Blogs - OpenProsthetics.org

Mechanical Engineering Position Available at Hosmer Dorrance

Hello all. I thought you might like to know that Hosmer Dorrance is hiring a Mechanical Engineer. Send all responses to engrhos@hosmer.com Here is the job description: Job Title: Mechanical Engineer Department: Engineering Reports To: Engineering Manager FLSA Status: Exempt SUMMARY Researches, plans, and designs mechanical and electromechanical products and systems, and directs and coordinates activities involved in fabrication, operation, application, installation, and repair of mechanic… Continue

Added by Daniel Paulsen on November 4, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Mechanical wrist update

General situation: I have a long arm stump and require a wiggle free and if possible service free quick release wrist that features a hollow center area (which is where my pin / pin lock takes up space). Road map: http://www.swisswuff.ch/tech/?p=158 The first version (crown type lock) was extremely simple, it was manufactured very fast and worked very well once one got used to the unique type of lock. I wore that Feb 09 to now and had no p… Continue

Added by Wolf Schweitzer on October 31, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Increase the life of your bands

A tip from Brad Veatch of ADA, the developer of the LESA prehensor (not yet available).

A little teflon pipe thread tape underneath the rubber bands on the hook when you replace them will reportedly increase the life by eight times. Brad apparently has data to support this… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on October 18, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Help Review Grant Applications for the DoD

Congress has made available $112 M in FY09 for medical research to advance treatment and rapid rehabilitation from orthopaedic injuries sustained by military service members during combat or combat-related activities. The Department of Defense(DoD)Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs(CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) task in FY09 is to find and fund innovative research that has the potential to make a significant impact on improving function, wellness, and o… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on October 1, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Standardized Control Interface for Prosthetics (SCIP), a CAN-based Limb Control Protocol

I've spoken before about the need for a standard for prosthetic/robotic arm (or leg) control, preferably one also adopted by a larger industry. University of New Brunswick Fredericton (UNB)'s AIF UNB Hand Project has settled on a CAN-based communications system, using the established standard for automotive communication. Under the name of a consortium that has long sought to standardize upper extremity prosthetic control, the… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on September 25, 2009 at 2:21pm — No Comments

Fly Fishing Arm

As a project for a class at MIT in Cultural Prosthetics, I designed and built an attachment for a young man in New Hampshire who enjoys fly fishing. I met him through Northeast Passage, a non profit focused on disability-related health promotion and adapted sports programs. I also contact Project Healing Waters for… Continue

Added by Josh Levinger on September 10, 2009 at 10:01am — 3 Comments

Cool Bionic Arm simulator

So I stumbled upon this a couple of minutes ago: http://www.tryengineering.org/bionic.php Seems very cool how the design space is at least moving forward through software, now all we need is to make these babies readily available.... soon very soon!!! Continue

Added by Michael Y. on September 9, 2009 at 3:00am — No Comments

Stop paying a fortune for rubber bands!!

I saw something tonight on a prosthetic supply website that really got under my skin so I decided to write this up. I quit using the standard rubber bands on my hook about a year ago. Because of the nerve damage to my remaining hand they are nearly impossible for me to put on by myself. While in my local farm supply store one day I happened to stumble upon some small green rubber bands used for animal castration, and some special pliers to put them on with (I think Sean was the one who told me… Continue

Added by J.R. on September 3, 2009 at 4:33am — 2 Comments

Swiss watch industry going overboard with negative disability stereotyping

New rant: http://www.swisswuff.ch/tech/?p=205 The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie is an association that represents brands such as Rolex, IWC, Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hublot, Audemars Piguet or Concord. T… Continue

Added by Wolf Schweitzer on July 16, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

Oscar Pistorius Study Released

You may remember the controversy before the Beijing Olympics last year surrounding South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had initially ruled that the sprinter, with bilateral congenital below-knee limb absence, could not compete at the games. An independent study comm… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on July 5, 2009 at 11:00pm — 1 Comment

