A Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Socket with an Adjustable Tightening Mechanism for Fitting Forearm Circumference Changes

This study aims to develop a myoelectric prosthetic hand socket that adapts to changes in residual limb circumference resulting from variations in physical conditions and user growth.Typically, insufficient contact between the residual limb and the electromyography sensor may reduce the operability of the myoelectric prosthetic hand.Conventional sockets address this issue by deforming to fit the current residual limb circumference; however, such deformation can cause skin pinching, thereby hindering proper socket attachment.To address this issue, this study incorporated a cushioning wire to prevent direct contact between the deformed area and the skin, thus mitigating skin pinching.Evaluation results of the internal pressure measurements, electromyography data acquisition, and user interviews confirmed that the socket effectively adapts to changes in residual limb circumference while reducing the incidence of skin pinching.