Electromagnets as Actuators for a Novel 3D-Printed Musculoskeletal Prosthesis

3D printing was used to produce custom and anatomically-faithful prototype prosthesis device as a missing hand replacement. 3D-printed bones (ABS) were actuated electromagnetically activated copper wire coils (resulting in field of about 9 mT) via nylon lines being attached to one side of the metacarpal bones of the hand, one for each finger, and the other attached to the distal phalanges providing sufficient force for finger bending and functioning. For emotional factors, the device was wrapped in an exact replica of the amputee’s hand anatomy obtained by mirror-imaging the other existing hand.Copyright © 2016 by ASME