Testing a novel, affordable body-powered prosthetic arm for children
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15596121 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15596121 |
- Submission date
- 18/12/2019
- Registration date
- 20/12/2019
- Last edited
- 12/03/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Most upper limb (UL) prosthetics are generally not affordable for a vast majority of patients in low and middle-income countries. Also, the current prosthetics are often not appropriate for application in these more challenging environments. Despite significant advances in prosthetic technology, the most popular and affordable UL prosthetics for adults and children remain body-powered (BP). A BP prosthesis uses a Bowden cable (like the standard bicycle brake cables) to connect movements of the upper extremity (UE) to movements of the terminal device (hook-shaped or anthropomorphic). This technology is more than 100 years old, and it still dominates much of the market. However, the use of cables severely limits/restricts the movement possibilities of the user. An exciting prospect is the ability to provide new customised, BP prosthetics that allow the patient to position the hand anywhere in space freely. This is particularly promising for children who have a lost or missing limb, as their prosthetic operating space should not be limited as they grow and develop. This study is looking to see how acceptable and appropriate a new body-powered prosthetic arm with a novel control is to the study volunteers.
Who can participate?
Boys and girls with acquired upper limb loss or congenital upper limb absence aged between three and 17 years and in good health
What does the study involve?
Participants are measured, complete a survey, and undergo tests including breathing, grip strength, hand and prosthetic function, and quality of life.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The researchers cannot promise that the study will benefit the study volunteer directly; however, by participating in this study, they will be contributing to our knowledge of how to further develop affordable body-powered prosthetic arms. The information gathered during the usability study, questionnaire-based survey and prosthetic outcome measures will hopefully inform affordable prosthetic designs and potentially benefit those living in low- and middle-income countries. The study participants and their parent(s) and legal guardian(s) will be reimbursed for their travel and food costs for the day of the study-related visit. The selected study procedures in a laboratory setting are safe for human participants, and there are no known potential risks. The participants might feel mild discomfort during the use of a Velcro strap to attach the prosthetic arm to the participant’s residual limb in Stage II.
Where is the study run from?
Mobility India – Rehabilitation Research & Training Centre and St John’s Medical College Hospital in Bangalore (India)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2019 to December 2024
Who is funding the study?
1. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
2. Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Jeroen Bergmann
jeroen.bergmann@eng.ox.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Natural Interactions Lab (NIL)
Department of Engineering Science
University of Oxford
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PJ
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7306-2630 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1865273052 |
| jeroen.bergmann@eng.ox.ac.uk |
Scientific
Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation
School of Health and Society
Room PO34, Brian Blatchford Building
University of Salford
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7491-8242 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)7854 944595 |
| V.HarthikoteNagaraja@salford.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Observational cross-sectional study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Cross sectional study |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet. |
| Scientific title | 3D-printed breathing-powered prosthetic arm for children |
| Study objectives | The Natural Interactions Lab (https://www.oxfordnil.com/) at Oxford University is working on developing a radical new body-powered (BP) prosthetic arm. This ambitious research project wants to push the boundaries, and provide a step-change in affordable, BP prosthetic designs for children and young adults, through the development of a personalised prosthetic that uses a novel type of control. The 3D-printed breathing-powered prosthesis provides a patient-specific prosthesis option that can be used without limiting any of the body movements of the user. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Approved 21/05/2020, St John’s Medical College Hospital Institutional Ethics Committee (St John's Medical College & Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore - 560 034, India; +91 (0)80 49466346 / 48; sjmcierb@gmail.com, sjmc.ierb@stjohns.in), ref: 265/2019 2. Approved 03/02/2020, Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee (OxTREC, University of Oxford Research Services, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK; +44 (0) 1865 (2)82106; oxtrec@admin.ox.ac.uk), ref: 61-19 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Upper limb (arm) difference (congenital/acquired) |
| Intervention | Sampling method: Non-probability sample (convenience sampling, although purposeful sampling is preferable if prevalence and subjects with necessary characteristics [e.g. device wearers versus non-wearers, congenital versus acquired limb deficiency, paediatric prosthetic users within different age-groups, etc] in the target patient database permits) Expected duration of participant participation: About 4 hours per visit Number of visits: Two visits (a visit each for Stage I and Stage II), and an additional study visit, if required The entire user-centred trial of the 3D-printed breathing-powered prosthetic arm is divided into two stages, i.e., Stage I and II as detailed below: Stage I: – Qualitatively assess how children with upper limb loss or absence find breathable control as a prosthetic control option via a bench test. – Characterise the group of prosthesis users with a questionnaire-based survey for gaining insights on demographics, satisfaction levels, patterns of wear, challenges faced, priorities, etc. Stage II: – Assess/clinically validate how the breathing-powered prosthesis (with a compatible and personalised socket made by the clinical team) enables children with limb loss or absence in functional task execution via select outcome measures. All suitable prosthesis users treated at St John’s Medical Hospital and Mobility India (and their affiliate organisations) as the Patient Identification Centres will be screened by