The Next Generation of Upper-Limb Prostheses, 1994
Investigators: William H. Donovan, Diane J. Atins, Denise C.Y. Heard

The Next Generation of Upper-Limb Prostheses, 1994, is based on a study entitled The Next Generation of Myoelectric Prostheses, 1994, which established the TIRR National Upper Limb Amputee Data Base (copyright 1994, TIRR). The study was conducted by The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) from September, 1992 through November, 1994. This epidemiological study established a national data base on adults and children with upper limb loss and evaluated user perceptions of upper-limb prosthetic devices regarding: 1) costs, maintenance, and sensory feedback, 2) activities which can and cannot be done with available prosthetic technology, and 3) areas identified as most important for improvement in prosthetic devices. The TIRR National Upper-Limb Amputee Data Base is perhaps the most extensive survey ever conducted of upper limb amputees in North America concerning their prosthetic requirements.

The archived study consists of one aggregate data file for four surveys (a screener survey and three longer surveys specific to prosthetic type). The one page screener survey includes data from 2,477 adults with upper-limb prosthetic devices or parents of children with upper-limb prosthetic devices. Screener questions assessed demographic information and the kind of prosthetic limbs respondents used. Of these original participants, 64% responded to longer questionnaires defined by prosthetic type (Body Powered, Myoelectric, or Bilateral) with more in-depth topics addressed such as the attributes, funding, and limitations of their specific type of prosthetic limb(s). This study contains 659 variables across 2,477 cases.