DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMIZED PROSTHETIC BIONIC ARM

Project Title

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMIZED PROSTHETIC BIONIC ARM

Project Area of Specialization Biomedical EngineeringProject Summary

In US alone there is estimated to be 1.7 million amputees living. Approximately 185000 amputations are carried out each year in the US and this rate is likely to be doubled by 2050. In Pakistan there are 200000 amputees per year.

The goal of this preliminary work is to design and develop simple and low-cost prototypes of micro- controller based 3Dprinted robotic arm which can be controlled or interfaced by sensors such as flex sensor or emg sensor. To cover a large part of our daily activities, The 5- 6 different movements are sufficient. Here we will use the 3D printing technology, it is a relativity new technology that is based on computer aided design (CAD). This technology is revolutionizing different fields, including medicine, because the way to produce customized products is faster, easier, and Cheaper,  therefore a printable prosthetic hand can be fabricated quickly depending on the size and quantity of parts. The design allows to the hardware environment to perform the control of the five autonomous fingers of the prototype hand, which can be remotely manipulated by an instrumented wearable-glove, in other words, the robotic hand can reproduce the finger movements made by a person wearing the instrumented glove, the aim will be to show that it is possible to mimic human movements simultaneously by using flex sensors, that later could be replaced by more sophisticated electromyography (EMG) sensors.

Project Objectives

• Designing a 3D model of Prosthetic Arm using CAD.
• Developing, Assembling, and interfacing of a cost-effective prosthetic arm, that can also be customized as per the need of patient.

Project Implementation Method

CAD MODELING:

A software called AutoCAD will be used for CAD modelling, according to the persons hand dimensions and requirements the cad files are very adaptable.

3D PRINTING:

3D printed parts will be preferred over mass produced factory parts due to easy customization, a component called PLA+ which is a biodegradable polymer will be used, it is light weight and environment friendly material which helps to maintain the build cost in the budget.

HAND-ARM PROTOTYPE:

The design of the hand consists of thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger, palm and base structure, the tendons of the robotic hand are made of nylon thread. The forearm consists of servo clips for the implementation servo motors and also known as servo bed. Each finger is controlled by a single servo motor (Tower Pro Model SG90 Micro Servo).

The servo motors controlling the finger movement are driven by an Arduino uno microcontroller. In our prototype, 5 degrees of freedom were provided for the system

Wearable Control Glove:

To control the hand prototype, an instrumented glove will be fabricated. The main components of the control glove are the flex sensors. A flex sensor is a structure that changes its resistance according with the pressure or bending applied on it. Flex sensors are found in many applications such as: robotic design, game consoles, medical devices, etc. Since human fingers can be bent in only one direction, the type of sensor selected is unidirectional. The flex sensor used has a nominal resistance of approximately 10 k? and 135 k? when it is fully bended. with it is possible to control the servo motor from 0? to 180?.

                BLOCK DIAGRAM

Update: Currently we have designed a Finger prototype using CAD software and then develop that using 3D printing technology PLA+ material and connected that finger with Microcontroller and Servo motor, by using the sensors i-e flex sensors and we performed several tests to check its range of motion, accuracy and performance.

Benefits of the Project

• The purpose of device is to provide a new approach for physically disabled people to live with harmony so that they could do their work by themselves without relying on other people.

• For a developing country like Pakistan prosthesis is a very expensive solution. Most of the people in this country are living below poverty line. The people being amputee have to manage their life with great hardship as they cannot afford the prosthesis solution available in foreign countries. The foreign prosthesis is very expensive. This work introduces locally made prosthetic bionic arm.

• We can implement the device in the local industry of Pakistan and to provide the facility to urban and rural hospitals and to those who are unable to purchase costly medical devices because it will be cheaper than imported bionics.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final deliverable outcomes of the device are purely based on our designing under low cost so that we can easily be promote our system in the sectors and implement the system which have almost same features as the costly one has. The bionic arm that makes it easy to adaptable for manufacturing it according to the customers dimensions and requirements.

The final deliverable outcomes of the device are purely based on our designing under low cost so that we can easily be promote our system in the sectors and implement the system which have almost same features as the costly one has. The bionic arm that makes it easy to adaptable for manufacturing it according to the customers dimensions and requirements.

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry MedicalOther Industries IT , Health Core Technology 3D/4D PrintingOther Technologies RoboticsSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Elapsed time in (days or weeks or month or quarter) since start of the project	Milestone	Deliverable
Month 1	Collection and study of research papers to study the recent work on it and gathering other related information.	A clear concept of the 3D printing and prosthetic bionic devices.
Month 2	A detailed review on the working and operating principle of the device.	We delivered the basic operation of the device that how it works. We delivered the basic operation of the device that how it works.
Month 3	Objective to study all the parts or components that has individual role.	To be clear on the points of designing.
Month 4	To be focused on the CAD Modelling	To be clear on the points of designing.
Month 5	To be worked on small scale with the components that are available, for better understanding.	To learn the process and to clean hands on the small-scale design with some available parts.
Month 6	Working on the wide application of the Prosthetic bionic arm and compensate it.	To be known with the uses and applications in most of the amputees.
Month 7	Procurement of the components according to the required specifications.	To purchase the components of defined technical specifications at lower rate as possible
Month 8	First to clean hands on each component individually and check, as per requirements.	We can understand and operate the components electrically and mechanically.
Month 9	To 3D print the prototype, assembling and installing the servo motors and sensors.	Gathered all the electromechanical components and construct the development.
Month 10	Check and assess the possible outcomes.	On complete evaluation and development of the device, check the possible outcomes and certain specified conditions regarding to the prosthetic bionic arm.
Month 11	Successful implementation of the device and to check on consumers/patients for testing results.	A collected data of results of project to compensate the device and its outcomes before implementing.
Month 12	To fulfil the remaining requirements for well- equipped setup to promoting it to the next level.To fulfil the remaining requirements for well- equipped setup to promoting it to the next level.	Fulfil the possible changes if required so that it can be able to promote in the sectors and give the best.