our Bangalore-based clinical partners (who are part of the patient's existing clinical care team will be accessing the patient's records). Parent(s)/legal guardians of the identified prosthesis users would be firstly provided with the Patient Introductory Letter and Patient Information Sheet. Note: The Patient Information Sheet, Informed consent forms, and Informed assent forms will be translated and made available in six local languages (i.e. English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu). Steps carried out by the GCP-trained investigator: 1. Audio-visual consent taking and getting signatures on Informed consent and Informed assent forms 2. Measurement of anthropometric dimensions and prosthesis sizing data 3. Questionnaire-based survey. In addition to these, participant demographics, anthropometric data, handedness, peak expiratory flow rate, grip strength, and prosthesis sizing data will be collected both in Stage I and Stage II. 4. Qualitative feedback after functional task execution (Usability testing) from the child and their parent(s) or legal guardian for Stage I 5. Performing select outcome measures both in Stage I and Stage II 6. Reimbursement to the volunteer (via their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)) for their participation time as well as travel and food costs both in Stage I and Stage II Follow-up: Not applicable |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Pharmaceutical study type(s) | |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | - |
| Primary outcome measure | Timepoints for all of the outcome measures: baseline only Stage I (n = 15): 1. Qualitative usability testing of breathing control provided by the study participants and their parent(s) or legal guardian via a Likert scale and open-ended questions; patient-reported and researcher observed 2. Published outcome measures such as: 2.1. Baby version of the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (babySHAP), a clinically validated hand function test 2.2. University of New Brunswick (UNB) Test of prosthetic function for measuring prosthetic function (observer-rated measure with a dual rating scale used to evaluate performance and spontaneity of use) Stage II (n = 30): 1. Published outcome measures such as: 1.1. Baby version of the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (babySHAP), a clinically validated hand function test 1.2. Prosthetic Upper Extremity Functional Index (PUFI) for measuring upper limb-focused functional abilities (observer-rated measure with a dual rating scale used to evaluate performance and spontaneity of use) 1.3. Paediatrics Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) (or Paediatric QOL Inventory (PedsQL)) test - well-validated musculoskeletal health questionnaires for measuring participation and Quality of Life |
| Secondary outcome measures | Timepoints for all of the outcome measures: baseline only Stage I (n = 50): Description of demographics and needs analysis using a questionnaire-based survey by the study participants and their parent(s) or legal guardian via questionnaires such as Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 2.0 (QUEST 2.0) and (Nagaraja et al. 2016) |
| Overall study start date | 01/02/2019 |
| Completion date | 04/12/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 3 Years |
| Upper age limit | 17 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 50 |
| Total final enrolment | 15 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 3-17 years 2. Wearer or non-wearer of prosthetic device 3. Bilateral level of amputation (only Stage I) 4. Non-disabled children (only Stage I) 5. Parent or legal guardian is willing and able to give permission and informed assent for his or her ward’s participation in the study 6. Free of neurological and musculoskeletal pathology (apart from upper limb (UL) loss or absence for prosthesis users, and as reported by the participants or their clinician) that would impair upper limb motor control during a goal-oriented task execution in a seated position |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Any medical conditions, assessed by their treating healthcare professionals, that would contraindicate the use of prosthetic arm prototypes, such as difficulties in breathing, skin abrasions, and musculoskeletal injuries 2. Inability to give the information required or to perform the test tasks 3. Wounds or ulcers in the residuum 4. Transcarpal level of amputation (for Stage II) |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2020 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2022 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- India
Study participating centres
Sarjapur Road
Bangalore
560034
India
J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase
Bangalore
560078
India
Sponsor information
University/education
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JD
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +441865282585 |
|---|---|
| oxtrec@admin.ox.ac.uk | |
| Website | http://www.ox.ac.uk/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/052gg0110 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
No information available
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - UKRI, Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, EPSRC
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2025 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| Publication and dissemination plan | The results of the study will be published in journals, international conferences, etc. The investigators will be involved in reviewing drafts of the manuscripts, abstracts, press releases, and any other publications arising from the study. Authors will acknowledge that the study was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account (Award EP/R511742/1) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (Award KCD00141). Authorship will be determined in accordance with the ICMJE guidelines, and other contributors will be acknowledged. After the conclusion of the study, the Investigator can direct the interested study participants to the relevant research publication as and when it is published. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available due to ethical and confidential reasons. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other publications | 29/07/2022 | 12/03/2024 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 05/12/2022 | 12/03/2024 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
12/03/2024: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. Contact details updated.
2. The overall study end date was changed from 31/12/2023 to 04/12/2024.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2024 to 31/12/2025.
4. Publication references, total final enrolment and IPD sharing plan added.
05/06/2020: Ethics approval details added.
20/12/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee.
