Biomechanical Analysis of Trigger Finger
Trigger finger is a common hand disorder, that affects both the four fingers and the thumb. Patients with trigger finger can experience locking and hear popping sounds during finger flexion. Clinical observations attribute these symptoms to the mismatch in size between the tendons and the pulley channel. Trigger release surgery is a commonly used treatment method, aiming to address the issues related to tendon and pulley interactions.
To better understand the pathogenesis and the origin of symptoms in trigger finger, our research team has developed a device for measuring resistance in finger flexor tendons. We collect kinematic and kinetic data and employ inverse dynamics methods to establish a biomechanical model. In future studies, we plan to investigate the differences in tendon strength before and after trigger release surgery, the impact of tendon separation from the finger joint post-surgery, and the functional changes and compensatory effects resulting from different surgical release techniques. Additionally, we aim to develop a functional assessment tool operated by a jar opening task to quantify the hand function of patients and, at the same time also be used for treatment, rehabilitation, and injury prevention of trigger finger.
Biomechanical Analysis of Pianists’ Hands
The purpose of this study is to apply objective and quantitative biomechanical methods to explore the performance of hand kinematics and mechanics, hand coordination, and risk factors for hand injuries of pianists. It aims to provide a complete understanding of the hand injury mechanism of pianists, and establish a comprehensive injury prevention and rehabilitation plan, which is useful in clinical diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
Research and development of artificial joint prosthesis and fixators for fracture based on minimally invasive surgery
Hand fine motor control is required to manipulate technological products, it would lead hand joints to wear off easily. Therefore, needs of treatment for hand injury or degenerated disease are expected to increase significantly. Frost & Sullivan(2008) reported that artificial joint prothesis and implants are one of six major orthopedic medical device markets in United States. The research and development of joint products for hip and knee joints has reached maturity, and the market growth rate is only about 5.8 to 8% from 2003 to 2013. However, the joint products of fingers, ankles, shoulders, elbows and wrists are still few, and the market growth rate is about 17.1 to 19.5%, the technology and the beneficial profit have yet to be developed. According to the report of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the revenue of products related to finger joints increased from 17.9 to 31 million US dollars between 2003 and 2006. Furthermore, a growth rate of more than 3.5 times in 2013 is estimated to reach about 108 million US dollars in revenue. This research is a cross-field innovative medical industry development project which aims to introduce the results of research and development of academics into industry for brand-making and manufacturing development, aiming at the future market of artificial joint prothesis for thumb carpo-metacarpal and phalangeal joints, as well as internal fixators for finger or metacarpal fracture. Besides the change of the overall population structure and the improvement of the quality of life, there is a large market demand in China, Europe and the United States, all over the world. With the maturity of medical minimally invasive surgery technology and sufficient evidence-based medicine, the products become more acceptable and used by doctors, the public and the market. It also provides a platform for cooperation between the industry and academics that is related to medical and biomechanical fields so that can make it more rigorous in basic background structure of the research and development process, and so that in model establishment.
The study focused on the thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMC), which is the most complex and the most developmental exploitable joint, as the start. We establish domestic and local design, analysis, manufacturing and testing during the development process of this joint. And then other 14 artificial metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, fracture fixators and related surgical instruments were successively developed. At the same time, a minimally invasive surgery training system was developed to train doctors to be familiar with surgical methods and reduce the risks that could happen to patients. A complete minimally invasive hand arthroplasty and fracture fixation surgery system were established.
Biomechanical Analysis of Multi-finger Coordination/Synergic Pattern
The main purpose of this study is to comprehensively investigate the synergic pattern between fingers from the perspective of biomechanics. Based on the basic data obtained from the experiment to establish a model of synergic pattern in normal people, and it can be widely used to assess the functional impairment of hand grasp caused by hand injury. The three main objectives of this study are as follows:
1. To develop and verify a new grip cup design, and to analyze the finger synergic pattern of the cylindrical grip by the obtained mechanical and kinematic data.
2. Using the coordination model established in the first stage to investigate the synergic pattern of the fingers with sensory impairment, and to analyze the correlation between the degree of impairment and the change of the synergic pattern.
3. By comparing the coordination models established in the first stage with the finger synergic pattern in the second stage, we investigated the finger synergic patterns of patients suffer from finger amputation or nerve injury with paresthesia.
The results of this study not only figure out the finger synergic pattern of functional activities, but also apply the results into clinical decisions and rehabilitation recommendations with functional compensation for patients with sensory impairments or other hand injuries.
