New Wrist Adapters
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I can't remember the last time the field had a new wrist adapter, but Texas Adaptive Devices has introduced two new options recently. The first is a "five function" body powered wrist, based on the one-of-a-kind adaptations that a handful of practitioners have fabricated for bilateral upper limb amputees over the decades. TAD calls their version the "N-Abler Body Powered Five Function Wrist".
The ball-bearing construction provides 290 degrees of very smooth pronation and supination motion, as well as 3 locking positions in wrist flexion from zero to 50 degrees. The rotation and flexion motions can be triggered passively, or independently cabled for bilateral applications.
The integral cable release assemblies can be harnessed to provide body powered release for rotation and flexion. Not only that, a simple set screw adjustment lets the prosthetist change from an alternating lock [pull/relax] logic to a momentary lock [pull to release]. Since the control logic for rotation and flexion can be set independently throughout the life of the prosthesis, this is a very prosthetist-friendly and patient-responsive feature.
The "N-Abler Body Powered Wrist" also includes a quick disconnect feature making it easy to interchange terminal devices. The wrist is compatible with the USMC laminating ring, so it may be possible to retrofit it in some cases.
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I was very impressed with the compact size, light weight, and smooth operation this unit offers. It is head-and-shoulders above any other multifunction wrist units I have seen previously. This new component will increase the independence of many bilateral upper limb amputees, and will prove to be an advantage for selected unilateral amputees as well. Congratulations to TAD for producing such a well thought out addition to our armamentarium of body powered components.
Their second new wrist adapter is designed to facilitate interchanging body powered terminal devices in myoelectric prostheses. It inserts into any of the de factor industry-standard ball-bearing myo wrist units.
Unlike the more familiar Otto Bock QD adapter, the TAD version allows interchange of multiple body powered or passive terminal devices. For more information on both of these new wrists, go to www.n-abler.org.
