SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The Point DigitA Ratcheting Prosthetic Finger UsingAdvanced Rapid Manufacturing Technology Project SummaryAbstract The goal of the proposed project is to develop and commercialize a purely mechanicalratcheting prosthetic fingerthe Point Digitwhichhas an industry leading strength to weight ratiocan be operated unilaterallyone handedoffers anatomical rotation and flexion around the patient s metacarpophalangealMCPjointandcan be custom made for each patient using advanced metalD printing technologyThe care of upper limb amputees requires a highly individualized approach to medicineEach patient brings unique needs to the clinic including various levels of amputationlifestylespersonal experienceand other medical indicatorsProsthetists and occupational therapists work with each patient to provide a personalized medical solution using whatever components and technologies are available on the open marketVery oftenthe bottleneck in this system is the development of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb systemThe largest population of upper limb amputees are those with partial hand amputationsThis population outnumbers all other levels of upper limb amputees by a factor ofThereforewe can make a significant clinical impact if a product serves this population effectivelyHowevercurrent commercial products for partial hand amputees do not satisfy all of the needs of these patientspassive fingers are seen as being fragile and difficult to use while powered fingers are expensive and require additional components like batteries and electronics that can be cumbersome to the userIn this Fast Track effortwe propose tointernally verify the Point Digit through a battery of mechanical testsvalidate the user needs of the Point Digit with partial hand amputees for regulatory requirements andassess the utility of the Point Digit through a clinical take home study of partial hand amputeesThe mission of Point Designs LLC is to innovate devices and algorithms in the field of upper limb prosthetic designWe develop products that provide prosthetists and patients with solutions to meet the unique needs of each patient in this dynamic and challenging healthcare settingThe Point Digit will provide an effective and durable solution for many upper limb amputees with finger loss and ensure their ability to enjoy their workfamilyand life to the fullest Project NarrativePoint Designs LLC Point Designs LLC proposes to develop and commercialize a purely mechanicalratcheting prosthetic fingerindependent from electronics and batteriesthereby reducing costsizeand complexity while increasing reliability and durabilitythat can be custom made for each patient using advanced metalD printing technologyThe amputation of full or partial fingers can cause physicalpsychosocialand economic damage to an individualReplacement of a finger requires a mechanical design that can withstand the forcestorquesand environmental conditions of everyday life
