The Point Powered: A Robust Powered Prosthetic Finger
for Partial Hand Amputation
PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The goal of the proposed project is to develop a robust, powered prosthetic finger – the Point Powered – which
1) has an industry leading strength and speed, 2) offers anatomical rotation and flexion, and 3) can be made
using advanced metal 3D printing technology. The Point Powered is the next product in Point Designs’ product
road map, which began with the Point Digit, a full finger mechanical prosthesis, and has continued with the Point
Partial, and Point Digit II. Since the commercial launch of the Point Digit in early 2017, over 760 digits have been
delivered to more than 280 patients. We developed the Point Digit to fill a void in the partial hand prosthetic field
and then uncovered a need for a robust powered finger prosthesis. To answer the frequent request for a
powered finger prosthesis, we will complete the development of the Point Powered through this funding
opportunity. Completion of this project will result in the second powered prosthetic finger available in the United
States, and third available worldwide.
The care of people with upper limb amputations requires a highly individualized approach. Each patient brings
unique needs to the clinic including various levels of amputation, lifestyles, personal experiences, 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 availability of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced
by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system.
The largest population of people with upper limb amputations are those with partial hand amputations. This
population outnumbers all other levels of upper limb amputation by a factor of 10. Therefore, we can make a
significant clinical impact if a product serves the partial hand amputee population effectively. However, current
commercial products for people with partial hand amputations do not satisfy all the needs of these patients; there
is a need for a robust powered digit solution.
In this Phase 1 effort we propose to 1) complete the design and development of the Point Powered based on
preliminary work (amputee and prosthetist focus groups, and proven Point Digit design features), and 2)
internally verify the Point Powered through a battery of mechanical tests to verify design specifications including
strength, speed, fatigue load failure, lifecycle, size, and weight.
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 Powered will provide an effective and
durable solution for many people with finger loss and ensure their ability to enjoy their work, family, and life to
the fullest.