Hand Spasticity Suppression Device "Palm Base"—TR-01

For (With Whom)

This was requested by a person with hemiplegia after a cerebral infarction who has strong spasticity in the wrist and fingers.

Why

Because spasticity always made the person clench the fingers into a fist, it caused pain, poor hygiene from sweat, and difficulty putting an arm through a sleeve.

How

An orthosis that holds the fingers in abduction (spread sideways) has a spasticity-suppressing effect, but the person could not put it on or take it off alone, and wearing it got in the way of activities, so they had avoided using it. Through training, they became able to rest the hand on a rubber ball and keep the fingers open when a caregiver held it down. So we cut open a rubber ball, filled it with filler, and made a form with part of the sphere cut off by a flat plane (a spherical segment) that can be placed on a table. It showed a spasticity-suppressing effect, but it was difficult to maintain the spherical surface until it hardened, and reproducing it was hard. Therefore we made the spherical segment with a 3D printer and attached a cut-open rubber ball to its surface with silicone sealant. Attaching non-slip rubber tape to the bottom made it easy to fix to the table.

Outcome

The person can now rest the paralyzed hand on this device and hold it down with the non-paralyzed hand to suppress spasticity. Used at their own pace as a daily routine, it led to pain relief, better hygiene, and improved dressing. In other cases it is also useful when used during training with a therapist's assistance, for example in training after Botox injections.

Materials Used

Base: PLA

Approximate 3D Print Weight

134g

Print Settings Overview

Body: Nozzle diameter = 1.0mm, Layer height = 0.4mm, Infill = 50%, Temp = 200°C, Speed = 20mm/s (slow), Supports = none

Accessory Information

Surface material: rubber ball (8 inch) Bottom material: non-slip rubber tape (Meist non-slip tape for indoor use) Adhesive: silicone sealant