Mechanical Analysis and Optimization of a Prosthetic Hand Incorporating a Compliant Mechanism Finger Design

Prosthetic fingers are the key component in Prosthetic hand, it is specific for individual, as each person have unique dimension for their finger. Fingers in human hand play a vital role in handling minute and delicate objects with accurate and precise control. A prosthetic finger can be as challenging to design and manufacture, purely due to its complexity in designing small and complex parts starting from phalanges, knuckles, and actuation systems. Developing and manufacturing automorphic prosthetic finger which closely replicate the movements and functionality of human finger is a challenging area. This paper studies the structural compliance of thermoplastic urethane (TPU) in application to prosthetic finger. In this work the design and analysis of prosthetic finger with compliant joints is proposed, by designing a computer aided (CAD) model. The proposed design incorporates a monolithic design where no further post processing and assembly is required for a fabricated prosthetic finger, thus reducing the cost in manufacturing and implement simple design, increasing the reliability of the prosthetic finger. In order to validate the proposed design, the structural design is analyzed using computational analysis tool like finite element analysis (FEM). And the upshot of this study demonstrates the potential for advancements in shaping the advanced and cost-effective prosthetic finger. The findings from this study can typically reinforce the customization and functionality of prosthetic devices, conclusively enhancing the quality of life for those who are amputated.