Why doesn’t a prosthetic hand always do what it’s told?

Chadwell, AEA ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-5202, Prince, M, Head, JS ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3483-3903, Galpin, AJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7699-8706, Thies, SBA ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-2243 and Kenney, LPJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2164-3892 2022, 'Why doesn’t a prosthetic hand always do what it’s told?' , Frontiers for Young Minds . (In Press)

PDF - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (549kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

There are online videos which appear to show electrically-powered prosthetic hands to be nearperfect replacements for a missing hand (e.g. https://youtu.be/F_brnKz_2tI). However, for many users, the reality can be different. Prosthetic hands don’t always respond as expected which can be frustrating. The hand is controlled by muscle signals in the remaining part of the person’s affected arm, using sensors called electrodes. The electrodes are embedded within the socket, which is the part of the prosthetic arm that connects it to their arm. When they activate their muscles, the hand can open, close, or change the grip. If the socket moves, it can pull the electrodes away from the skin. As a result, the muscle activity signalling the person’s intention cannot be properly detected, and the hand will not work very well. In this paper we explain why socket fit may be the most important part of a prosthetic arm.

Item Type:	Article
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society > Centre for Health Sciences Research
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers for Young Minds
Publisher:	Frontiers Media, S.A.
ISSN:	2296-6846
Depositing User:	Alix Chadwell
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2022 08:08
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2022 16:50
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/62817

Actions (login required)

Edit record (repository staff only)