Hydraulic Hand Prosthesis – From Concept to Commercial Product

This project involved the complete mechanical development of an advanced, electrically controlled hydraulic hand prosthesis, from early concepts and functional prototypes through manufacturing and commercial use. The hand was designed for the medical-device and assistive-technology industries. Its compact hydraulic drive system provides strong, smooth, and adaptive gripping while allowing the prosthesis to remain lightweight and mechanically robust. Important design features include individually moving fingers, adaptive finger joints, variable grip force and speed, interchangeable components, and a quick-connect wrist system. The mechanical system was developed using 3D CAD, primarily in Onshape, together with detailed production drawings, tolerance analysis, rapid prototyping, CNC-machined components, injection-moulded parts, and extensive physical testing. The project included design for manufacturing, assembly, servicing, reliability, and cost reduction. The final prosthetic hands have been manufactured, CE-marked, sold internationally, and used by amputees in real-world daily activities.