Abstract
The state of the art in the technology of prosthetic hands is moving rapidly forward. However, there are only two types of prosthetic hands available in Libya: the Passive Hand and the Mechanical Hand. It is very important, therefore, to develop the prosthesis existing in Libya so that the use of the prosthesis is as practical as possible. Considering the case of amputation below the elbow, with two movements: opening and closing the hand, this work discusses two stages: developing the operation of the body-powered prosthetic hand by controlling it via the surface electromyography signal (sEMG) through dsPIC30f4013 processor and a servo motor and a software based on fuzzy logic concept to detect and process the EMG signal of the patient as well as using it to train the patient how to control the movements without having to fit the prosthetic arm. The proposed system has been practically implemented, tested, and gave satisfied results, especially that the used processor provides fast processing with high performance compared to other types of microcontrollers.
Highlights
Worldwide, every year the number of amputees increases from 150,000 to 200,000, which are added to the existing four millions; 30% of these amputees have suffered from upper limb amputation, 60% of the arm amputations are found in people between 21 and 64 years old, whereas 10% of them are patients under 21 [1]
The BodyPowered Prosthesis is operated with straps that commonly pass over the amputees’ shoulders and is controlled by scapula abduction; the Electrical Hand is operated by a motor driven by microswitches; and the Myoelectric Hand is operated by a microprocessor and Conference Papers in Engineering a motor which are controlled by electromyography signals (EMG)
The EMG signals are biological signals that occur in the residual limb and can be collected with sensors to control the movement of the prosthesis
Summary
Every year the number of amputees increases from 150,000 to 200,000, which are added to the existing four millions; 30% of these amputees have suffered from upper limb amputation, 60% of the arm amputations are found in people between 21 and 64 years old, whereas 10% of them are patients under 21 [1]. Many of upper limb amputees wear body-powered prostheses, either a hook or a hand-shaped, and these devices offer limited functionality with motions of elbow flexion and extension, hook articulation, and wrist rotation [3]. These gestures are controlled by the needed force from the body with a shoulder harness and cable for operation [4]. In the 1950s–1960s, the myoelectrically controlled prosthetics was introduced, where the prosthesis controlled by reading and processing signals generated by flexing of the remaining muscles of a limb [6] This type of signals is called EMG signal.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
