Browsing by Author "Light, C. M."
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Item Open Access Quantifying Impaired Hand Function In The Clinical Environment(1999) Light, C. M.; Chappell, P. H.; Kyberd, P. J.The Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP) has been developed specifically to enable the broadbased evaluation of hand function irrespective of the disability, thereby allowing assessment of both natural and prosthetic hands. This technique enables a contextual result to be formed (relative to normal hand ftxnction), hence providing a quantifiable index of functionality rather than the more conventional subjective measures. The establishment of normative data trials and subsequent statistical analysis demonstrates the procedure to be both reliable and r epeatable. The procedure has been undergoing evaluation at hand rehabilitation and prosthetic fitting centres. The subject group consists of those with impaired natural hand fimction (ranging fiom traumatic injury to diseased joints), as well as unilateral amputees and those with congenital deficiencies ofthe upper limb. These initial cases have assisted in the refinement of the index of functionality thatresults fiom the procedure. The perceived hand fiinction of these case studies is presented in comparison with the SHAP results. Quantification of functionality is of clinical importance to allow surgeons and therapists to monitor rehabilitation, and preliminary results suggest that the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure provides a critical contribution to this process.Item Open Access The Development Of An Advanced Multi-Axis Myo-Prosthesis And Controller(1999) Light, C. M.; Chappell, P. H.Commercial myo-electrically controlled prostheses are currently single degree of fieedom devices with highly restrictive function. These artificial hands warrant high grip forces due to their planar pincer movement to ensure stable prehension, thereby inherently requiring precise and conscious effort on the part of the wearer to ensure optimum grip. The Southampton Hand has demonstrated the ability to devolve low-level user control to the hand prosthesis itself by the use of the Southampton Adaptive Manipulation Scheme. Until recently these multiple-axis prostheses have lacked clinical significance due to poor reliability and user-oriented design. The development of the latest device is centred on the hypothesis of enhancing stable piehension by increasing the adaptability of the prosthesis, whilst simultaneously minimising the necessary grip force. This is to be achieved by increasing the number of independent degrees of freedom of the device without compromising user-effort by utilising the Southampton hierarchical control system. Constraints such as modularity, low weight and power consumption are factors that have been adhered to throughout the design process. The six independent axes of the hand are controlled by a single microprocessor. The limiting factor in the advancement of artificial hands has frequently been the integration of technology to the device. Consequently several accurate sensing systems were implemented in this design to enable a more comprehensive control of the adaptable hand prosthesis.