Vincent Partial Hand

Published , Updated , by Wayne Williams in Category: Bionic Arm / Hand, Mobility
Vincent Partial Feature Image

The Vincent Partial seems to be as advanced a solution for partial hand loss as its main competitor, Ossur’s i-Digits. Unfortunately, a lack of English-language material makes it difficult to verify this.

What’s On This Page?

A Quick Look at the Vincent Partial Hand

Due to a lack of good English-language videos, we have to use multiple short videos to give you a decent overview of the Vincent Partial. This first video simply gives you a quick look at the device demonstrating different grip patterns:

This next video is equally sparse. It shows what the Vincent Partial can do for a soldier whose hand was severely damaged.

This final video is a bit more informative but it also contains a few graphic images:

Note, in particular, the value of the Vincent partial for everyday activities.

Key Features

Grip Patterns & Control System

The Vincent Partial offers numerous grip patterns but this number varies depending on the number of digits that make up the device. We believe that the maximum number of available grip patterns is 14.

Similar to other bionic hand devices, grip selection is made by generating trigger signals such as a single open impulse, double open impulse, or a co-contraction (i.e. the simultaneous contraction of both muscle groups).

Thumb Rotation

The Vincent Partial has a powered thumb (if a thumb is needed). This means that the thumb opens and closes using electric power. However, it does not automatically rotate laterally, as required by certain grips. Instead, the user must manually rotate the thumb into position, typically by using his or her other hand.

This lack of an electronically positioned thumb is dictated in large part by the Vincent Partial’s modular design. Electronically rotating a thumb requires an additional actuator for lateral rotation and a stronger motor. This would be quite difficult to accommodate in a design where the thumb must be treated as an independent unit and may or may not be present.

Proportional Speed Control

This refers to the ability of the user to control the speed and force of the grip via the speed and force of the muscle signal used to close or open the bionic fingers.

We believe that the Vincent Partial has this feature but we’ve been unable to verify this.

Adaptive Grip

The fingers of the Vincent Partial use what’s called an “adaptive grip”. We don’t have the exact details of how this feature works but it appears to use bowstrings in the fingers to ensure that each grip automatically conforms to the shape of the object being grasped. If we are right about this feature, it is different from the finger stalling technique used in other bionic hands.

Sensory Feedback

Vincent prosthetic devices include a pressure sensor in the index finger to provide limited sensory feedback to the user. Feedback is conveyed via a small vibrator in the socket, which allows the user to perceive when the applied force is greater than a predetermined limit.

We believe that the Vincent Partial has this capability and that, due to its modular design, the pressure sensor can be incorporated into another digit if a bionic index finger is not part of the configuration. However, we have not been able to fully verify this statement.

Lift Capacity & Grip Strength

Unfortunately, we do not have any information on the Vincent Partial’s lift capacity or grip strength. We have made inquiries and will update this article when we receive a response.

Durability

We know that the Vincent Partial’s fingers/thumb are made from a combination of stainless steel and a high-strength magnesium-aluminum alloy, which suggests that they were designed to be durable. But we do not yet have any third-party feedback on this.

Water and Dust Resistance

We do not yet have any information on the Vincent Partial’s water and dust resistance ratings.

Batteries

Our information on the Vincent Partial’s battery system is incomplete. We do know that it can be charged via a USB charging system, but we lack information on how long a battery lasts and how long it takes to recharge one that is fully drained.

User Software

We have not been able to find any information on user software for the Vincent Partial.

Price

We currently have no price information on the Vincent Partial.

Warranty

Despite looking far and wide, we have been unable to find the official warranty documentation for the Vincent Partial. When we do, we will update this section.

User Feedback Survey & Results

Survey

Are you currently using the Vincent Partial or have you used it in the past?

If so, why not help others by sharing your experiences in this quick survey:

Results

We do not yet have a sufficient number of survey participants to publish fair and accurate results for the Vincent Partial.

As soon as we do, we’ll update this section.

Considerations Before Buying the Vincent Partial

The biggest single consideration before buying any bionic partial hand is your prosthetist. This is because bionic partial hands must be extensively customized to match the requirements of the residual hand. This is true of every prosthesis, of course. It’s just that partial hands tend to have more varied and complex configurations.

We therefore strongly recommend that you deal only with a prosthetist who has proven experience with partial-hand devices.

Unfortunately, if you want a bionic partial hand, your product choices are limited. The Vincent Partial is only one of two bionic options that we know about. The other is Ossur’s i-Digits line of products. It is impossible for us to directly compare these two devices, mainly because there is so little independent third-party information on them.

Based on the available literature, videos, etc., it does appear to us that Ossur has a stronger commitment to the English-speaking portion of the partial-hand market. Vincent produces very little English-speaking material and recently shut down the English version of its website. But the company does have distributors in North America, and since those distributors tend to be prosthetic clinics or chains of clinics, the most important factor again becomes your choice of prosthetist.

Other partial-hand options include strictly mechanical devices.

For a list of competitor devices, see All Partial Hand Options.

For a complete description of all current upper-limb technologies, devices, and research, see our comprehensive guide.

If you are shopping for a bionic partial hand, do not miss our article on Myoelectric Control Systems. Getting this part of your bionic system right is probably the single most important element in your long-term satisfaction.

Click here for more information on Vincent Prosthetic Devices.

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