when it comes to fingers (especially multi fingers) the only thing available is a fake finger for looks and not for use.  and that is what needs to change.  it just needs someone to look outside the box for once.

 

how is that for an extreme challenge

Parents

  • do you rely solely upon the DVA for medical benefits? were you medically retired from the military from Active Duty(AD),then put on TDRL/PDRL? If so, apply for SSDI and get off VA medical and go to HANGER PROSTHETICS. I haven't used the VA in over a decade...I am a left leg amputee and "loss of use" right hand->elbow;all combat related-service connected.

Reply

  • do you rely solely upon the DVA for medical benefits? were you medically retired from the military from Active Duty(AD),then put on TDRL/PDRL? If so, apply for SSDI and get off VA medical and go to HANGER PROSTHETICS. I haven't used the VA in over a decade...I am a left leg amputee and "loss of use" right hand->elbow;all combat related-service connected.

Children
  • in reply to Former Member

    Yes, I'm service connected, so I get all my healthcare and prescriptions directly from the VA.  The loss of the 3 fingers is just one of many injuries i deal with daily, such as multi level degenerative disk disease (which is not really a disease, it's just a name for two spinal injuries, one dealing with the neck, and the other at L2 through L4 both of which cause extensive chronic pain requiring morphine) large skin grafts from deep 2nd and mostly 3rd degree burns to the legs, and 2nd degree to left arm. Scud Ballistic missiles with 2k explosives severely damaged my hearing, requiring hearing aids, ankle joint's trashed so I have prosthetic ankle braces that prevent the ankles from bending when walking, like a removable cast for both ankles, and finally very badly damaged lungs from SARIN gas during the first gulf war.  I only made it 16 years. after that I could no longer do the 2 mile run, and I already had to many other waivers to stay.  now they allow amputee's and other injuries to stay in, but not to far back, they didn't, so they just pushed you out via PT, or you left before they could.

     

    in any case, the VA had purchased finger prosthetics (it takes up to a year for finger prosthetics, because the VA has commercial prosthetics companies handle all prosthetics, and only one guy is considered the bast, and he travels around the US making finger prosthetics, and it takes 12 months for him to return to your area to do the work.  and I must say, the silicon finger prosthetics are extremely real looking complete with my own real finger prints.  it's just a copy of my other hand.   I'm one of the very few at that VA with finger amputations, so they had never seen them, so the PT/OT dept had me visit all the staff there so they would know what they are, how they look, and could answer questions, and was even called in to talk to a new finger amputee (I gave them my number for just that reason despite the VA being a 2 hour round trip) so most people know me by first name there because of my fingers.

     

    BUT, the silicon prosthetic fingers are great for looks, because nobody would ever know, but as far as function, they have none, and it's the only finger prosthetics they will purchase (the looks only finger prosthetics were just under $10,000 for four. and as you know, nothing prosthetic related is cheap)

     

    The real issue is silicon prosthetics will get torn up nearly instantly if I were to try to work on the truck etc...they have no armature so they just flop around with the slightest of pressure on them.  basically they are fairly soft and squishy and just get in the way of trying to to daily life kind of things, leaving me very limited with anything needing me to hold something steady (mainly tools).  heck if I had the funds, tools and/or skill i would just build something cyborg looking that will hold up to getting bashed around.  at 47 yeas old I have come to describe myself as "some assembly required" due to the many physical challenges, and not having the use of my left hand because I'm missing parts of 4 fingers is the biggest challenge of all, especially because I have to use a cane now to get around, leaving me with my left hand minus the 4 fingers to do everything else.  getting old sucks..  lol

     

    some of the prosthetic finger idea's that are popping up around the world include some of these.

     

    RCM Enterprise - RCM Enterprise, LLC- A fully articulating Bio-Mechanical Prosthetic Finger

    x-finger amateur - YouTube

    X Finger 4-6-10 - YouTube

    Functional Prosthetic Fingers - YouTube

    Functional Prosthetic Fingers - YouTube   a step in the right direction

    custom partial finger function - YouTube    nearly identical to what I have been considering, with everything being glove mounted, or can fit in a glove.  and being electric/robotic or body powered

    ProDigits: Function With And Without Prosthesis - YouTube     nicely done electronic unit, but it's not designed to fit varying lengths of residual fingers

     

    state of the art robotic prosthetic fingers

    Prosthetic digits for people with missing fingers or partial hands ● Touch Bionics

    Advanced Arm Dynamics - Fingers for Partial Hand

    Home ● Touch Bionics

     

     

    The Fact is, there are no true prosthetics made to be functional for working with tools etc, unlike for hand amputee's and arm amputee's