Making hands :: a history of scientific research and technological innovation in the development of myoelectric upper limb prostheses, 1945 to 2010

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dc.contributor.advisorKealey, Gregory
dc.contributor.authorFoord, David J.A.
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-01T16:21:48Z
dc.date.available2023-03-01T16:21:48Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.updated2016-10-24T00:00:00Z
dc.description.abstractThe dissertation examines the history of scientific research and technological innovation in the development of myoelectric, upper‐limb prostheses from 1945 to 2010. A general history of the field is presented, as well as individual case studies on the development of commercially significant technologies and products. The field history and cases are examined against major concepts of research and development (R&D) and technological innovation during the second half of the twentieth century. The major forces behind changes in the field have been technological innovation in other industries, especially transistors, microprocessors and batteries, government funding programs, and the engineers/entrepreneurs who, alone or in collaboration with others, directed the development projects. The engineers/entrepreneurs were in turn influenced by changing conceptions and practices of R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The field history shows how conceptions and practice of R&D and product development changed over the period. Funding and R&D programs were designed in light of the linear model of innovation in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s more pragmatic design engineering programs were originated at universities and hospitals, leading to the development of myoelectric upper limb devices by the 1970s. Government funding programs changed in the mid‐1970s, with a reduction in support for design engineering, and increased support for research. This led to new approaches within the field, including development of pattern recognition systems and targeted muscle reinnervation. The 1990s saw the rise of innovation oriented projects, with an increasing emphasis on development activties, international collaboration, project governance and strategic management, the use of complex legally binding agreements, intellectual property management, and commercialization.
dc.description.copyright© David Foord, 2013
dc.description.noteEntered as "Doctor of Philosophy", but switched to "Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies" Electronic Only. (UNB thesis number) Thesis 9268. (OCoLC) 961108158.
dc.description.notePh.D. University of New Brunswick, School of Graduate Studies, 2013.
dc.formattext/xml
dc.format.extentxiv, 362 pages
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.identifier.oclc(OCoLC) 961108158
dc.identifier.otherThesis 9268
dc.identifier.urihttps://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/13644
dc.language.isoen_CA
dc.publisherUniversity of New Brunswick
dc.rightshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.subject.disciplineInterdisciplinary Studies
dc.subject.lcshMyoelectric prosthesis--Technological innovations--History.
dc.subject.lcshResearch--History.
dc.subject.lcshTechnological innovations--History.
dc.titleMaking hands :: a history of scientific research and technological innovation in the development of myoelectric upper limb prostheses, 1945 to 2010
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineInterdisciplinary Studies
thesis.degree.fullnameDoctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of New Brunswick
thesis.degree.leveldoctoral
thesis.degree.namePh.D.

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