Below Elbow Upper Limb Prosthetic for Amputees and Paralyzed Patients

An artificial limb is a type of prosthesis that replaces a missing extremity, such as arms or legs. The type of artificial limb required is determined by the availability of the left over stump after amputation. The main problem faced by the patients after amputation or paralysis is muscle atrophy caused due to nonfunctionality of the stump. The limited functionality leads to very limited flow of oxygenated blood to the stump causing muscle wasting which is a very big medical problem. Moreover after amputation or paralysis the patients become dependent on others for their basic functions or jobs which lead to serious psychological problems. This paper deals with the design of an upper limb below elbow prosthetic which can be used by both amputees and paralyzed patients to bring about simple hand movements independently by the patient. The electro-mechanical prosthetic arm will be a hollow shell structure supported by a neck and waist harness for the patient‟s support. General Terms Design of Prosthetic, Prototype development