Students from Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNIPU) have created mechanical and bionic limb prostheses. Parts for them can be printed on a 3D printer. This was reported in the press service of the university.
The developers created a 3D model and a prototype of a mechanical active traction prosthesis of the hand, which is driven by muscle strength transmitted through a lever and a system of cables.
The prosthesis is lightweight, does not require power sources or complex electronics, while maintaining basic functionality. 3D printing is also used for the manufacture of components. Over the next two years, the developers intend to increase their share to 95% by using a five-axis printing principle with reinforcement of polymer layers. This manufacturing process will ensure greater lightness and strength of the parts of each device.
Students are also developing a model of a bionic forearm prosthesis, which has a neurointerface capable of reading the electrical activity of the motor area of the cerebral cortex. The received signal is transmitted in digital form to the prosthesis, which, in turn, uses a neural network to repeat the desired gesture.
These solutions will take the field of prosthetics in Russia to a new level, improve the quality and technological effectiveness of the products being produced. The implementation of mass production of upper limb prostheses will increase their availability.
The device developers founded the company General Bionic (J B LLC) for further development of the project. The study was conducted in the process of the Prototyping Center of the PNIPU business incubator.
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