3D Computer-Aided Design Reconstructions and 3D Multi-Material Polymer Replica Printings of the First “Iron Hand” of Franconian Knight Gottfried (Götz) von Berlichingen (1480–1562): An Overview

Andreas Otte

doi:10.3390/prosthesis2040027

Abstract

Knight Götz von Berlichingen (1480–1562) lost his right hand distal to the wrist due to a cannon ball splinter injury in 1504 in the Landshut War of Succession at the age of 24. Early on, Götz commissioned a gunsmith to build the first “Iron Hand,” in which the artificial thumb and two finger blocks could be moved in their basic joints by a spring mechanism and released by a push button. Some years later, probably around 1530, a second “Iron Hand” was built, in which the fingers could be moved passively in all joints. In this review, the 3D computer-aided design (CAD) reconstructions and 3D multi-material polymer replica printings of the first “Iron hand“, which were developed in the last few years at Offenburg University, are presented. Even by today’s standards, the first “Iron Hand”—as could be shown in the replicas—demonstrates sophisticated mechanics and well thought-out functionality and still offers inspiration and food for discussion when it comes to the question of an artificial prosthetic replacement for a hand. It is also outlined how some of the ideas of this mechanical passive prosthesis can be translated into a modern motorized active prosthetic hand by using simple, commercially available electronic components.

Highlights

The famous Franconian knight Gottfried von Berlichingen (1480–1562) was born into a time of upheaval during the transition from the late Middle Ages to modern times: Michelangelo (1475–1564), Copernicus (1473–1543), Luther (1483–1546), Paracelsus (1493–1541), and Vesalius (1514–1564) lived almost simultaneously
Götz von Berlichingen bravely defended the ideals during the end of chivalry
We would like to give a detailed overview on these reconstructions and show the reader further developments that translated the fascinating mechanical Götz prosthesis into a motorized artificial hand

Summary

Introduction

The famous Franconian knight Gottfried ( called “Götz”) von Berlichingen (1480–1562) was born into a time of upheaval during the transition from the late Middle Ages to modern times: Michelangelo (1475–1564), Copernicus (1473–1543), Luther (1483–1546), Paracelsus (1493–1541), and Vesalius (1514–1564) lived almost simultaneously. Götz already thought about replacing his hand artificially during his time in the sick bay and early on commissioned a gunsmith to build the first “Iron Hand”. In this prosthesis, the artificial thumb and two finger blocks (index and middle finger, and ring finger and little finger, respectively) could be moved in their basic joints by a spring mechanism and released by a push button. We adapted some pieces of the mechanics, resulting in mainly three different variants of the hand’s reconstruction In this piece, we would like to give a detailed overview on these reconstructions and show the reader further developments that translated the fascinating mechanical Götz prosthesis into a motorized artificial hand.

The First 3D CAD Reconstruction

Conclusions