Conceptual innovation of a prosthetic hand using TRIZ

Abstract

Planar linkages with one degree of freedom have been applied to prosthetic hands in the past years, but only one gripping configuration can be performed by these designs. This paper demonstrates the conceptual design processes for a patented prosthetic hand, which has the functions for switching the gripping forms and locking the gripping configuration. A systematically innovative methodology called the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is employed to generate the concepts for the desired functions. The skills of Contradiction and Substance-Field Analysis in TRIZ are effectively applied in this study. Also, motion simulation for an embodiment of the proposed prosthetic hand is given by using the Working Model 3D software. The simulating results show that the design is applicable to perform two different gripping forms for hand prostheses.