Upper Limb Prosthetic Design Handbook For Makers & Hobbyists
My name is Jason Bender and I am a Certified Prosthetist from the United States now living and working in Myanmar. I am seeking to between $1,500-1,900 (now $2,400-$3000 see comments) to complete a design handbook/reference targeted hobbyists and makers to hopefully catalyze them in developing new devices and pathways for the limb-loss community. Formal proposal to follow after discussion.
The Global Need
According to the World Health Organization, 9 out of 10 people globally do not have access to the assistive devices they need. With an estimated 4-12 million people living with upper extremity limb-loss and 300,000 new upper-limb amputations occuring every year, it is imperative that we find new innovative pathways of delivering quality and effective prosthetic devices and services to the underserved limb-loss community around the world.
A New Source For Ideas
An emerging source for innovative approaches to prosthetic care is the global hobbyist, maker, or “hacker” community. Disruptions emerging from this cohort include both methods of delivery as well as functional devices--some of which have even been approved and accepted by traditional healthcare systems.
Equipping New Designers
Therefore, the purpose of this handbook is to equip people from more diverse backgrounds to join the work of imagining and creating new prosthetic devices and services. Using theory and principles from over 200 years of prosthetic history, this handbook seeks to provide resources and tools that will help hobbyists, makers, and “lay” designers to not only avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, but be better equipped to provide meaningful contributions to the global limb-loss community.
Beginning with a proper framework for prosthetic care provision and historical background, the handbook will cover various aspects of device design, including: upper limb anatomy and function, useful biomechanics, mechanical hand design, device control methods, and design-for-manufacturing with a focus on 3D-printing.
A brief sample is attached.
Let me know your thoughts. As I mentioned in the Facebook group, while I'd love to do this for free, our existence in Myanmar is dependent on keeping our fledgling small business going. Full support from e-Nable will also allow to keep the work 100% free and available to the entire maker community. Can discuss multiple funding strategies.
Have a look at the sample, especially the intro and TOC and let me know what you think. Good to hash it out a bit before the formal proposal.
Jon Schull Sat 23 Mar 2019 12:54PM
:thumbsup:
Skip Meetze Thu 21 Mar 2019 6:37PM
Jason, your Hintha Hand design shows your mastery of many design elements presented over the history of e-NABLE. That with your mastery of the O&P profession and your obvious talent as a writer makes you an ideal author for the handbook you propose. In the Hintha Hand, I see elements going back to 2014 like the thumb in Ali Lemus’s GalileoHand, through 2016 with Blies Ingram’s Drinky Pinky and with contemporary designs like the Gripper, the Kwawu and the TuuTree. With the flurry of excellent design activity in the community at present, we need this book! The sooner you get started the better!
Richard VanderMey Fri 22 Mar 2019 3:00PM
I second that Skip, we need a Handbook mostly for New Members but one we can all use as well.
ebubar Sat 23 Mar 2019 1:22AM
Posted a Facebook messenger message to you for a possible additional funding avenue. Cheers!
Saiph Savage Mon 8 Jul 2019 3:46PM
hi Jason, with @jonschull we are leading a study to understand how OT work with makers etc. Would it be possible to interview you to get your perspective? Thank you for all the hard work!
Jason Bender · Sat 23 Mar 2019 1:34AM
You, Jeff and I have gone round and round on this before (and probably will again), we'll have to agree to disagree I think.
FWIW i am also working on some devices that may push things closer to "off the shelf" too. Lowering entry barriers is vital, but different than no barriers.