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Candidacy
Not having fingers or a thumb to act in opposition to one another makes simple tasks such as holding a fork or a cup difficult and frustrating. Thanks to ProDigits, an expertly built prosthesis rebuilds function and confidence.
Each individually powered ProDigit provides myoelectric control that has never been possible before. Now partial hands patients with between 1-5 missing fingers have a solution for what was once a highly debilitating condition.
Socket Design and Interface Materials
All designs make every effort to preserve the critical functional elements of the hand, as well as to protect compromised skin. This is normally accomplished by using multidurometer silicone interface materials, which allows ProDigits users to comfortably wear the sockets without further irritating or damaging the soft tissue of their remnant digits or hands.
The modular nature of each ProDigit and the individually powered motor located within each digit means that the clinician can build a replacement prosthesis that is close to the patient or users missing anatomy.
Input/Signal Systems
Although electrodes are regularly used to activate the opening and closing of the fingers of the ProDigits system, the development team expanded the input options to include force sensing resistors (FSR or touch pad) and linear transducers, which allows patients to initiate movement in the fingers even if muscles in the affected area are absent, burned or otherwise unable to generate an electromyographic signal strong enough to create movement.
Control Strategy
Once an acceptable and repeatable signal site and input method is identified and tested, various control strategies are considered and tested, in order to either immediately or sequentially allow the user to intuitively activate the desired motion.
The ProDigits system also allows for non-grasping but very important activities, like finger pointing, which can be used for keyboarding, cell phone or ATM use, as well as “thumbs up” motions normally used as elements of expression by those of us with intact hands.
The practitioner can choose among the various control strategies via Bluetooth connections to the ProDigits System to maximize the functions needed by the user.
Power
All electromechanical prostheses require stored power, as well as access to charging the batteries, and a method of turning the device off and on. Locating this “hardware” in the device depends on the length of the remnant limb. If the amputation is far enough proximal to the MCP joints, these elements of the device can be integrated into the “palm” of the prosthesis.
If the amputation site is more distal, then the “hardware” must be moved onto the forearm, and housed in as unobtrusive a method as possible, while still providing access for charging the batteries.
Function and Appearance
Touch Bionics’ development team has created a choice of two innovative prosthesis coverings, both of which set new industry benchmarks, meet specific usage objectives and provide a suitable aesthetic to align with the patient’s personal preference.
Coverings provide a firm grasp and good control of whatever is being held. The silicone base material is a barrier to water and other destructive particles that can damage the electromechanical elements of the system.
For some patients the high-tech clear and black robotic skins offered by the company create a confident and highly functional solution. Others prefer a LIVINGSKIN option – this high definition silicone solution is used to provide a human-like restoration to the combined limb and prosthesis for a comprehensive prosthetic restoration.
Benefits
The benefits of the ProDigits system to partial hands patients without the ability to grasp any objects are obvious, and relatively easy to identify. What is less obvious as a benefit or, when being considered by a payer or healthcare provider, as a cost saving is the common risk of Overuse Syndrome, also referred to as Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI), which is associated with unilateral hand loss and excessive use of the intact hand. This commonly results in problems at the wrist, elbow and/or shoulder, and can require medication, therapy and surgery to correct. In the bilaterally involved patient, the benefits of the system are even more obvious.
Vocational and social reengagement is also very important to patients’ rehabilitation after a traumatic event. Partial hand injuries are, by their nature, challenging aesthetically and therefore all that can be done to reinstate a patients function and interaction other people within their chosen lifestyle and career is another direct benefit of ProDigits.
Due to the personalized nature of each ProDigits fitting, Touch Bionics is developing a clinical collaborator program in North America that will enable the company to partner with practitioners in order to support patients at a local level. Around the world Touch Bionics has established relationships and distribution channels in over 40 countries to support the roll-out of ProDigits – supported from its Centre of Excellence in Livingston, Scotland, where the company has fit patients from all over the world.
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