Proposal

Independent Science Research

Prosthetics:

“You think therefore you can”

Abstract: This is the Bionic Prosthetic Hand Project that will be made of 3D Printed Material, giving the user complete mobility of all fingers and joints in the biohand.

Background and Purpose: Growing up in an environment of doctors and engineers, I acquired a passion for making a difference in lives through technology. After reading articles on the modern day prosthetics, it amazed me how expensive, heavy, and how little mobility they gave the user. I want my project to change the life an amputee or someone born with malformation of a hand. It is my goal to be able to give back his or her hand back using modern technology.

Overview: In this small timeframe, I will dedicate my time toward printing, assembling, coding, and researching what will be the final product, a bionic prosthetic. I believe that printing and assembling the hand will be the easiest portion of the project, but making it come to life is another step forward. I will make two uses out of the hand: The primary goal is to have the hand completely controlled with the EEG Brainwave Headset, and followed by my second goal of creating a mimic glove in which the controller is a glove fitted with flex-sensors which allow the hand to follow the glove’s exact movements.

Outcome/impact: One might think that the most obvious projected outcome will be a fully functional bionic limb that will help other, which is true, but I want to make it a goal of mine to finish the project not only sharing this wonderful creation but learning about the technology behind it. I like to say that there is never enough research about a certain topic because there is always room to learn. I know that this project will throw some curveballs and set me back but I am hoping to improve my knowledge and skills in areas like programming where I see myself as a beginner.

Below is an outline with additional information about bionic limbs, some tools I will need in order to accomplish both primary and secondary goals, and how to make the prosthetic as real as possible.

Three Extreme Interfaces in bionic limbs

• Mechanical: How the limb is attached to the biological body

• Comfortability

• Attached with synthetic skins with stiffness variations

• Where the body is stiff, the synthetic body should be soft

• And vice versa

• Acetone (110C) to make it look glossy and realistic

• Dynamic: How the prosthetic moves like flesh and bone

• Control

• “Fully maneuverable shadow hand for prototype

• Myoelectric Control

• Mirror box syndrome

• Two options to my current knowledge

• Nintendo power glove

• Flex sensors that act as potentiometers

• Finger angle to the servo for robotic hand

• Gest (the exoskeleton glove as I like to call it)

• Electrical: How it communicates with the body (nervous system)

• Cortical Homunculus

• is a neurological "map" of the anatomical divisions of the body

• There are two types of cortical homunculus;

• Sensory

• Motor

• Both fall under electrical, mechanical, and dynamic due to characteristics

• Syntouch and tactile sensing (sensor technology)

• Without this, the prosthetic is just like a numb hand/fingers

• No feeling, sensitivity