V2P Prehensor - general reflection on grip strength and first test of multi layered customized claw covers
Posted on July 26, 2010
After reading a scientific article about grip strength, after reflecting about my current experience, I figured it was time for an update on grip strength.
Based on a very nice article of Markenscoff et al. (1990), it becomes clear that to securely grip an object in three-dimensional space one requires a rather large number of fingers if there is no friction at all.
Filed Under Artwork and Do It yourself Corner, Cable control, Design principles, Mechanical works, Prosthesis, Prosthetic hook, Prototype development, V2P Prehensor | Leave a Comment
Hot summer - Wolf’s new cosmetic arm - typing on a computer keyboard
Posted on July 26, 2010
Some people believe a passive / cosmetic arm serves, practically speaking, “nothing”. That would then be a mistake.
Typing, for example, can go on all day like this with a perfect shoulder, back, neck and arm posture.
Filed Under Cosmetic arm, Prosthesis | Leave a Comment
They must be joking. 1 Billion GBP funding (or so) to support a study that examines how Three Legged Dogs move.
Posted on July 23, 2010
The general public is obviously being reamed for upper extremity prosthetics prices and moderate or bad quality, absent or minimal innovation, and certainly instances of sale tactic that are reportable to cartel offices. So, do we feel bad about this?
Nope. The EU is spending 1 Billion GBP (about 1,5 Billion CHF or 1,5 Billion USD) for a FP7 (framework 7) [1] project as part of which the motion of three-legged dogs are examined.
A reader [3] alerted me to the possibility it might “only” be 2,7 Million Euros spent in them dogsies (about 3,6 Million CHF or 3,5 Million USD) [2].
Em, thanks for that….
Filed Under Disability and the public, Discrimination, Prosthesis, Science fiction, Stigmatization | Leave a Comment
V2P Prehensor / PUPP+CH+EN wrist > ADL Activities of Daily Living > The Very Profane > Push Comes To Shove > Cleaning Toilet
Posted on July 22, 2010
What Otto Bock, RSL Steeper or TouchBionics always try to withhold from us are the bare facts of life, the profane tasks. But that’s quite alright, I am sure we can get them up to date somehow.
Filed Under ADA technologies, Brands, Household, PhysioNetics, Prosthesis, Prosthetic hook, Specifications and comparisons, Tricks and techniques, V2P Prehensor | Leave a Comment
DARPA Artificial Arm > Mind Control through Brain Implants > Human Trials Next [science fiction]
Posted on July 18, 2010
While trying to now push for brain implant technology that has not even been tested leave alone tested thoroughly yet, and while no prosthetic manufacturer - mainly due to market and economical reasons including sloppy insurance check of materials sold - the DARPA now not only wants to research more complex prosthetic electric arm machinery, but not myoelectric but using neural brain implants, and they want to make it last for, say, 70 years also.
Amazing. So, what is all that?
Filed Under DEKA arm / DARPA project, Prosthesis, Science fiction | Leave a Comment
Hot summer - beer time [ADL, Becker hands]
Posted on July 18, 2010
Summer time and how to go about beers.
Holding drinks, glasses, cups is an issue for me. Particularly when there is finger food.
The V2P works fine, but when you are at a party, I strongly suggest the Becker hand (out of a collection of Otto Bock hand, Otto Bock hook, Hosmer hooks or V2P). It works reliably (and you don’t want to drop that beer, trust me), elegantly and affordably.
Cheers :)
Product reference: Becker Imperial hand.
Filed Under "Bionic" prostheses, Becker Hand [Lock Grip, Imperial] {mechanical hand}, Becker Hand [Lock Grip, Imperial] {mechanical hand}, Brands, Prosthesis, Specifications and comparisons | Leave a Comment
Otto Bock USA - afraid of the rest of the world?
Posted on July 18, 2010
It appears that Otto Bock USA now promotes Upper Extremity Prosthetics via a Fan Page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Otto-Bock-US-Upper-Limb-Prosthetics/129165297093809?v=wall
But not to everyone.
The web page of Otto Bock USA is closed to my access. I cannot access it. Not from here (Zuerich, Switzerland).
Unless, of course, I use an American proxy server. So I use an American proxy server. Then, Facebook (which obviously supports and forwards IP restrictions) will exhibit all content. I still cannot use the “LIKE” button, so they also blocked that.
Filed Under Brands, Disability and the public, Discrimination, Otto Bock | Leave a Comment
Artistic visions for prosthetic design XVI - from the inanimate towards my animal self
Posted on July 18, 2010
I now got a brand new and enormously satisfying new thing to wear - my new silicon dummy. You don’t know how great it feels to know that there are people producing stock items (not even customized designs) such as these silicone cosmetic gloves for prosthetic hands that really give me the illusion of wearing a true replacement part here. Of course I know it’s entirely prosthetic and not even too functional in terms of grip power - but my poor suffering soul is comforted. My shoulder is also comforted. And I get by with less clothes. - For a while, that is.
But not for too long, obviously, as design-wise, I was up to no good beforehand already. With a perfect cosmetic arm “at hand” (bwahaha), I feel somewhat relieved from keeping my Becker hands in majority-conforming appearance at all times.
Seeing as if the term “speed” does resonate with me, I let my animal self go ape-shit tonight and see what I came up with - perfect for real action, absolutely and clearly convincing and authoritative in terms of organic race design, and definitely contaminated with “in-command” aura. I am still looking for a look that spells out “proficiency” and this is one further attempt. Historically, it is not too hard to figure out what I did - OK, I first sprayed it red, then white, then I used a range of blues on it; now I removed some of the paint and see what pattern emerges!
See, I figured that such an arm needed to blend in with me. And when the summer is a whopping 35 deg C outside, and when I go for a ride or something, I look worked out, all sweat drip and full action tornado. That, in essence, is also what my arm should look like. No sense to put on the best dress parts as that’s just not going on then.
This design idea features a shape- and curvature enhancing blue-red-white blend. It is really oriented towards people that do go down and move, not for stationary display or usage. Also, this is really good industrial design as its applications (sports, moves, hard work) do not damage but can only improve both the design itself and its authenticity. No other prosthetic designer ever came up with that before. You read it here first :)