A book for amputees and those who support amputees

http://www.drallidpublishing.com/Publications/LOAL-PreSell.aspx Lover of a Loser - A testament of hope and endurance By Baraka J. Truss ISBN - 10: 0-615-29835-1 ISBN - 13: 978-0-615-29835-1 What is a loser? Many people can formulate their opinions in regard to what constitutes a loser. One may say that a loser is classified as a team or an individual that is not successful in winning a particular sporting event. Modern terminology may classify a loser as one who has no potential to do anythin… Continue

Added by Baraka J. Truss on July 3, 2009 at 2:31pm — No Comments

How to build a prosthetic socket

Interesting almost step wise instruction PDF by Otto Bock on how to cast and how to laminate a socket: www.ottobock.se/cps/rde/xbcr/ob_com_de/ti_646t3_dynamic_arm_d_gb.pdf Maybe best to download and store this before they stop to make it available for everybody. Continue

Added by Wolf Schweitzer on June 22, 2009 at 12:36pm — No Comments

Operation Denali

Some of you may know that I was involved in an effort to climb Mt. Denali (McKinley) with a group of disabled veterans. Details about the trip can be found here: http://www.theveteranscoalition.org/operation_denali/ I was forced through the wise decision-making of our guide, Kirby Senden, to abandon the climb on the 14th of June, having reached just over 16k feet and the top of the… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on June 16, 2009 at 10:54pm — No Comments

Phase 3: Design Phase

4-16-09 Phase 3: Design Phase In phase 3 I modeled my ideas in SolidWorks analyzed my ideas in Microsoft Excel and then used my final model to make a rapid prototype. Here are the results of my many hours and late nights:

… Continue

Added by Daniel Paulsen on April 16, 2009 at 11:36pm — 6 Comments

Phase 2: Concept Development

4-14-09 It appears that my blog has fallen quite behind. I have already graduated and got my masters degree, but here is a retrospective update on what happened. Phase 2: Concept Development In phase 2 I compiled the information I obtained in phase 1 and came up with goals to shoot for with my design. Here are the goals that I came up with in no particular order: 1. Firm grip 2. Narrow well-mating tip 3. Efficient linkage 4. Multiple prehension patterns 5. Slender fingers for reaching into p… Continue

Added by Daniel Paulsen on April 16, 2009 at 11:29pm — No Comments

Making limb more comfortable

I am experiencing pain in the stump and find walking very difficult. Any suggestions as to how to overcome phantom pain and rubbing and bleeding of the stump when wearing the artificial limb. Continue

Added by Laurence Alexander Elks on March 20, 2009 at 7:38pm — 2 Comments

Open Prosthetics in IEEE Spectrum

My article on the tough realities of designing next generation prosthetic arms and the philosophy behind the Open Prosthetics Project is up on IEEE Spectrum online, and will appear in the March issue of the magazine. There are a couple of edits I wasn't thrilled with, but in general I'm pleased. To quote the sidebar about how everyone can help with OPP: "While it’s most natural to want to help within your area of expertise, it’s not a requi… Continue

Added by Jon Kuniholm on March 1, 2009 at 2:33pm — 7 Comments

This is cool!

Plastic Soda Bottle Prosthesis - More DIY How To Projects Continue

Added by Michael Davidson, MPH, CPO on February 20, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

APRL you tube video

Jan 30, 2009 Hey all, there were a few members interested in understanding how the APRL works and is used. I made a video with a few details showing some of it's functions. I hope those who are interested get a better understanding of its functionality. You can find the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3HNq1tCd4E Just copy and paste. Good luck, Darryl Continue

Added by Darryl on January 30, 2009 at 7:25pm — 8 Comments

September 22, 2008 Edited Jan 13, 2009

I was thinking more about this whole prosthetic problem. We can no longer rely on the government to make advances in technology. The APRL, developed by the US Army in response to WWII amputees, has not stepped up to the plate again. We need to help ourselves, and with the help of many volunteers and others, who can offer private technical assistance, we can make these necessary advances that so many of us need. If there is anyone out there willing and able to help update, not only the APRL, but… Continue

Added by Darryl on January 13, 2009 at 7:28pm — 4 Comments

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