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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

  • Howdy Gary. I have a couple questions.

    Does your thumb work?

    do you have any digits that could signal a grasp?

    Do you have wrist movement?

    Can you cup your hand, as if to put it inside a narrow tube throughout wrist rotation?

    Can you expand your palm flat throughout wrist rotation?

    Will you wear a logo?

  • in reply to Former Member

    Ref;

     

    Does your thumb work?    YES

     

    do you have any digits that could signal a grasp? I do have most of a grip, I just don't have the surface area or length to make it functional.


    index finger was amputated just below the distal phalanx (not dis-articulation)

    middle finger was amputated just below the distal phalanx (not dis-articulation)

    ring finger was amputated at the interphalangeal joint between the Proximal phalanx and middle phalanx (dis-articulation)

    little finger was amputated at the interphalangeal joint between the Proximal phalanx and middle phalanx (dis-articulation)

     

    Do you have wrist movement?  pretty much..  it's noisy but functional enough

     

    Can you cup your hand, as if to put it inside a narrow tube throughout wrist rotation? I think so

     

    Can you expand your palm flat throughout wrist rotation? I think so

     

    Will you wear a logo?  don't see why not, in fact, if I found something that really made a difference for everyday work, I would even wear a logo on my YouTube Channel.

Reply
  • in reply to Former Member

    Ref;

     

    Does your thumb work?    YES

     

    do you have any digits that could signal a grasp? I do have most of a grip, I just don't have the surface area or length to make it functional.


    index finger was amputated just below the distal phalanx (not dis-articulation)

    middle finger was amputated just below the distal phalanx (not dis-articulation)

    ring finger was amputated at the interphalangeal joint between the Proximal phalanx and middle phalanx (dis-articulation)

    little finger was amputated at the interphalangeal joint between the Proximal phalanx and middle phalanx (dis-articulation)

     

    Do you have wrist movement?  pretty much..  it's noisy but functional enough

     

    Can you cup your hand, as if to put it inside a narrow tube throughout wrist rotation? I think so

     

    Can you expand your palm flat throughout wrist rotation? I think so

     

    Will you wear a logo?  don't see why not, in fact, if I found something that really made a difference for everyday work, I would even wear a logo on my YouTube Channel.

Children
  • in reply to Former Member

    Hello,

    I just happened upon your conversation while browsing the internet for finger prosthesis for my 13 year old son.  His ring finger and middle finger are partially amputated at the second knuckle.  The rest of his hand is otherwise healthy.  We have checked out the x-finger also. Although it looks awesome, our insurance does not cover it. We are having a hard time finding a device that is covered.  We would like to know if there are any options available.

    Thanks

  • in reply to Former Member

    You can try to check out the M Finger.  it's a lot cheaper, and likely stronger than the x finger.  other than that, you are pretty much stuck with the silicon fingers that basically just look like a normal finger with no real function.  That's what I have, and I didn't get them until 6 or 7 years after I lost the four fingers, so I know how to use what I have left, fairly well, so the silicon slip on fingers are  not helpful for me..  they just get in the way, because they don't have an armature, so I cannot position them the way I need them, and if I try to grab and hold something, the silicon just bends like a wet noodle, so it's a detriment to normal day to day actions.  they are only designed to make it look like you didn't lose a finger, other than that they are of no real help at all.  after 8 or 9 years, i'm very much used to the way they are (in fact, in less than a year I was fully used to them to the point that when putting on the silicon fingers for the first time, my fingers felt and looked like they were a good 6 inches too long, because the brain gets used to the length, look and feel).  Now, I really don't care what they look like..  I care how they work, to improve my life.

     

    If I had any real electronics knowledge, I would build a replacement for my own fingers either using micro-linear actuators, or a servo setup to move the fingers and lock them in place for lifting.  But, electronics is not my area, so I have been considering a very simple design that just uses wire or string to bend the prosthetics inward based on moving what I have left.

     

    in fact that might even be your best bet, because you can build something you really need, and not pay for something that just looks pretty, if you have no need for it