Validation of Fingertip Force in the ACT Hand Index Finger and Bond Graph Tendon Model

The Anatomically Correct Testbed (ACT) Hand was designed to allow researchers to explore the properties of the human hand without the need for cadaver specimens. Previous experiments to validate the anatomical accuracy of the ACT Hand have been performed to comparing the moment arms, the mechanical advantage of the tendons on each joint, to cadaver studies. Here, an experiment involving the individual tendon loading of the ACT index finger was performed as additional anatomical validation of the ACT Hand. These experiments were used to compare the ACT index finger to an index finger cadaver study and validate a bond graph model of the index finger tendon system. The results showed agreement (less than two standard deviations) between the fingertip forces of the ACT index finger and cadaver studies. The results also showed agreement (less than one standard deviation) between the fingertip forces of the ACT index finger and the presented bond graph tendon model.