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The Point Digit: A ratcheting prosthetic finger using advanced rapid manufacturing technology

Award Number: R42HD097827
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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The goal of the proposed project is to develop and commercialize a purely mechanical, ratcheting prosthetic finger – the Point Digit – which 1) has an industry leading strength to weight ratio, 2) can be operated unilaterally (one-handed), 3) offers anatomical rotation and flexion around the patient’s metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, and 4) can be custom-made for each patient using advanced metal 3D printing technology. The care of upper limb amputees requires a highly individualized approach to medicine. Each patient brings unique needs to the clinic including various levels of amputation, lifestyles, personal experience, and other medical indicators. Prosthetists and occupational therapists work with each patient to provide a personalized medical solution using whatever components and technologies are available on the open market. Very often, the bottleneck in this system is the development of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system. The largest population of upper limb amputees are those with partial hand amputations. This population outnumbers all other levels of upper limb amputees by a factor of 10. Therefore, we can make a significant clinical impact if a product serves this population effectively. However, current commercial products for partial hand amputees do not satisfy all of the needs of these patients; passive fingers are seen as being fragile and difficult to use while powered fingers are expensive and require additional components like batteries and electronics that can be cumbersome to the user. In this Fast Track effort, we propose to 1) internally verify the Point Digit through a battery of mechanical tests, 2) validate the user needs of the Point Digit with partial hand amputees for regulatory requirements and 3) assess the utility of the Point Digit through a clinical take-home study of partial hand amputees. The mission of Point Designs LLC is to innovate devices and algorithms in the field of upper limb prosthetic design. We develop products that provide prosthetists and patients with solutions to meet the unique needs of each patient in this dynamic and challenging healthcare setting. The Point Digit will provide an effective and durable solution for many upper limb amputees with finger loss and ensure their ability to enjoy their work, family, and life to the fullest.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2021	POINT DESIGNS, LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	2/8/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2021	POINT DESIGNS LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	3/9/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $727,722 )
2021	2021	POINT DESIGNS, LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT STE 3	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	003	3	3/1/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2021	POINT DESIGNS, LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT STE 3	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	3	2/19/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$727,722
2021	2020	POINT DESIGNS, LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT STE 3	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	2/9/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$10,939
2021	2019	POINT DESIGNS, LLC	1216 COMMERCE CT STE 3	LAFAYETTE	CO	80026	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	2/9/2021	NEW	-$10,939
														Subtotal = $727,722

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $736,004 )
2020	2020	POINT DESIGNS LLC	685 S ARTHUR AVE UNIT 10B	LOUISVILLE	CO	80027	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	1/21/2020	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$736,004
														Subtotal = $736,004

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $224,150 )
2019	2019	POINT DESIGNS LLC	685 S ARTHUR AVE UNIT 10B	LOUISVILLE	CO	80027	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	5/6/2019	NEW	$224,150
2019	2019	POINT DESIGNS LLC	685 S ARTHUR AVE UNIT 10B	LOUISVILLE	CO	80027	BOULDER	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	1	9/26/2019	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $224,150

Grand Total All Awards = $1,687,876

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The Point Digit: A ratcheting prosthetic finger using advanced rapid manufacturing technology

Award Number: R42HD097827

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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