e-NABLE Prosthetic Emulator

The e-NABLE Prosthetic Emulator straps onto the arm of an able-bodied person to allow evaluation of upper limb prosthetic Terminal Devices (TDs). It can be an aid to clinicians when they train the amputee in the use of a prosthesis. It also is useful to designers as a testing device for experiencing experimental Terminal Device designs in use.

The Emulator is easy to fabricate with printed parts and a 1 1/4 inch plastic pipe. It attaches to the Terminal Device with the standard 1/2-20 screw thread (or M12 fine thread where metric is used). A standard Bowden cable can be fabricated from a String trimmer filament (or nylon 1.75mm printing filament) and a printed bead. The cable is attached to the Emulator (for elbow-powered operation) or to a shoulder harness in the conventional manner.

This is a new design that is evolving for use by e-NABLE volunteers to develop new experimental designs for assistive devices. The design and instructions will be updated from time to time based on testing and feedback.

Emulator was presented at e-NABLE Town Hall on 1 April 2016.
https://youtu.be/_bpnDOAz7FU

Designers: Would you like to try your hand at the SPORT-SPECIFIC TERMINAL DEVICE CHALLENGE?

Makers: Would you like put your 3D printer to good use? Join us and BUILD A HAND

Know someone who could use a hand? Join us and check in with NEED A HAND