A ratcheting prosthetic partial finger using advanced rapid manufacturing technology

The Point PartialA Ratcheting Prosthetic Partial FingerUsing Advanced Rapid Manufacturing Technology
Project SummaryAbstract
The goal of the proposed project is to develop a purely mechanicalratcheting prosthetic partial fingerthe Point
Partialwhichhas an industry leading strength to weight ratiocan be operated unilaterallyone handedoffers anatomical rotation and flexion around the patient s proximal interphalangealPIPjointandcan be
custom made for each patient using advanced metalD printing technologyThe Point Partial is the next product
in Point Designsproduct road mapwhich began with the Point Digita full finger mechanical prosthesisSince
the commercial launch of the Point Digit in earlydigits have been delivered topatientsWe
developed the Point Digit to fill a void in the partial hand prosthetic fieldand uncovered a need for a partial
finger prosthesisTo answer the frequent request for a robust passive partial finger prosthesiswe will begin
development of the Point Partial through this funding opportunityThe 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 the needs of these patientspassive fingers are often 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 Phaseeffort we propose todesign and develop Point Partial prototypes based on preliminary workamputee and prosthetist focus groupsand proven Point Digit design featuresandinternally verify the Point
Partial through a battery of mechanical testsThe 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 Partial 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 partial
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 partial finger requires a mechanical design that can withstand the forcestorquesand environmental conditions of everyday life