ADVANCEMENT OF UPPER EXTREMITY PROSTHETIC INTERFACE AND FRAME DESIGN

Abstract

Although traditional upper extremity prosthetic interface and frame (collectively referred to here as “interface”) designs have enabled many individuals to integrate prostheses into their rehabilitation plan, the biomechanical attributes and other parameters of these designs have not been significantly reviewed and improved upon until recently. In the last decade, a multitude of design innovations have been incorporated, which have resulted in wearers reporting superior comfort, suspension, stability, and range of motion, among other advantages. In most cases, when paired with a variety of control systems, the new designs appear to be inherently more efficient in terms of force transmission and motion capture, and more functionally consistent than traditional types of “sockets”. It is the intention of this paper to highlight these novel design elements, as well as to discuss the biomechanical principles involved, to enable prosthetic users and other individuals to better understand these advanced interfaces.