Self powered wrist extension orthosis

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dc.contributor.authorSinger, Mathew Kyleen
dc.date.accessioned2008-09-07T22:36:28Z
dc.date.available2008-09-07T22:36:28Z
dc.date.issued2006en
dc.description.abstractOne of the most devastating effects of tetraplegia is the inability to grasp and manipulate everyday objects necessary to living an independent life. Currently surgery is widely accepted as the solution to improve hand functionality. However, surgery becomes difficult when the user has paralysed wrists as is the case with C5 tetraplegia. The aim of this research was to develop a solution which provided controlled wrist flexion and extension which, when combined with surgery, achieves a 'key pinch' grip. This particular grip is critically important for people with C5 tetraplegia as it is used for countless grasping activities, necessary on a day-to-day basis. A systematic design process was used to evolve the solution to provide controlled wrist flexion and extension. Concept brainstorming identified four alternative solutions which were evaluated to find the preferred concept. The chosen solution was called the Self Powered Wrist Extension Orthosis, more commonly referred to as the 'orthosis'. This concept contained a shoulder harness which provided both energy and control to the wrist harness, which in turn changed the wrist position. The orthosis was developed with the use of a mathematical model which theoretically predicted the functional performance by comparing the required force needed to move the wrist harness to the achievable force supplied by the user's shoulders. Using these parameters, the orthosis was optimized using the matlab Nelder-Mead algorithm which adjusted the wrist harness geometries to maximize the functional performance. A prototype was constructed and tested with the help of two participants who when combined, achieved an average of 18.5° of wrist rotation. The theoretical model however predicted an average range of motion of 28.4°. The discrepancy found between the theoretical and experimental result can be contributed to incorrect assumptions in the theoretical model. This included unaccounted friction and inaccurate modeling of the orthosis dynamics. The feedback from potential users of the orthosis was enthusiastic and encouraging especially towards the simplicity, usability and practicality of the design.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/1154
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.26021/1587
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. Mechanical Engineeringen
dc.relation.isreferencedbyNZCUen
dc.rightsCopyright Mathew Kyle Singeren
dc.rights.urihttps://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/thesesen
dc.subjectorthosisen
dc.subjectprostheticsen
dc.subjectself powereden
dc.subjectwristen
dc.subjecttetraplegiaen
dc.subjectquadriplegiaen
dc.subjecttenodesisen
dc.subjectexoskeletonen
dc.subjectC7en
dc.subjectC6en
dc.subjectC5en
dc.subjectC4en
dc.subjectspinal cord injuryen
dc.subjectparalysisen
dc.subjectwrist extensionen
dc.subjectflexionen
dc.subjectextensionen
dc.subjectabductionen
dc.subjectkey pinchen
dc.subjectlateral pinchen
dc.subjectrestorationen
dc.subjectadductionen
dc.subjectthumben
dc.subjecttenodesisen
dc.titleSelf powered wrist extension orthosisen
dc.typeTheses / Dissertations
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Canterburyen
thesis.degree.levelMastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Engineeringen
uc.bibnumber1050057en
uc.collegeFaculty of Engineeringen
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