The influence of structural parameters on the design function of the tendon driven prosthetic hand

Wearing a prosthesis is one of an alternative way to restore the lost limb functions for amputees. Various prosthetic hands have been designed with different driven mechanisms and structures, which lead to distinct prosthesis functions. The prosthesis function is one of the main reasons for deciding whether the amputees use the prosthesis or not Therefore, this study focuses on analyzing the influence of structural parameters on the prosthesis function through a tendon driven prosthetic hand. Seven parameters of a tendon driven prosthetic finger in four categories, including transmission ratio, spring coefficient, friction coefficient and phalanx thickness, were analyzed. The relationship between structural parameters and phalange forces was studied. Besides, each structural parameter’s influence level on phalange forces has been roughly compared. The friction and thickness influence the contact forces, which may lead to an obvious discrepancy between theoretical calculation and practical application if they were ignored in the mechanical model and simulation. This study aims to provide structural design guidance for the specific requirement of the prosthetic hand.