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Researchers To Develop Measure of Prosthesis Awareness
More than 14.5 million
SOURCE: “Marketplace 2022 Open Enrollment Period Report,” CMS.gov.
lower-limb loss need to “pay attention” to their prosthesis during activities, as well as how much they need to pay attention to changes when using a microprocessorcontrolled knee. Darter and his team are in the initial stages of developing a measurement tool to assess elements of function and to understand how technological advances benefit prosthesis users. The measure will be designed to assist clinicians in their ability to understand the walking abilities of patients with lower-limb loss, to ultimately improve mobility.
PHOTO: Getty Images
Americans signed up or were automatically reenrolled in 2022 individual market health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces during the open enrollment period. Approximately 11.5 million returning consumers and 3 million new consumers will be covered by ACA plans this year.
The Department of Defense has awarded a $1.97 million grant to Benjamin Darter, PhD, to study the impact of microprocessorcontrolled knees on prosthesis awareness and overall health. Darter, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions, will collaborate with the University of Washington and Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education to develop a measure assessing how much individuals with
Scientists Create Anthropomorphic Robotic Hand
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FEBRUARY 2022 | O&P ALMANAC
PHOTO: Uikyum Kim, PhD
South Korean researchers Uikyum Kim, PhD, from Ajou University and Dawoon Jung from Korea University have developed the ILDA hand, an integrated linkage-driven dexterous anthropomorphic robotic hand. The prosthesis has been designed to be dexterous, with a high degree of control, while remaining low cost and low maintenance, according to the researchers. The compact design features 15 degrees of freedom in 20 joints and a fingertip force of 24 newtons. Five fingers with fingertip sensors are integrated with 15 motors. Kim and Jung led experiments demonstrating that the hand can hold an egg without cracking it, pour drinks, cut paper using scissors, and manipulate tweezers. “Existing prosthetic hands have implemented the simple function of grasping objects. The ILDA hand is capable of delicately or strongly grasping objects of various shapes, as well as manipulating complex tools used in daily life,” said Kim. “It is expected that future prosthetic hands will be developed in such a way that most of the tasks currently performed by human hands are possible.” Kim and his team plan to expand this project by developing a flexible, artificial skin to cover the current prototype. Details were published in December in Nature Communications.
