Development of a Flexible Socket Integrated with Array Electrodes for a Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand

Abstract

Myoelectric upper limb prosthesis has attracted attention in recent years because can be operated intuitively using EMG signal and its appearance is close to real hand.But it still has some problems such as its stability of contact condition or determination of the optimum position of electrodes. This study reports the Development of a socket integrated with array electrode for myoelectric upper limb prosthesis. This array electrode, which was made of conductive cloth, can cope with various shapes of stumps of amputees including children. The advanced socket integrated with the developed array electrodes has capabilities to determine the appropriate positions of electrodes without much considering the location. We prototyped a band type array electrode using fabric electrodes and this one is valid for detecting EMG signals for the control of myoelectric upper limb prosthesis.