The Development and Application of a Tendon Prosthesis for the Early Functional Restoration of the Injured Hand.

Abstract

The report details progress made toward an active tendon prosthesis for the reconstruction of severely injured digital flexor tendon systems. Secure distal prosthesis attachment to bone may be either by bone ingrowth into a sintered titanium plug, or by screw fixation of a high carbon steel plate. High strength polyester fiber (Dacron) is the prosthesis shaft material of choice despite equally favorable biocompatability properties of Dacron and aramic fiber (Kevlar). Impact energy of rapid muscle contraction will be absorbed by braided shaft design continuous with a proximal soft loop. The method for coating the prosthesis shaft with silicone rubber will be pressure molding, not dip coating. Studies of the strength, microcirculation, and biomechanics of the digital flexor tendon system were conducted using human cadaver hands. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA071407

Entities

People

  • Glenn A. Mackin
  • James M. Hunter
  • John J. Konikoff

Organizations

  • Thomas Jefferson University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anatomy
  • Assembly
  • Data Acquisition
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Medical Personnel
  • Physicians
  • Procurement
  • Prostheses And Implants
  • Prosthesis Implantation
  • Prosthetics
  • Surgery
  • Tendons
  • Tensile Strength
  • Tissues

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.