When discussing control methods for prosthetics, it’s essential to differentiate between brain waves and muscle signals.
Brain waves are electrical impulses from the brain that can indicate thoughts or intentions to control the prosthetic hand. However, the Vulcan myoelectric hand does not use these waves for control.
In this blog, we will clarify how the Vulcan hand works, focusing on its simple control methods for every user to use.
Why Does the Vulcan Hand Not Use Brain-Controlling Waves?
Instead of relying on brain waves, the Vulcan hand uses muscle signals.
When a user thinks about moving their arm, the muscles from the bicep of their residual limb contract. These contractions create electrical signals that the Vulcan Myoband (the controlling sensor) can detect and interpret into closing or opening the Vulcan hand.
This method is more straightforward for users, making it easier to control the prosthetic.
Importance of Muscle Signals in Making Control Intuitive and Effective
It is a fact that difficulty in use is one of the common reasons contributing to prosthetic abandonment for arm amputees in general (according to Engdahl, 2015) which can lead to passive use of the device or total rejection, even just a few weeks after installing the prosthetic.
That is why a simple controlling method that can be learned and used quickly by most arm amputees is what Vulcan heads to from the beginning, in the hope of minimizing the prosthetic abandonment for users.
As Vulcan’s users become familiar with how their muscles respond, they can learn to control the prosthetic hand effectively in the shortest time (maximum of 30 minutes to learn on their fitting days).
This connection between thought and action makes it simpler for users to perform everyday tasks.
Also, this approach of Vulcan makes it easy for users of all ages to operate, keeps costs reasonable, and does not require any plasty operation while still performing over 30 activities at a precision level.
All are done while being compact, easy to wear, and detachable for users of most ages, supporting them in regaining independence in their daily activities.
If you are interested in experiencing the Vulcan prosthetic arm or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by registering for this form. Our team is here to support you in less than 48 hours.
