Award Abstract # 1951382
SBIR Phase II: Development and Evaluation of a Robust, Compliant, Sensorized Prosthetic Hand

NSF Org: TI
Translational Impacts
Recipient: PSYONIC INC
Initial Amendment Date: April 7, 2020
Latest Amendment Date: January 5, 2024
Award Number: 1951382
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Alastair Monk
amonk@nsf.gov
 (703)292-4392
TI
 Translational Impacts
TIP
 Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Start Date: February 15, 2020
End Date: June 30, 2024 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $739,302.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $943,162.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2020 = $739,302.00
FY 2021 = $203,860.00
History of Investigator:
  • Aadeel Akhtar (Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: PSYONIC, Inc.
9999 BUSINESSPARK AVE
SAN DIEGO
CA  US  92131-1174
(773)888-3252
Sponsor Congressional District: 51
Primary Place of Performance: PSYONIC, Inc.
60 Hazelwood Dr
Champaign
IL  US  61820-7460
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
13
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): C3GWZTCVJNY7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): SBIR Phase II
Primary Program Source: 01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 010E, 169E, 6840, 7632, 7744, 8034, 8240
Program Element Code(s): 537300
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.084

ABSTRACT

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project concerns the most common problems with complex prosthetic hands: lack of robustness, lack of waterproofing, lack of sensory feedback, and high cost. This project will advance the development of waterproof multi-articulated hands with a touch feedback system, offering an affordable solution to restore confidence and independence to over 10 million amputees worldwide.

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will extend the work done in Phase I to develop an affordable, robust myoelectric prosthetic hand that provides natural, compliant grasps with pressure feedback to users. The work in this proposal will involve advanced mechanical design techniques necessary for waterproofing a multi-articulated prosthetic hand. Additionally, the project will advance the development of a variable grip strength, semi-automatic contact reflex system to improve the range of manipulation tasks possible with upper limb prosthetic devices. Technical tasks include: 1) development of contact reflexes through integration of position control, pressure sensing interface, and speed control for both fine, compliant manipulation of delicate objects and gross manipulation of objects requiring high grip force; 2) waterproofing to an IP67 rating, a significant technical challenge because of the many potential points of ingress and required level of manufacturing precision; 3) the mobile application user interface; and 4) standardization for manufacturing at scale.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Akhtar, Aadeel "3D-Printing Hands that Feel" GetMobile: Mobile Computing and Communications , v.24 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1145/3457356.3457360 Citation Details

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

This SBIR Phase II project continued the development of the PSYONIC Ability Hand, a robust, anthropomorphic bionic hand that was the first to provide upper limb sensory feedback to users. Functionality and comfort are critical to mitigating prosthesis abandonment, and while the Ability Hand is a high performance prosthetic device that is both lightweight and durable, we recognized there would remain a gap in usage if users could not wash the hand or expose it to moisture, nor if users could not reliably grasp delicate objects. Moreover, in an ever-advancing digital world, technology must keep pace with the developing avenues that enable people to have ease of access and streamlined experiences. Therefore, through this awarded project, we successfully waterproofed and dustproofed the hand for safe hand washing and substance exposure, fine-tuned contact reflexes with pressure sensing capabilities that enable users to hold objects as fragile as an eggshell, and created a phone application to empower users, as well as enhance clinician and user collaboration, with the capability to customize their Ability Hand’s control systems and feedback intensity. 

 

Through these innovations, the Ability Hand offers not only sensory feedback for an augmented interaction with the tangible world, but added finger pressure sensors with contact reflexes as well as waterproofing further reduce barriers for people with upper limb differences and facilitate the human experience. The app has also enabled users to tailor their Ability Hand to personal specifications, which has helped patients attain better functionality with their prosthetic device, and provides clinicians with proper prosthesis control as they fit their patients. Through their phone, users can select specific default grips in a 4-grip cycle, configure the hand to work with third party control systems, specify if they want single electrode or dual-electrode utilization for single or direct muscle control, and train through the software by opening and closing grips. We concluded the project period with home trials to provide users with the opportunity to comfortably and naturally test the hand while performing everyday tasks, and deliver authentic feedback. All modifications suggested by the users were implemented, including software updates, thumb durability, and finger maneuverability, wherein 100% of tested users reported being satisfied with the product and wanted to keep their Ability Hand. The Ability Hand’s technological and cost advantages over other state-of-the-art prosthetic devices accomplish an impressive versatility that has bridged the long-existing gaps in capability for people with upper limb differences. 

 


Last Modified: 07/22/2024
Modified by: Aadeel Akhtar

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