The Arm Guard

Prosthetics in the world today

The topic area I have chosen is prosthetic limbs and what can be improved in their function or usability. The research undertaken regarding this topic consisted of a survey and an interview regarding various features and functions of prosthetics out in the world today. The key finding from this research was that people who wear a prosthetic want it to be comfortable. They value the prosthetic being comfortable over functionality almost every time as in the majority of cases, the prosthetic is being worn for four or more hours each day.
The research helped greatly in identifying the area that design application is needed in. Given that most prosthetics nowadays are primarily designed for functionality and having gadgets that try to make life easier for the wearer, there is a large gap in the design of prosthetics that focus on being comfortable for the wearer. The research heavily influenced the design direction that was selected as it presented a massive gap in the design of comfortable prosthetics.
The value of a comfortable prosthetic for the wearer is greatly underestimated, as is evident in the fact that 25-57% of cases where a prosthetic is custom made for a patient, the prosthetic is abandoned permanently. Also, it has been found that people who wear a prosthetic feel more confident while wearing it. This further supports the idea that creating a comfortable design should be at the forefront of the development of future prosthetics.

My Project

The main feature of my design solution is the connection point between the prosthesis and the harness, which is a simple twist and click mechanism. This makes it easy for the wearer to attach the prosthetic and alleviates the pressure that a suction cup attachment produces. The compression of the elastic sleeve helps with blood flow to the arm, which helps stop any pain or discomfort that might come from using a suction cup to attach the prosthetic. As well as this, the harness part of the design helps distribute the weight across the shoulders and back of the wearer, and not just pull on the elbow and cause pain to the wearer.
The design is highly customisable. This includes being able to have custom connection points that are the perfect shape of a user’s arm. This is possible because the connection parts are 3D printed and allows for the user’s limb to be scanned, modelled, and printed very fast.
It also has a sleek look with the elastic pressing against the skin, and the connector being attached almost seamlessly. It is also highly customisable because it is 3D printed, as the colours or designs can be varied quite easily. The sleeve is made out of nylon and polyester, while the harness is a polyester foam padding. This means the harness and sleeve are quite comfortable and won’t cause any irritation or soreness while being worn.
Given the design consists of only fabric and 3D printed components, the technical requirements for producing one are easy to fulfill as 3D printing is becoming more and more common, and the harness requires very minimal sewing. This design for a new prosthetic harness takes into account what the users want and provides a purposeful solution to the problem of comfortability. The design is simple and easy to manufacture and allows for customisation so that the user can make it their own.