Browsing by Author "Mikosz, Matthew J."

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    Cable Driven Multi-Articulating Fingers, Providing Compliant Grasp For The Partial Hand Amputee.
    (2008) Mikosz, Matthew J.
    This article will describe a new concept in fitting the partial hand amputee to offer them enhanced grasp and improve their overall functional ability with the prosthesis. The concept is to activate the mechanical fingers through existing wrist motion to provide active grasp that is compliant to any object.
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    MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCHING OPTION FOR THE HIGHER LEVEL UPPER LIMB AMPUTEE
    (2005) Mikosz, Matthew J.
    The purpose of this article is to describe an alternative switching option for the higher-level upper limb amputee. Currently available body powered switches allow for only one function which can become quite cumbersome when multiple control methods are used. A multi-functional switch that can activate many different controls either independently or simultaneously could greatly reduce the amount of hardware required to operate all of these devices. When working with bilateral shoulder or interscapulothoracic amputees one of the main goals is to provide as much function as possible while maintaining simplicity in the design. The first patient that was fit with the actuator was currently wearing bilateral shoulder prostheses with seven switches. The result was a reduction in the amount of switches necessary to operate the different controls from seven to two. The switch can also be configured to operate Force Sensing Resistors (FSR’s) or linear transducers to provide proportional control.
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    SILICONE BLADDER SUSPENSION FOR THE WRIST DISARTICULATION LEVEL AMPUTEE USING A MINI PUMP SYSTEM TO ALTER VOLUMETRIC PRESSURE INSIDE THE SOCKET
    (2005) Mikosz, Matthew J.
    The purpose of this article is to describe an alternative fitting technique for the wrist disarticulation amputee. The socket design utilizes a silicone bladder contained in a sealed chamber with a one-way expulsion valve and built in mini pump. This design allows the volumetric pressure inside the socket to be controlled by the amount of air inside the chamber. Once the limb is positioned inside of the socket, the pump can be used to fill the chamber with air and apply controlled volumetric pressure throughout the entire length of the flexible bladder. The pump can also be configured to expand the bladder, and then the one-way release valve can be depressed to the appropriate level of compression. The two patients that have been fit with this system stated improved comfort and optimized suspension. This system provides the patient with the ability to alter the socket fit according to the desired activity.