The Point Powered: A Robust Actuated Prosthetic Finger for Partial Hand Amputation

The Point Powered: A Robust Powered Prosthetic Fingerfor Partial Hand AmputationPROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The goal of the proposed project is to develop a robust, powered prosthetic finger – the Point Powered – which 1) has an industry leading strength and speed, 2) offers anatomical rotation and flexion, and 3) can be made using advanced metal 3D printing technology. The Point Powered is the next product in Point Designs’ product road map, which began with the Point Digit, a full finger mechanical prosthesis, and has continued with the Point Partial, and Point Digit II. Since the commercial launch of the Point Digit in early 2017, over 760 digits have been delivered to more than 280 patients. We developed the Point Digit to fill a void in the partial hand prosthetic field and then uncovered a need for a robust powered finger prosthesis. To answer the frequent request for a powered finger prosthesis, we will complete the development of the Point Powered through this funding opportunity. Completion of this project will result in the second powered prosthetic finger available in the United States, and third available worldwide. The care of people with upper limb amputations requires a highly individualized approach. Each patient brings unique needs to the clinic including various levels of amputation, lifestyles, personal experiences, and other medical indicators. Prosthetists and occupational therapists work with each patient to provide a personalized medical solution using whatever components and technologies are available on the open market. Very often, the bottleneck in this system is the availability of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system. The largest population of people with upper limb amputations are those with partial hand amputations. This population outnumbers all other levels of upper limb amputation by a factor of 10. Therefore, we can make a significant clinical impact if a product serves the partial hand amputee population effectively. However, current commercial products for people with partial hand amputations do not satisfy all the needs of these patients; there is a need for a robust powered digit solution. In this Phase 1 effort we propose to 1) complete the design and development of the Point Powered based on preliminary work (amputee and prosthetist focus groups, and proven Point Digit design features), and 2) internally verify the Point Powered through a battery of mechanical tests to verify design specifications including strength, speed, fatigue load failure, lifecycle, size, and weight. The mission of Point Designs LLC is to innovate devices and algorithms in the field of upper limb prosthetic design. We develop products that provide prosthetists and patients with solutions to meet the unique needs of each patient in this dynamic and challenging healthcare setting. The Point Powered will provide an effective and durable solution for many people with finger loss and ensure their ability to enjoy their work, family, and life to the fullest.PROJECT NARRATIVE Approximately 45,000 people sustain partial hand amputations in the United States every year, and amputation of full fingers can cause physical, psychosocial, and economic damage to an individual. There is currently only one powered prosthetic finger available to people with partial hand amputations in the United States, and fragility of these devices is often reported. In this project, Point Designs proposes to develop and commercialize a robust, powered prosthetic finger utilizing an electromechanical design that appropriates anatomy, produces user- defined forces and speeds, and withstands the rigors of everyday life.