3D-printing allows for fluid-controlled linear actuators with unconventional shapes

Background: Pneumatic actuators are widely used in applications like (medical) robots, or prostheses. Pneumatic actuators require a complex manufacturing process and are produced in standardized dimensions to reduce costs. Over the last decade 3D-printing has emerged as a cost-effective and efficient production method in medical applications....

Design and evaluation of the pneumatic leg prosthesis ERiK to assist elderly amputees with sit-down and stand-up movements

Standing up using one leg is a challenging task for those with a transfemoral amputation, particularly for elderly users with a low activity level. Active prostheses are generally not accessible to this group and available passive prostheses do not support standing up. This article presents the design and evaluation of the “Energy Restoring...

Mechanical aspects of robot hands, active hand orthoses and prostheses: A comparative review

The large interest in robot hands and active hand prostheses has in recent years been joined by that in active hand orthoses. Despite the differences in intended uses, these three categories of artificial hand devices share key characteristics. Examination of the commonalities could stimulate future design. Thus, in this article, we undertook...