The purpose of this study is to examine the position and use of an upper extremity prosthetic simulator on non-amputees. To see how a 3D printed prosthetic simulator can be optimized to serve the user correctly and accurately. In addition, this study examines the improvement of the Hosmer 5X Prosthetic Hook with the addition of newly designed trusses on to the prosthetic, as well as utilizing a new manufacturing method known as 3D printing. These topics are important because there is no standardized prosthetic simulator for schools and research facilities to use. Off the shelf prosthetic simulator cost upwards of $2000, often too expensive for early stage research. By optimizing the Hosmer 5X Prosthetic Hook with 3D printing, this new opportunity could allow amputees, from a range of income classes, to have access to a wide variety of prosthetics that are strong enough to support everyday living activities. A low-cost prosthetic that is easily distributable and accessible can give people a chance to regain their independence by giving them different options of efficient prosthetic devices, without having to spend so much. The devices in this project were design and analyzed on SOLIDWORKS, 3D scanned on the Artec Space Spider, and surfaced on Geomagic Wrap. Key results include developing a low-cost, robust prosthetic simulator capable of operating a Hosmer 5X Prosthetic hook, as well as developing a lighter version of the Hosmer 5X Prosthetic Hook that is more cost efficient and easily obtainable to the population around the world.

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Léia Bernardi Bagesteiro / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociência e Cognição, 2014. / A maioria das amputações traumáticas do membro superior ocorre em níveis do punho e da mão. O uso de sinais bioelétricos, como os capturados pela eletromiografia de músculos residuais no segmento mão-braço amputado, já é uma realidade, porém as taxas de rejeição das próteses mioelétricas ainda são elevadas. Um dos maiores desafios atuais é melhorar o desempenho das próteses robóticas a fim de que a interface homem-máquina seja o mais natural possível. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a intensidade elétrica dos músculos residuais do coto durante movimentos do segmento mão-braço de indivíduos amputados de membro superior. Foram caracterizados diferentes movimentos-alvo a fim de auxiliar no conhecimento da ação muscular após amputação. Oito canais de eletromiografia foram posicionados no membro superior e coto: quatro no braço e quatro no antebraço. Nove movimentos-alvo contínuos foram realizados duas vezes em cada uma das duas séries de movimentos avaliadas. Foram analisados o coto (grupo experimental membro amputado), o membro contralateral à amputação (grupo experimental membro não amputado) e um grupo controle. Todos os grupos apresentaram as mesmas etapas de coleta, desde o posicionamento dos eletrodos até a análise do sinal eletromiográfico. Os dados foram comparados para maior compreensão dos movimentos do membro superior nesses grupos. Os resultados apresentaram diferença entre os grupos. A musculatura de braço teve maior intensidade de ativação elétrica no grupo controle. Por sua vez, o grupo experimental membro amputado teve maior intensidade de ativação em musculaturas extensoras e maior diferenciação dos canais do antebraço. Contudo, o grupo experimental membro não amputado foi o que mais se diferenciou nas diferentes análises, sendo observado menor intensidade de ativação elétrica no braço e antebraço. Conclui-se que a intensidade de ativação dos músculos residuais do coto difere do membro não amputado. / Most traumatic upper-limb amputations occur at the wrist and hand levels. Bioelectric signals, such as the ones captured by electromyography at the amputated hand-arm segment are already a reality, yet rejection rates of myoelectric prostheses are still high. The main challenge is to improve the performance of robotic prostheses enabling a more natural man-machine interface. This study evaluated the electrical magnitude of residual muscles during hand-arm movements of upper limb amputee. Different movements were chosen to promote muscle activation knowledge after amputation. Eight electromyography channels were positioned on the upper-limb and stump: four at the upper arm and four at the forearm. Nine continuous movements were performed twice on each of the two series evaluated. Three groups were analyzed: amputee group (experimental group: amputated limb), contralateral limb amputation (experimental group: non-amputated limb) and control group. All groups had the same data collection phases, electrodes positioning and eletromyographic signals analysis. Data were compared for better understanding of upper limb movements. The results showed difference between groups. The upper arm muscles had greater magnitude of electrical activation in the control group. The experimental group: amputated limb had greater magnitude of electrical activation in the extensor musculature and greater difference from the forearm channels. Moreover the experimental group: non-amputated limb was the most distinguished in comparison with the other two groups on different analyzes, with lower magnitude of electrical activation observed in the upper arm and forearm. It is concluded that the magnitude of activation of the residual muscles in the amputated limb differs from non-amputated limb.

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