Glad your surgeries have gone well. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

Maybe you could get a special paddle that the wrist went into C-1 style? Not that i would wish C-1ing on you.

The hand paddles would be a no brainer. We've got to find something cooler than that.

 

i recall an article in a magazine about an olympic hopeful slalom kayaker in D.C. that worked for a prosthesis manufacturer. does this sound familiar to anyone? maybe post on boater talk.

anyway, we haven't met but i wish you the best.

dan

gotta love google: click here

and here's the company: here

 

Tony - last week I saw an amazing piece on Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, on the "bionic" arm his company is developing for DARPA. There's some incredibly inspiring work being done on prosthethics. Check out this clip. The Pentagon's Bionic Arm - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Stay strong.

Steve

 

Tony, best of luck with your mission.

My first thought is that a top notch orthopedic doc would be a good first start to help you figure out what is out there for prosthetic devices and what works best for you. They will know what the current state of technology is. Did a quick google search and it looks like there is a lot of info on a variety of prosthetic hands out there.

My gut feel is that hand paddling would be an excellent option. Seems like attaching hand paddles to a prosthetic would be the easiest and cheapest solution to get you on the water. It would require lots of paddling adaptation. I regularly paddle with a couple hand paddlers, and they seem to pretty much kick ass. Lots of guys in the southeast running hard whitewater with handpaddles too. It certainly can be done.

For a paddle holding option... perhaps a prosthesis with a hole in it to fit the paddle shaft through, but allow it to rotate freely to control feather with the left. If you put raised ridges on the paddle on either side of the spot where the paddle fit into the hole, you could prevent the paddle from slipping out either way. Getting the paddle in and out might work with a C-clamp type connection. I'm imagining an oarlock type of device.
A quick release system might be a good idea, with a type of buckle release like rescue vests or a metal release like on ammo can attachments or something of the sort. Another concern would be the strength of the prosthetic to arm attachment, and making sure the connection could withstand the forces of paddling.

Another random thought that comes to mind... Perhaps a place to look for help would be biomedical engineering schools. When I was in engineering school (chemical) the biomedical department at my college did some pretty cool projects designing equipment for specific people. Might be a low cost option to get some help or new ideas.

 

check this out:

TRS Inc. - Prosthetics Research, Design & Manufacturing

article about the company here: Prosthetic designer delivers faster, higher, stronger - The Denver Post

.

 

Tony,
I'm sorry to hear about your accident and am wishing you all the best with your recovery. You might find this idea interesting...
I had an engineer colleague who lost all his fingers to frostbite many years ago, and he built an incredible whitewater paddle system. He now lives in Europe, but I might be able to put you in touch. Also I can put you in touch with my friend David in Boulder. I recommended this paddle system to David - his hands are paralyzed, and he was intersted building a kayak touring setup. David took a bunch of photos of the system when he was visiting me in Idaho, so he could send you his photos. I think he had a similar paddle system built for himself by someone in Boulder who works on adaptive technologies. So David would be a good contact for you (and the guy is also the definition of inspiring). I'll try to describe the paddle briefly: cut the paddle in half where you would hold it. Insert a clipless bike peddle that swivels on the center piece and is fixed to the blade piece. Build a cast-like prosthesis that fits on your arm or hand stump (my friend without the fingers used ski boot buckles to close his!). Into that cast you put the part of the clipless pedal that would normally be in the bike shoe. Then you can clip your hand/wrist/arm to the paddle, can rotate the blade, are affixed quite securely, and just "twist" out of it like you would with a bike shoe, to release the paddle. It's brilliant! I know my description leaves a bit to be desired but like they say a picture is worth 1000 words so we can get pictures to you! If your interested I'll get you in touch with David. Sending lots of warm healing thoughts your way!

Claire

 

An idea

Hey Tony,

My heart sinks thinking about your injury. I'm wishing you the best for a speedy recovery and hopeful paddling future. Depending on how much wrist movement you have strangely enough the first idea that came to mind was a special prosthetic that threaded directly through the paddle ( a rod of sorts) held in place with a pin that you could release if need be. Another thought I had (I think it's from a Tim Burton Film) is a mount like on the end of a bicycle fork that would allow rotation, power, and release. I am not an engineer however. It seems as though there are a lot of really creative specialists working in this field and I'm sure there's one excited about taking on your project. Also, since this type of work could be considered research based there could be funding floating around out there. I wish you the best and can't wait to see you on the river again.

Craig

 

Tony,

Hey bro. I have to say how inspiring you are. I can't believe what I just read. We can only imagine (which I have all week) as to what this type of injury means and here you are with questions about getting back after it on the river. You are truly amazing my friend. There is no doubt in my mind that you will not only paddle again soon, but will exceed even your own expectations. Your courage and strength is at a level rarely seen. While many would go dormant you are already moving forward. So sorry to hear of your situation but at the same time so happy to see your positive attitude. Absolutely incredible and inspiring. Keep chargin' it Tony. We are all rooting for you.

hobie

 

Idea

I sent Dan at Werner Paddles an Idea earlier this week and I am waiting to hear back. Basically your left hand becomes the control hand and your right arm rotates around the paddle. It would be a simple ring and post system. The ring can floats and rotates around the shaft of the paddle with about a half inch of float in either direction on the shaft. The post connects to your wrist. If the post is based off a ball and socket conection, it would allow a more natural shoulder rotation. The less amount of float the more power tansfer.

