The Development and Application of a Tendon Prosthesis for the Early Functional Restoration of the Hand.

The primary goal of this program was the development of an active hand tendon prosthesis. During the past 6 months December 78 thru 31 May 1979 the several aspects of this investigation resulted in a prototype design of an active artificial tendon AAT that appears to meet this goal. The final design of the AAT encompasses a polyester shaft having a looped proximal end and a sintered titanium plug permanently attached to the distal end for attachment to bone. The entire device, with the exception of the 3mm. long sintered plug, is coated with silastic silicon rubber to enhance its gliding ability which is a requisite criterion needed to reduce the probability for the promotion of adhesions following implantation surgery. In addition, the silastic coating is essentially benign within the milieu of the anatomic locus of the handfinger thus eliminating any potential interaction. Long term implant experience is not as yet available due to the non-renewal of the study contract. However, short-term implant studies in both primates and humans have shown promise. Author