The St. Petersburg Wrist: A Prototype Powered Flexion Wrist Unit

This is the presentation of a prototype wrist, which has powered rotation and flexion. Powered flexion is an important addition to an externally powered prosthesis. Flexion and extension, along with rotation give the prosthesis two additional degrees of freedom, which when added to degrees of freedom for the shoulder and elbow yield a six-degree of freedom system. Six-degrees of freedom are important because they allow placement of the hand throughout the entire workspace. Without flexion, amputees cannot reach some positions, and must use compensatory motions for many other movements.