 

Hey Tony,

Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad that you are doing better and seem to have such a good attitude about it. As for a prosthetic hand: there was a show on the Discovery Channel called Ax Men about a group of loggers, one of the company owners had a hand injury that sounds very similar to yours (I cannot remember his name) and he had prostheses that had what looked like a vice grip attached to the end. He used this "hand" to run and hold chainsaws and other logging equipment. It looked kind of homemade and definitely primitive but it might be worth checking out. You can probably go to Discovery's website and get more info.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Paul

 

Hey,

I guess it was the history channel not the Discovery Channel.
Here is a link www.history.com/content/axmen

The guy's name is Jay Browning-something might show up if you google him also.

Like I said it looks primitive and simple, but that may be what you need for a river environment.

Good luck

 

I believe the paddler Danger mentioned in his post is Scott Parsons, a K-1 slalom paddler on the U.S.Team who builds prothestics in Washington D.C. I bet he'd have alot of insight into designs and such.

 

You Guys Rock

Thank you for all the support here and all the great ideas. Its a little early to tell what is going to work best fr my situation but seeing some of these solutions definately has me excited. I got outside today for the first time in 12 days and it was so nice just to breathe some fresh air. Thank you all for your ideas and support, I appreciate it all. Tony

 

Thank you for all the support here and all the great ideas. Its a little early to tell what is going to work best fr my situation but seeing some of these solutions definately has me excited. I got outside today for the first time in 12 days and it was so nice just to breathe some fresh air. Thank you all for your ideas and support, I appreciate it all. Tony

Seriously, I would say that you rock. Very impressive to see you already hitting up solutions. Obviously you are very strong person, keep pushing man.
Nice work everyone for your crazy search skills, you guys never cease to amaze me.

 

Tony

I am so glad that you are getting up and around, I can't even imagine what you are going through right now.

My thoughts are with you and Tina.

If you are still here in denver and need anything at all give me a call.

I would bet the guys at BOEC might have some good ideas, I know they are known for their winter based operations but they do some river programs as well.

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center » Home

Danny

 

Tony,
all the best wishes in a speedy and healthy recovery.! "He will boof again!!!"

 

Hey Tony,
Great attitude. My guess is that the first time you get back into the water you are going to be just as excited as that first season. Have fun making your comeback!

 

Gimp Team expansion

Hey Tony

I think Gunnar may be hookin you up to Willie the one-armed nightmare, who may not give you tech advice, but as someone who loves life and is a no-holds-barred athletic madman, he can't be beat. you already have an abundance of advice technically. Think about this: everybody is going to join the club, mangled arms, legs, heads or the big C, it's just a matter of time. You have now joined the club, and it's wild and crazy, and sometimes very good, life is good, food is good, a sip of rioja is good with baguette and a morrocan dry cured olive....you now have connections to many you may have never come in close contact with who may change your life....go man go.

Mike - universal dismembered team

 

Bump

 

Ton-
I have a pretty expensive paddle and it doesn't help me out at all, I still look like a douche next to you wether you have a paddle or not.

Glad you are enjoying the fresh air agian buddy, see you soon...

 

I just want to thank you all for all your continued support and good thoughts you are sending out to my darling husband...my little one handed wonder will be back in action soon and will be back in the river and on the trails soon. We have had so much support and love come our way it is unbelievable. Luke Hanson, I have to say, was a pillar of strength for me that first week and showed what a strong man and good friend he is. Props to him and I know he will be fashioning some kind of rigged up paddle deal for T!
Thank you to EVERYONE in the paddling (and non-paddling community!) for all their support and especially to Andy Corra at Four Corners for his continued support throughout this.
We are very lucky to have all of you there with us every step of the way.
Tonys wife-
Tina

 

I have a friend who worked for the rail road and lost his hand in a freak accident. He has used TRS prosthetics and is back to everything again. Better than most of us! It really would be worth looking into. Best of Luck! I am sure you will be out there loving the river again soon.
Canoeing/Kayaking | TRS Inc. - Prosthetics Research, Design & Manufacturing

 

Hey Tone,

Looking forward to seeing you and getting back on the water. Looking to help in any way. That paddle I broke last year snapped at the bend for the right hand. I'd be honored if it could be a prototype for your new set up. Brennen has it now. He was going to glass it up but I hear that takes a few years so I think you and the engineer types should start playing w/ it.

Lisa and I would love to help out however you guys might need. Dinner, drinking heavily, you name it.

Keep Rocking.
Parker