Improving the Controlling Design and Operation of a Finger Simulator

Abstract

Different kinds of simulators are available to test the finger (metacarpophalangeal) joint prosthesis devices before assembling inside human body. Generally, those run by PIC microcontroller, which are critically designed and very large in sizes. Recently, different kinds of small, programmable and less energy consuming Circuit Boards have been used to run various electronic projects or systems. Additionally these small circuit boards are also valid for controlling the applications of the simulators. The School of Mechanical & Systems Engineering of Newcastle University, currently, is in possession of four pneumatic simulators which was previously used to test finger prostheses. Each rig has conducted in the vicinity of one hundred million cycles of flexion and extension. The aim of this project is to improve the design of controlling the finger simulator by using a programmable circuit board. The project has beendivided into three different categories, designing, making and testing.