# Artificial Digit Replacements for Women Veterans with Individual Digit Loss

> **NIH VA I01** · VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The goal of the proposed project is to design and develop a purely mechanical, ratcheting prosthetic finger – the
Women’s Digit – which 1) can be sized for a 5th percentile female hand using advanced metal 3D printing
technology, 2) has an industry leading strength to weight ratio, and 3) can be operated using unilaterally (one-
handed) using a novel ratcheting mechanism.
The largest population of upper limb amputees are those with partial hand amputations. This population
outnumbers all other levels of upper limb amputees by a factor of 10. Therefore, a significant clinical impact can
be made if a product serves this population effectively. However, current commercial products for partial hand
amputees do not satisfy all of the needs of female patients; no commercially available prosthetic finger is
appropriately sized for the full range of female hand sizes. Effectively, certain women veterans with partial hand
amputation are untreatable.
This proposal is in response to the VA RR&D Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop female veteran specific
prosthetic components. The proposed research plan includes 1) the design and development of the Women’s
Digit – a ratcheting mechanical prosthetic finger, 2) the manufacturing of multiple prototypes at various lengths,
3) mechanical testing to confirm scalability, strength, reliability, and manufacturability, and 4) an in-laboratory
testing session with a female partial hand amputee.
The care of Veterans with upper limb amputation requires a highly individualized approach to medicine. Each
Veteran brings unique needs to the clinic including various levels of amputation, lifestyles, personal experience,
and other medical indicators. Prosthetists and occupational therapists work with each Veteran to provide a
personalized medical solution using whatever component and technologies are available on the open market.
Very often, the bottleneck in this system is the development of clinically sound prosthetic components that can
be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system.
The mission of the VA Biomechatronics Development Laboratory is to innovate devices and algorithms in the
field of upper limb prosthetic design. The Biomechatronics Development Laboratory develops products that
provide prosthetists and Veterans with solutions to meet the unique needs of each Veteran in this dynamic and
challenging healthcare setting. The Women’s Digit will provide an effective and durable solution for women
veterans with partial hand amputation and ensure their ability to enjoy their work, family, and life to the fullest.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174849
- **Project number:** 5I01RX002830-03
- **Recipient organization:** VA EASTERN COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard Fergus ffrench Weir
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-10-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174849

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174849, Artificial Digit Replacements for Women Veterans with Individual Digit Loss (5I01RX002830-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174849. Licensed CC0.

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