MIT scientists study finger dynamics open source 3D printing prosthetic technology

Release date: 2016-09-21

    At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's famous Lincoln Laboratory, its Technology Office Innovation Lab (TOIL) is improving 3D printing prosthetic technology by studying finger dynamics. It is reported that the researchers added a non-electronic temperature and tactile feedback mechanism to the 3D printing prosthesis and integrated the motor technology. The research will be used in e-NABLE and other similar 3D printed prosthetic organizations.

Speaking of e-NABLE, many 3D printing enthusiasts are already familiar with it. This is a non-profit online community focused on 3D printing fake hands for people with disabilities, and its influence has expanded globally over the past few years. It is understood that e-NABLE was co-founded by Ivan and Jen Owen in 2011. Volunteers from all over the world gathered here to design cheap, practical robots for 3D printing for those in need.

So far, e-NABLE has provided a number of fake hand designs that can be 3D printed and assembled free of charge. The production cost is only about $50, and volunteers can modify this according to different situations when they use them for disabled people. design. Now, in order to improve the performance and quality of low-cost, mass-produced prostheses, a group of experts from TOIL are providing further support for this project by developing new technologies and are willing to provide their results to e-NABLE and Other nonprofit organizations.

It is understood that the TOIL team's work is based on the current popular free 3D printing fake hand design on the Internet + to further improve. To this end, the researchers downloaded, 3D printed and assembled a variety of models of fake hands. For most 3D printed prosthetic designs, the assembly process involves the use of a tensioner module to connect five mechanical fingers on the back of the wrist and a tight elastic cord to connect the different fingers. The user can bend the wrist to make the fake hand "grab".

However, the TOIL research team has developed and the current 3D printing artificial hand design has certain limitations. For example, if one finger is obstructed, it will cause all the fingers to be inactive, which limits the ability to grasp. To this end, researchers hope to develop new designs that allow each finger to move independently, which helps improve grip and flexibility.

So what is theirs? "Whippletree", which is a clever structure consisting of a central node and connections to several other linked structures. When a connection to Whippletree is blocked, its central nodes move and distribute the power evenly through each link. It is reported that an e-NABLE 3D printing artificial hand can be designed to use a whippletree, so that each finger can move independently, so that the user can firmly grasp the object of almost any shape.

Whippletree of the TOIL team

In addition, the TOIL team has found other ways to improve the common 3D printing prosthetic design. For example, they added passive temperature feedback to the design by adding a thermally reactive wire that can change color to the plastic. This thermochromic material discolors immediately upon contact with heat, allowing the user to more fully "feel" the temperature of the surface of the object. “It’s important to let users know if the surface of the object is hot,” says research team leader David Scott. “This prevents them from being hurt.”

In addition, the TOIL team is creating a tactile feedback component that allows users to feel the pressure, even though it has not yet been developed. This clever part mainly uses a hose from the fingertip to the forearm. These hoses have a small bag-like device at each end, one on the tip of the fake finger on the user's forearm. The tube is filled with liquid, so when the user applies pressure to the 3D printed fingertips, this force is transmitted to the user's arm, allowing the user to perceive that the degree of fluid pressure on the arm will let the user know their finger How much pressure is being applied.

In addition to these common 3D printing fake hands, the TOIL team has also worked hard to design a more robust structure for those who use the motor. These fake hands are mainly designed for those who have no wrists or even arms. Using 3D printed gears plus a motor and Arduino, the researchers created a 3D printed prosthetic arm that can be controlled by a muscle sensor that costs about $350 and is compatible with e-NABLE pros. The arm that uses the motor (see below) can lift about 25 pounds, but the team is currently testing the weightlifting capabilities of 3D printed plastic parts.

In the coming months, the TOIL team will continue the study, and then they will hand over these results and the completed design to e-NABLE and other organizations. "When I saw the existing e-NABLE fake hands, I knew they could improve even better," said research team member Luke Johnson. “Since starting this project, I have gained a lot of knowledge from circuit to engineering, but the most important thing about this project is that it is to help people. This knowledge is warm and heartfelt.”

Source: Changjiang Net

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