Coordinate Design Refinement for Open-Source Myoelectric Prosthetic Arm

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Community Prosthetic Fitting Initiative — Design Refinement Coordination

Context

Based on our analysis of the current prosthetic clinical trial landscape and open-source design ecosystem, we are coordinating a community fitting initiative across the Boston/Cambridge/Somerville area.

Clinical Trial Landscape Insights

Analysis of active prosthetic-related clinical trials reveals:

• Phases: Early-phase studies (Phase I-II) dominate current prosthetic and neuromuscular research, with a growing focus on myoelectric control systems and osseointegration
• Sponsors: Academic medical centers and NIH-funded consortia are the most active sponsors, alongside industry collaborators focused on advanced prosthetics
• Trend: There is strong momentum toward affordable, accessible prosthetic solutions — aligning with our open-source mission

Open-Source Projects Identified

Key repositories for collaboration:

1. MichiganNeuroProsthetics/BlueBionics — Silverhand arm (one-motor & two-motor models); open-source 3D-printed prosthetic arms for kids
2. r-echeverri/Open-Source-Low-Cost-Myoelectric-Prosthetic-Arm — Low-cost myoelectric transradial prosthetic arm using FDM 3D printing
3. turing-lab/GalileoHandMechanical — Low-cost (<$100) mechanical 3D-printed prosthetic hand/arm DIY kit
4. Percyus14/Open-source-prosthetic-arm — Open-source prosthetic using 3D-printed parts, Raspberry Pi, and microcontrollers

Proposed Next Steps

1. Design Refinement Working Group — Engineers to meet regularly to iterate on actuator systems, socket interfaces, and control algorithms
2. Community Fitting Event — Organizing a centralized fitting event accessible to volunteers across Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville
3. Volunteer Coordination — Recruit designers, engineers, and clinical specialists to contribute to refinement efforts
4. Clinical Feedback Loop — Connect with active clinical trials to incorporate evidence-based design improvements

Meeting Point

A central meeting venue is being identified in the East Cambridge/Medford area (centroid of our three cities) with accessible transit connections.

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协调: This issue is to coordinate design refinement discussions with engineers across the community prosthetic initiative.