Preliminary Clinical Evaluation of the X-Limb Hand: A 3D Printed Soft Robotic Hand Prosthesis

Abstract

This paper presents the initial clinical assessment of the X-Limb hand, a 3D printed myoelectric hand prosthesis with fully soft/compliant structure. The design also takes into account the practical requirements including light-weight, multi-grasping capability, ease of manufacture and intrinsic actuation. The X-Limb hand is tested with one person with unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency who never used any type of hand prosthesis. He performed two prosthetic functionality benchmark measures: Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) and Box and Block (BB) test. The results of the X-Limb hand are compared with the DEKA arm (the most advanced upper-limb prosthesis) and SoftHand Pro ..