Adam Homel, Sarvesh Sakthivel
- Specific Aims:
The primary objective of the project is to develop an affordable and attainable sixth finger prosthetic device that both enhances the current capability of the human hand and can be modified as a low cost prosthetic device for individuals with disabilities. Users of this device will be able to handle and grip objects in ways they are not currently able to, which will provide them with increased utility of their hand and increased multitasking capabilities. The device aims to forego any electronic implementations, in favor of relying on simple mechanics to ensure low cost, high repairability, and general ease of use. By engineering this device, this project aims to meet a need that is present in the fields of both prosthetic devices and human augmentation. This tool will be useful for individuals across a wide range of scenarios.
- Research Strategy:
(a) Significance
Many current sixth finger prosthetic devices are extremely expensive and require external power for operation. This significantly reduces the percent of the population that can afford such technology. In addition, it may raise concerns about energy usage due to high energy demand in all sectors of society. By creating and introducing a low cost sixth finger prosthetic device, many advantages arise. Hands and fingers are used constantly in everyday life. The implementation of this device would allow for the development of new methods of hand use and new learned skills to increase the daily ease of life. Increasing the utility of the hand will increase multitasking capabilities and provide opportunities to users that non-users could not attempt. To continue, this prosthetic will notably increase the availability of this technology to the population, as this prosthetic finger is more affordable to the general public. The learning curve would be extremely short and the prosthetic would be implemented into daily life immediately. Finally, the energy use that would be necessary for a motorized prosthetic device would now be available for other areas requiring it. The creation of this device will have a great impact on the world today.
(b) Approach
The overall strategy for the direction of the project starts with evaluating the current market need for a product like this. This will be accomplished through research and surveys distributed to the class. The research completed will inform the direction that the project takes, as there are currently several mechanically similar projects that require analysis. After the research and analysis portion is completed, design and prototyping may commence. SolidWorks will be used to model any custom parts required and others may be purchased from an online marketplace or local store. In order to make sure that these models are able to hold up to the strains that they will experience in the world, static loading testing will be completed. Based on these tests, the design may change to accommodate the requirements necessary for a sixth finger. After the design is 3D printed and assembled, feasibility and functionality testing may begin. This will involve wearing the finger and seeing if any downfalls are experienced in wearing it. Volunteers will be recruited to see if the finger is able to help with basic tasks that are designed to highlight the benefits of having a sixth finger. They will also be given a survey if the device would help them in everyday life and whether improvements are necessary. Based on collective feedback and data analysis from the group and other testers, design revision may be made and more prototypes may be produced. The control for this analysis would be subjects attempting to complete the same tasks without the use of this prosthetic. Potential problems with this project include poor grip strength, device failure at high loads, and discomfort when using the device. Alternatives to alleviate these problems include redesigning the mechanics of the device and exploring different materials. Overall, The design will be altered based on user feedback and test data while also taking into account the test data resulting from completing trials. The benchmarks for success will include long term cycle testing, positive experiences from most users, and the ability of the device to allow users to complete tasks they could not otherwise complete.
(c) Future directions
There are countless directions that this project could be taken in the future. Once a passive and more affordable sixth finger prosthetic has successfully been developed, any aspect of the device could be enhanced. The material used for the print can be analyzed to determine if there are any other materials that would strengthen the joints. Similarly, the coating of the finger could be altered to optimize the compressibility and the grip strength of the prosthetic. Improving the joint mechanisms in the current design would increase the range of motion to mimic a human finger or thumb. Returning to the original aim of this project, optimizing the cost further would allow for this prosthetic to reach a greater proportion of population. Finally, one important future direction of this project would be the modification of this design to replace appendages. Patients that have been born without a finger or have lost an appendage would benefit from this. After creating a sixth finger prosthetic that attaches to the outside of a hand, modifying the design to replace a finger is straightforward. Overall, there are many future directions this project opens the doors to, all of which will have a positive impact on society today.