FUNCTIONALLY VIABLE 3D PRINTED POLYMER TRANSRADIAL FRAME AND WRIST WITH VARIABLE COMPLIANCE DYNAMIC VOLUME SOFT SOCKET WITH INCREASED BREATHABILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION

Jonathan Kuniholm; Zachary Meyer

FUNCTIONALLY VIABLE 3D PRINTED POLYMER TRANSRADIAL FRAME AND WRIST WITH VARIABLE COMPLIANCE DYNAMIC VOLUME SOFT SOCKET WITH INCREASED BREATHABILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION

Authors

Jonathan Kuniholm
Zachary Meyer

Abstract

Nine of the top ten reasons that half of arm amputees reject prostheses are related to dissatisfaction with fit and comfort, primarily of sockets [1]. Traditional (particularly myoelectric) sockets severely limit range of motion (ROM), and create pressure, heat and moisture management, and tissue breakdown issues. Here we describe preliminary results from the testing of a new design of transradial frame and socket that combines advanced modern soft athletic shoe materials and construction with 3D printed frame counters to create a functionally viable 3D printed arm with integrated wrist and variable compliance socket weighing less than two pounds complete with harness and terminal device. The system has been used for cross country skiing and indoor rowing, sustaining hours of use in sweaty and friction-rich environments. The range of motion of the prosthesis was measured as compared to anatomical, showing a 59% improvement over a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital-provided self-suspending myoelectric socket. The arm and harness can bear tensile loads more than 50 pounds. Custom one-hand operable harness hardware can bear 65 pounds with a factor of safety of more than three.

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Published

2022-08-09

How to Cite

[1]

J. Kuniholm and Z. Meyer, “FUNCTIONALLY VIABLE 3D PRINTED POLYMER TRANSRADIAL FRAME AND WRIST WITH VARIABLE COMPLIANCE DYNAMIC VOLUME SOFT SOCKET WITH INCREASED BREATHABILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION”, MEC Symposium, Aug. 2022.