Functional effectiveness of a myo-electric prosthesis compared with a functional split-hook prosthesis

Abstract

The functional effectiveness of a myo-electric prosthesis with sensory feedback compared with that of a split-hook is described. Thirty independent observations were made on a single subject with a right below-elbow amputation wearing the myo-electric prosthesis and the split-hook prosthesis. Using a first order autoregressive model for making inferences about the two sets of data, the split-hook was found to be functionally better (p<0-001) than the myo-electric prosthesis. Functional effectiveness was defined operationally as scores on the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Placing Test and the Smith Test of Hand Function. No predictions are made regarding the use of either prosthesis for other amputees. However clinical evidence suggested suitability of the myoelectric prosthesis with sensory feedback for some other functional tasks. It is difficult to add new ideas or to be critical concerning the projects proposed by McCoIIough in the April, 1981 issue of Prosthetics and Orthotics International, and therefore, for the most part, this presentation is restricted to amplification of the ideas set forth in that article.

Case-study of a user-driven prosthetic arm design: bionic hand versus customized body-powered technology in a highly demanding work environment

“…The fact that current myoelectric technology lost the Arm Prosthesis Race of the CYBATHLON 2016 against body-powered technology contrasts with high hopes and promises going with the new “bionic” hands [ 7 , 42 ]. The fact that body-powered prosthetic split hooks can be powerful prosthetic aids contrasts with the problem that they are vilified [ 32 , 118 , 119 ]. These contrasts affect various interest groups that relate to prosthetic arms differently.…”

“…Current prosthetic arm research and development mainly focuses on myoelectric [ 118 , 135 , 136 ] technology and, more recently, 3D-printing [ 137 ]. If nothing else, these devices are marketed to conform to the requirement of a social standard of costly modern technology [ 32 ]. Myoelectric and 3D-printed arms are thus assumed to support at least light work or ADL.…”

“…However, re-schooling is both costly and risky as it can have serious complications (such as depression, increased divorce rate or increased mortality [ 29 , 30 ]). Depression is already prevalent among arm amputees [ 31 ] and it adds to complicating prosthetic rehabilitation [ 32 ].…”

Control of Multifunctional Prosthetic Hands by Processing the Electromyographic Signal

“…is parameter provides a rough estimate of the properties in frequency domain. (6) for k = 1,¼…,N. is parameter provides an additional piece of information about frequency properties of the measured signal.…”

A Critical Review of Functionality Assessment in Natural and Prosthetic Hands

“…Existing solutions have frequently been focused on engineering evaluations (such as range of movement, strength and system reliability) or random procedures employed (loosely based on hand assessment tests). Since the advent of commercial myoelectric prostheses, these tests have been used to evaluate the comparative benefit, or disadvantage, of these devices over body-powered split hooks (Kay et al 1969, Codd 1975, Agnew 1981, van Lunteren et al 1983, Mendez 1985, Bergman et al1992, Edelstein and Berger 1993, rather than striving to produce an independent assessment of functionality. This has arisen due to the historical need to evaluate new A more objective assessment procedure based on a set of 'everyday activities' produced by Jebsen et al (1969) was later to be adopted as the classical hand function test.…”