Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis is a major detriment to predominately post-menopausal women. The project team was asked to create a dynamic splint that combats the CMC joint arthritis, as most splints on the market do not treat the specific arthritis of the thumb. Along with the splint, the team developed a preliminary Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model of the CMC joint that was designed to analyze the stresses and strains that act on the joint during specific movements. The team performed material testing and tested the novel splint on non-arthritic patients to observe the efficacy of the splint on all parts of the hand. Based on the results, the team was able to revise their design as well as make future recommendations if the project were to be continued.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Garcia, Samara Ravan
• Fleek, Victoria Gayle
• Frank, Lauren Nicole
• Hesse, Rachel Elizabeth
• Mastascusa, Domenick Richard

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042815-234626

Advisor

• Troy, Karen

Year

• 2015

Sponsor

• University of Massachusetts Medical Center

Date created

• 2015-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Interdisciplinary
• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright