Print Email Facebook Twitter Bamboo Prehensor for the developing countries Title Bamboo Prehensor for the developing countries Author Mohamed, R. Contributor Van der Helm, F.C.T. (mentor) Plettenburg, D.H. (mentor) Smit, G. (mentor) Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering Department BioMechanical Engineering Programme BME Date 2011-11-29 Abstract It is estimated that 25 million people around the world suffer from upper limb amputation. 82% of these amputees live in developing countries and usually find it difficult to provide for their families because they depend on physical labor. At first glance it would seem that the solution is simple, the use of a prosthesis. However currently available upper limb prostheses are beyond the capabilities of most of the people in the developing countries. Thus there is a need for a prosthesis that can be easily manufactured in the developing countries and which is affordable for the individuals. Bamboo is a material that can be found in most developing countries, it has a good combination of properties such as specific strength and specific stiffness. Therefore, the goal of this research project is to make a body powered hand prosthesis out of bamboo. The prosthesis uses a combination of levers to move and to provide high gripping force with a low actuation force. However, the results show that there is a high energy loss occurring at the joints of the levers. Furthermore, the operating force is high (120 N) and the grasping force is low (14 N). However, by adjusting the position of the cable and spring the operating force can be reduced while the grasping force is increased. Thus, it can be stated that a prosthesis made out of bamboo is a feasible option; but the performance of the prosthesis is very sensitive to the accuracy of the manufacturing process. ? Subject Bamboo Body powered prosthesis prehensor developing countries To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8d3779cc-b463-4dae-9e35-e14a7420e0de Embargo date 2011-11-30 Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights (c) 2011 Mohamed, R. Files PDF Master_thesis_Rana_Mohamed.pdf 1.05 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:8d3779cc-b463-4dae-9e35-e14a7420e0de/datastream/OBJ/view