Print Email Facebook Twitter Cosmetic glove stiffness compensation for body-powered hand prostheses: Design of a novel negative stiffness element Title Cosmetic glove stiffness compensation for body-powered hand prostheses: Design of a novel negative stiffness element Author Bos, R.A. Contributor Van der Helm, F.C.T. (mentor) Plettenburg, D.H. (mentor) Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering Department BioMechanical Engineering Programme BME Date 2013-12-18 Abstract The addition of a cosmetic glove to an upper limb prosthesis has an indispensable effect on the cosmetic value, but its viscoelastic behaviour adds a substantial amount of stiffness and hysteresis to the system. Consequently, the overall usability of the prosthesis is degraded. A novel negative stiffness element is designed to compensate for the cosmetic glove's stiffness. A combination of using linear helical springs and the concept of rolling link mechanisms has resulted in a Rolling Stiffness Compensation Mechanism (RSCM). Results show that the RSCM is capable of exerting a progressive negative stiffness characteristic and fits into a 33 mm diameter wrist. Consequently, an otherwise voluntary opening toddler-sized prosthesis is converted into a voluntary closing device, reducing maximum operation forces down to 40 N with a combined effiency of 52%. Further adjustments to the design are able to further improve the efficiency of the mechanism. Moreover, changes in geometric relations of the mechanism offers possibilities for a wide range of prostheses and other applications. Subject negative stiffnessupper limb prostheticsrolling link mechanismscosmetic glove To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4f3b5f65-eaca-476f-8013-13660bafb860 Embargo date 2018-12-18 Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights (c) 2013 Bos, R.A. Files PDF Thesis_Ronald_Bos.pdf 4.78 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:4f3b5f65-eaca-476f-8013-13660bafb860/datastream/OBJ/view