Prosthetics+design

A prosthesis is an artificial limb (an artificial substitute) that replaces a missing leg or arm due to disease, accidents, or congenital defects. Main types of artificial limbs: ◦ Transtibial prosthesis ◦ Transfemoral prosthesis ◦ Transradial prosthesis ◦ Transhumeral prosthesis

Prosthesis designs
 * functional
 * special purpose
 * performance
 * [|design projects] - choices about the role of the prosthetic. Why does it have to look like a hand at all? I wanted mine to be beautiful, but in a way that wasn’t trying to blend too hard.

Research
 * [|Amputation and Prosthetic Engineering Research] - research encompasses improving patient mobility and comfort and preventing injury.


 * News, updates**
 * [|Watts middle school students build prosthetic] - win national engineering design competition.
 * [|Fulfilling a 6-Year-Old’s Dream]: UCF Students Design and Build Him an Arm - Thanks to University of Central Florida engineering doctoral student Albert Manero, climbing a tree and catching a ball will get a lot easier for Alex. Manero heard about the Groveland boy’s need and pulled together a team of his friends. In their free time they designed an arm for Alex. It was made on a 3-D printer and runs with off-the-shelf servos and batteries that are activated by the electromyography muscle energy on Alex’s bicep.

[|Water dancing] (video 27:40) - design and build prosthetics that will propel a swimmer through the water. This is based on an episode of the Design Squad TV program. The swimmer is Lisa Bufano, a dancer and artist who's also a leg and finger amputee.
 * What's the problem?**
 * **Ask** - How might we create a prosethesis that is both beautiful and functional for Lisa's water dancing? How does Lisa's amputation factor into the design? What can Lisa do that will help her use a prosthetic for her swimming performance?
 * **Imagine** - What are some beautiful swimming animals fins that can be adapted fro Lisa's prosthesis?
 * **Design, Build** - Using sea creatures for inspiration, the Purple Team's design has umbrellas to look like a jellyfish. Green Team makes prosthetics with flippers and swirling fabric that look like a spiny lion fish.
 * **Improve** - The two teams can up with workable solutions. How could these be combined to make a better prosthesis?


 * That's engineering**
 * [|prosthesis] - an artificial replacement for a missing body part
 * [|rapid prototyping] - a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data.
 * [|fabricate] - to make by art or skill and labor; construct, to make by assembling parts or sections. to devise or invent.
 * [|stiffness] - rigidity or a measure of rigidity, inflexibility or a measure of inflexibility

> mobility, fabricate, rapid prototyping, stiffness, torque, adapter, propulsive forces, vibration, locomotive, stability, biomechanics, sensors, algorithms, assistive powered devices, flexible sensing array, torsional characteristics, servos, electromyography
 * Engineering ideas**

Challenges for you to work on...
 * Do It**
 * given the same challenge, design and build prosthetics for swimming that are functional and beautiful to watch in action.
 * [|Prosthetic Arm Challenge] - design and build a prosthetic arm that meets the requirements for the challenge.


 * Learn more...**
 * [|Prosthesis design] - many different designs shown

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