TACTILE INDICATOR

The chief complaint of individuals using the pin-lock system is their inability to determine if the pin is fully inserted into the lock. Confounding variables such as hearing or sight loss exacerbate the problem. Therefore, the team has devised a tactile mechanism that notifies the user when they are secure in their prosthesis. The success of the tactile mechanism relies on the alignment system that we will be implementing as well. Since the liner and prosthesis will connect in the same manner each time it is donned, we can pinpoint a location on the prosthesis where the liner should reach when the pin is fully inserted.

To prototype the indication device, a 20mm diameter was drilled at the bottom third of the prosthesis, directly beneath the bumpers. This location was selected in order to protect the tactile indicator from outside forces. A button has been fastened to the liner so that when the liner is fully inserted, the button will pop out of the hole. The user can feel and see the protrusion of the button in the hole when both are at their last phase.