FEASIBILITY OF THE GLIDE MYOELECTRIC CONTROL ALGORITHM TO PARTIAL HAND PROSTHESIS CONTROL.

Abstract

While the number of individuals with partial hand limb loss is ten times greater than all other upper limb amputation categories combined, the state of available technology for this underserved patient population is relatively poor. Even though studies report preference towards myoelectric partial hand prostheses, patient adoption of myoelectric devices has been stunted by the limitations of the only control methodology commercially available, direct control. To address this challenge, we suggest the novel application of the Glide myoelectric control strategy to individuals with partial hand limb loss. In this work, we describe preliminary investigations with two individuals with partial hand limb loss, one with standard, intrinsic musculature of the residual hand and another who has undergone state-of-the-art surgical interventions.