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. 2014:2014:743460.
doi: 10.1155/2014/743460. Epub 2014 Jul 9.

Biomechanical analysis of force distribution in human finger extensor mechanisms

Dan Hu  1 , Lei Ren  2 , David Howard  3 , Changfu Zong  4
Affiliations

Biomechanical analysis of force distribution in human finger extensor mechanisms

Dan Hu et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014.

Abstract

The complexities of the function and structure of human fingers have long been recognised. The in vivo forces in the human finger tendon network during different activities are critical information for clinical diagnosis, surgical treatment, prosthetic finger design, and biomimetic hand development. In this study, we propose a novel method for in vivo force estimation for the finger tendon network by combining a three-dimensional motion analysis technique and a novel biomechanical tendon network model. The extensor mechanism of a human index finger is represented by an interconnected tendinous network moving around the phalanx's dorsum. A novel analytical approach based on the "Principle of Minimum Total Potential Energy" is used to calculate the forces and deformations throughout the tendon network of the extensor mechanism when subjected to an external load and with the finger posture defined by measurement data. The predicted deformations and forces in the tendon network are in broad agreement with the results obtained by previous experimental in vitro studies. The proposed methodology provides a promising tool for investigating the biomechanical function of complex interconnected tendon networks in vivo.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A three-dimensional multisegment model of the human index finger with four segments and three joints (lateral and superior views).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The movement constraint applied to each node in the tendon network. Each node is constrained to move along the line between the node itself (P 0) and one vertex (P V) of the bone facet containing the node to a new position (P 1). The vertex chosen is the one which leads to the direction of node movement being closest to the direction of the tendon force.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Free body diagrams for the multisegment finger model at each joint during static pressing.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Experimental setup for the measurement of the 3D fingertip force and finger posture during maximum isometric pressing.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Three-dimensional deformation of the tendon network at the three different finger pressing postures. The blue lines show the unloaded positions, whereas the red lines represent the deformed positions after the load is applied.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Predicted length changes of the tendon components during maximum isometric pressing at three different postures. Posture 1 is the least extended and posture 3 is the most extended.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Predicted tendon forces of the tendon components during maximum isometric pressing at three different postures. Posture 1 is the least extended and posture 3 is the most extended.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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