I-Corps: 3D Printed Smart Hand Orthosis

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种快速定制的3D打印电动手部矫形器，以帮助中风幸存者恢复他们的手动灵活性和独立性。 中风是一种使人衰弱、改变生活的事件。大脑的一部分死亡，身心联系丧失。 中风幸存者经历的问题，如缺乏手的控制，包括困难的把握和开放，和不稳定。 这些问题使他们在一些最基本的任务上依赖他人。 目前的医疗设备不足。 这些设备的尺寸有限，要么阻止运动，要么限制手进行不自然的运动。 定制尺寸的矫形器可以缓解所有这些问题，提供更好的配合和更有效的恢复。 除了时间和金钱成本之外，自动化定制过程可以降低矫形师的设计/装配/制造错误的风险，以及对熟练技术人员的需要。 这项技术可能会使矫形器行业受益，使患者更容易获得定制辅助设备，并使他们能够达到新的独立水平。这个I-Corps项目是基于快速定制的，3D打印的，动力手矫形器的开发。 在设计之前，分析解剖数据以确定手的长度和宽度与单个关节和骨骼位置之间的数学关系。 这项创新的智力价值涉及几个关键组件，包括基于解剖关系的智能计算机辅助设计（CAD）包，以生成可以快速3D打印的自定义尺寸零件文件，从而减少对熟练矫形技术人员的需求。 此外，灵活的关节将使多轴移动。 主动智能控制将为用户提供独立进行日常生活活动所需的帮助。 目前，已开发出初步的计算机辅助设计包和矫形器原型。 剩下的主要设计挑战是如何在不牺牲辅助功能的情况下将整个驱动系统安装在人体测量学范围内。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a rapidly customizable, 3D printed, powered hand orthosis to help stroke survivors regain their manual dexterity and independence. Stroke is a debilitating, life-changing event. Part of the brain dies, and the mind-body connection is lost. Stroke survivors experience problems such as lack of hand control, including difficulties grasping and opening, and instability. These problems leave them dependent on others for some of the most basic tasks. Current medical devices are inadequate. The devices come in limited sizes and either prevent motion or constrain the hand to unnatural movement. A custom-sized orthosis could mitigate all these problems, providing a better fit and more effective recovery. Automating the customization process may reduce the risk of design/fitting/fabrication error by the orthotist, as well as the need for a skilled technician, in addition to time and monetary costs. The proposed technology may benefit the orthotics industry, making custom assistive devices more accessible to patients and enabling them to reach new levels of independence.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a rapidly customizable, 3D printed, powered hand orthosis. Prior to design, anatomical data was analyzed to determine mathematical relationships between hand length and width and individual joint and bone positions. The intellectual merit of this innovation involves several key components including a smart computer aided design (CAD) package based on the anatomical relationships to generate custom size part files that can be rapidly 3D printed, reducing the need for a skilled orthosis technician. In addition, flexible joints will enable multiaxial mobility. An active, intelligent control will provide the needed assistance for users to perform activities of daily living independently. Currently, a preliminary CAD package and orthosis prototype have been developed. The primary design challenge remaining is how to fit the entire actuation system within the anthropometric envelope without sacrificing assistive capabilities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.