title: An experimental apparatus to simulate body-powered prosthetic usage: Development and preliminary evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Harness fitting in the body-powered prosthesis remains more art than science due to a lack of consistent and quantitative evaluation. The aim of this study was to develop a mechanical, human-body-shaped apparatus to simulate body-powered upper limb prosthetic usage and evaluate its capability of quantitative examination of harness configuration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The apparatus was built upon a torso of a wooden mannequin and integrated major mechanical joints to simulate terminal device operation. Sensors were used to register cable tension, cable excursion, and grip force simultaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The apparatus allowed the scapula to move up to 127 mm laterally and the load cell can measure the cable tension up to 445 N. Our preliminary evaluation highlighted the needs and importance of investigating harness configurations in a systematic and controllable manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The apparatus allows objective, systematic, and quantitative evaluation of effects of realistic harness configurations and will provide insightful and working knowledge on harness fitting in upper limb amputees using body-powered prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA fan.gao@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Johanan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapp
mesh_terms: D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods; D000066908:Simulation Training
keywords: Body-powered; cable excursion; cable tension; grip force